Democrat Rep.: Troops need more rest (radio address)

[rodeodance]

Source: ap



Democrat Rep.: Troops need more rest

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer 21 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democrats on Saturday touted legislation to guarantee troops time at home between deployments to Iraq. In the party's weekly radio address, Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., criticized President Bush for threatening to veto the bill, contending his administration's policies on troop deployments have weakened the military.


"The president's surge has sent many of our Army units to Iraq for the second and third time. We are asking our troops to make heroic sacrifices — yet as soon as they return we rush them back into battle," said Tauscher, author of the bill that passed the House Aug. 2 on a vote of 229-194.

The measure would require that regular military units returning from the war receive at least as much time at home as they spent in Iraq. Reserve units would get a home stay three times as long as they spent in the war zone.

Under the Pentagon's current policy, active-duty troops typically serve deployments of up to 15 months, with a year at home in between. National Guard and Reserve ground units generally can be called up for as long as two years, to be followed by six years at home.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070811/ap_on_go_co/democrats_troop_rest;_ylt=Ag.SpnZpUUeVBZFOhbv9TVys0NUE

[rodeodance]

1. Webb, D-Va., won a majority vote of 56-41 in July but fell four short

Bush complained that Tauscher's bill would put arbitrary constraints on Pentagon commanders. But Tauscher noted that the measure includes waivers enabling the president to disregard the required intervals between troop deployments in the interest of national security.

"If we are honest about wanting to support our troops, there is no better place to start than with the rest and training they require to complete their mission and return home safely," said Tauscher.

In the Senate, similar legislation by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., won a majority vote of 56-41 in July but fell four short of the 60 votes needed to advance.

The vote on Tauscher's bill shortly before Congress left Washington for its August recess was the latest challenge to Bush from Democrats aiming to end an unpopular war. Democratic leaders plan to renew the challenge in September, when Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, delivers a long-awaited report on the state of the conflict.

[acmavm]

2. They need more rest in between deployments? What part of this don't

I understand? Am I crazy? WHY SHOULD THEY BE RE-DEPLOYED AT ALL?

[partylessinOhio]

3. Just impeach the impostor and end this war!

Miss Tauscher just call upon your Madame Squeaker and your Senator FeinWarMistress to get their act in gear and do what the voters told them to do last November.

We don't need anymore pussyfooting around with breakfast, lunches, dinners and picnics with *. Sending troop rest bills up to his throne to veto is just wasting more time and billions of dollars. Go for his throat and render him harmless.

:thumbsdown: (for dallying around)

:patriot: (for bringing the troops home)

[rodeodance]

4. Schakowsky, a member of the Out of Iraq caucus, said she returned from the trip convinced more than

Petraeus told lawmakers visiting Iraq this month that a U.S. presence in Iraq is likely to be needed for another nine to 10 years, said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., who met with the general along with Democrat Tom Allen of Maine and four House Republicans. Petraeus has made similar remarks in the past, noting that the question is how many troops would be needed.

Schakowsky, a member of the Out of Iraq caucus, said she returned from the trip convinced more than ever the U.S. should set a deadline for troop withdrawals.

"Calling for patience, at this point, I don't believe is going to work with the American people," she told reporters in a conference call from Germany on Friday.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. I have to throw up.

We are back to the 'management meme' that worked SO WELL for Kerry in 2004. The problem is that the Bush regime is not managing our imperial adventures well: not enough R&R, shortages of body armour, blah blah blah. The other half of the War Party would manage our foreign military adventures much better.

Yikes.

No the problem is that we started a criminal war of aggression against Iraq back in 2003 and we are still there stuck in an endless quagmire, probably by design, and neither political party appears to want to get out despite the fact that somewhere around 70% of the population thinks that would be a very good idea.

[partylessinOhio]

6. As long as politicians like FeinWarMistress are making money on

the blood of our troops there will never be an end to the occupation of Iraq which they want to spread to Iran, Syria, etc.

War profiteering is so much worse than some of their lesser scandals.

[humbled_opinion]

7. Troops extended Deployments, threats of a draft...

What is happening in this country... When the American people say no war, end the war, bring troops home and the leadership falls short...

Bush is begining to look like the strongest lame duck in the history of U.S. Presidents maybe that is what his legacy will be ...

Hey everybody look, I had a 16 percent (on a good day) poll rating and yet I made the Democratic Controlled Congress fund my war, approve my wiretapping and allow me to sign any order I want into law...

hmmm so what is the difference between the Republican controlled congress and the Democratic controlled one?

[Karenina]

8. Troops need the fuck outta there...

Like, YESTERDAY.