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Dems Shift Strategy to Speed Troop Pullout

Posted Sep 15, 07 8:40 AM CDT in Politics 

(Newser) – Democrats in Congress are pinning their hopes on what they believe is the most politically palatable way to speed the withdrawal of troops from Iraq in the wake of Gen. Petraeus’ report last week. A bill mandating that troops be allowed to spend the same amount of time at home as on their most recent tour before redeploying looks close to winning enough GOP support to pass, backers tell the New York Times.

The proposal by Sen. Jim Webb fell just 4 votes short of passing in July, and several Rebuplicans who voted against it then have indicated that they may get on board. Defense Secretary Robert Gates responded by saying that the “well-intentioned” proposal would “stress the force and reduce its combat effectiveness.”

Source New York Times

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Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, listens as outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace answers a question during a Pentagon briefing, Friday, Sept. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)   (Associated Press)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, and outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace take part in a Pentagon briefing, Friday, Sept. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)   (Associated Press)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates answers a question during a Pentagon briefing, Friday, Sept. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)   (Associated Press)
Sen. Jim Webb., R-Va., left, accompanied by fellow Democratic Senators, discusses legislation on wartime contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, Wednesday, July 18, 2007, during a news conference on Capitol...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, to discuss his amendment to the defense bill. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)   (Associated Press)
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., right, accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 9, 2007, to discuss legislation to...   (Associated Press)
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Iraq  • George W. Bush  • Congress  • Pentagon  • David Petraeus  • troop withdrawal  • Robert Gates  • Jim Webb


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