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Congress and Iraq

Started by R McCartney; Last updated Feb 27, 08 7:34 AM CST by D Lim | View history

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Congress and Iraq

The Democratic Congress swooped back into power on an anti-Iraq platform. But with little concrete progress on withdrawal, is it too little, too late?

When the Dems took control of both houses of Congress in January of 2007, they vowed to bring the fight to Bush on Iraq. They've gotten benchmarks into the budget, but have rejected toothier measures, such as timetables for withdrawal and funding cuts. Critics say the Dems have failed to take decisive action; others argue they've done the best they could without a two-thirds majority. Meanwhile, GOP reps have had to decide whether to stick with Bush on Iraq, or to defect and join the growing anti-war mainstream. Or, if they're John McCain, both.

Stories

Stories 81 - 100 of 128

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September 2007
- Troop Withdrawal Timetable Fails in Senate
  
  Washington Post | Sep 21, 07 4:54 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Antiwar Democrats continued their losing streak today as a Senate measure to set a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq didn't get enough support to keep it alive. The vote on the amendment to a defense authorization bill, which would have mandated a drawdown to begin in 120 days, was split 47 to 47. Sixty votes were needed to block a Republican filibuster. More »
- Dems Fail to Bring Troop Bill to Senate Vote
  
  Wall Street Journal | Sep 19, 07 6:45 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Senate Democrats were unable to muster enough GOP support today to bring to a vote a bill that would have given US troops more down time between overseas deployments. A late defection by Republican John Warner was the death knell for the bill, the Wall Street Journal reports, sponsored by Democrat James Webb, Warner's fellow Virginian. More »
- Dems Shift Strategy to Speed Troop Pullout
  
  New York Times | Sep 15, 07 8:40 AM CDT
  
  (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. More »
- Iraq Making Slow Gains on Goals, Says White House
  
  Associated Press | Sep 14, 07 11:06 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Iraq has made "satisfactory" progress on only half of its 18 benchmarks for success, the White House told Congress today, hours after President Bush said the country’s advancements merited a strong US military presence there. Since the July progress report, only one benchmark—reintegrating Baathists into the government—has been upgraded from unsatisfactory to satisfactory, the AP reports. More »
- Key US Ally in Iraq Killed in Bomb Attack
  
  Reuters | Sep 13, 07 11:25 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A key US ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda was killed in a bomb attack today in Ramadi. Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, the most influential of the Sunni leaders helping American and Iraqi forces fight the terror network, met with President Bush 2 weeks ago during his visit to Anbar province, once one of the country’s most dangerous regions. More »
- McCain Hitches Hopes to Petraeus' Star
  
  Politico | Sep 11, 07 1:35 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - John McCain’s presidential prospects may rest on his criticism of the Bush administration and his support for David Petraeus, and if the situation allows, the Arizona senator will be rewarded for his support of an unpopular war, the Politico's Roger Simon contends . McCain bemoans the “many mistakes” made in Iraq but applauds the general’s work. More »
- General Walks the Party Line
  
  Washington Post | Sep 11, 07 4:17 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - General Petraeus appeared to be a mouthpiece for the White House in testimony that had no surprises and left many questions unanswered when he recommended no significant troop draw down from Iraq at least until summer, several analysts agree. Though he presented himself as just a soldier presenting facts, Petraeus is a politician as concerned with selling the war as winning it, Newsweek reports. More »
- Petraeus Sees Withdrawal to 'Pre-Surge Levels'
  
  Washington Post | Sep 10, 07 3:53 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - David Petraeus told Congress today that the objectives of the troop surge “are in large measure being met” and said US forces could drop “to pre-surge levels” by mid-July. The top American commander in Iraq said he has recommended that force reductions begin later this month, with redeployments continuing through next year, the Washington Post reports. More »
- Hagel Bows Out of '08 Race
  
  New York Times | Sep 8, 07 4:26 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - GOP hopes to stop the Dems in next year's election took another hit today as aides announced Chuck Hagel's retirement from the Senate. They also dashed rumors that he will run for the White House on an Independent ticket alongside Michael Bloomberg. Hagel’s departure leaves the GOP with 22 contestable seats to defend in 2008, the New York Times reports. More »
- Petraeus Bemoans Iraq's Political Progress
  
  Washington Post | Sep 8, 07 9:54 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Writing to US troops in a preview of his report to Congress next week, Gen. David Petraeus said political progress in Iraq has not matched the aspirations the US had hoped to attain with the surge. But he was quick to stress decreasing violence on the ground, the Washington Post reports, and aims to testify again in March. More »
August 2007
- Warner Will Retire in 2009; Dems Eye Va. Senate Seat
  
  Washington Post | Aug 31, 07 5:20 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - After 28 years, John Warner will call it quits in 2009, after his fifth Senate term. The GOP stalwart who recently parted ways with President Bush on Iraq strategy announced his retirement today, sending Virginia Democrats and Republicans alike into a tizzy, the Washington Post reports. "I'm going to quietly step aside," said the 80-year-old military-policy expert. More »
- Iraqis 'Fail to Meet Benchmarks'
  
  Associated Press | Aug 30, 07 4:37 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Iraqi government has failed to meet most of the key political and military goals—the so called benchmarks—designed to measure the success of the US troop surge, congressional auditors say. An investigation by the Government Accountability Office has concluded that 13 of the 18 benchmarks remain unmet as a Sept. 15 deadline looms, the AP reports. More »
- Intelligence Community Doubts Iraqi Leadership
  
  CNN | Aug 23, 07 2:04 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A National Intelligence Estimate released today reveals that the US intelligence community doubts Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki has the ability to lead the country effectively, CNN reports. Coming one day after President Bush defended Maliki in a speech, the report by US intelligence agencies also expresses worry over a possible large-scale, coordinated offensive by insurgents in the coming weeks. More »
- Maliki Must Go: Senator
  
  Washington Post | Aug 21, 07 1:49 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) -