Plans for Iraq War Pullout

Preferring a faster end to the Iraq War, many Democrats recently challenged President Bush's policy for the war in Iraq. Calling for a troop withdrawal deadline of September 1, 2008, a plan set forth by anti-war democrats gained House committee approval in a near-party line vote of 36-28. However, Democrats suffered defeat in the Senate when Republicans reversed legislation that required troop withdrawal to begin as soon as 120 days.

Liberal Democrat Jose Serrano was quoted as saying, "I want this war to end. I don't want to go to any more funerals." Republicans argued that while they too did not want to leave troops in Iraq, that it was foolish to hand over Iraq to al Qaeda.

The House committee vote strongly suggested that Democrats will be able to push their measure through the full House next week. Unfortunately for the Dems, it is considered highly unlikely that the Senate will approve of the plans.

An artice in cnn.com pointed out the evidence of a brewing consitutional battle: "The day's votes in Congress underscored the extraordinary, unpredictable wartime clash between commander in chief and lawmakers." According to NY Sen. Charles Schumer, Republicans are "caught ... between the president who sticks to this policy and their consituencies, who know this policy is wrong."