Congress Says No To Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, May 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Responding to a huge wave of popular opposition to U.S. war plans in Iraq, the full Senate today declared the United States should not establish permanent military bases in Iraq and added a clear statement that the U.S. does not wish to control Iraq's oil resources. The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) congratulated Sen. Joseph Biden (DE) on winning approval for the measure, which specifically prohibits the use of any new funds to establish permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. The House passed a similar ban in March.

"This is an important milestone in the development of U.S. policy toward Iraq. For the first time since the U.S. launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003, both chambers of Congress have now said the U.S. must change course in Iraq," said Joe Volk, Executive Secretary of FCNL, the 63-year-old Quaker lobby that has the largest team of peace lobbyists working on Capitol Hill.

The president recently said U.S. troops will remain in Iraq at least until 2009, while senior U.S. military commanders have argued in public testimony that the U.S. may decide to permanently station military troops in Iraq. "The Senate vote today sends a clear signal to the people of Iraq, to the international community, and to the people of this country that the United States does not intend to permanently occupy Iraq," said Joe Volk. "This Congressional action also is a strong signal that the Bush administration has to change policy in Iraq now."

FCNL, the oldest registered religious lobby in Washington, has been working for more than a year to persuade Congress to declare "It is the policy of the United States to withdraw all U.S. military troops and bases from Iraq." The full Senate today approved by voice vote an amendment to the Iraq war supplemental appropriations bill offered by Sen. Joseph Biden that states "None of the funds made available by title I of this Act may be made available to establish permanent military bases in Iraq or to exercise control over the oil infrastructure or oil resources of Iraq."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=65133

http://www.life-connections.net.nyud.net:8090/images/PCakes%20Flying.jpg

[madokie]

1. Thats good to read maybe the dems are growing the spine they so badly need

[Rose Siding]

8. That brush is too broad

And more than a little insulting to many Democrats. I see it all the time and I understand the frustration that perpetuates the cliche. Please consider that it feeds a demeaning and inaccurate portrayal of all dems that has lasted for decades, to the delight of the RW.

MANY Democrats do not lack for courage: Murtha, Conyers, Boxer, Feingold are but a few...

Since July 03 a group of Dems formed "Iraq Watch" and have spoken passionately against the war with late night time stolen from the GOP House schedule. Archives can be found here
http://www.house.gov/inslee/issues/iraq/iraq_watch.html

Fifty House Democrats Form 'Out of Iraq Caucus'
Monday 20 June 2005
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/37/12004#1

Currenly there are 71 in that caucus, listed here
http://democracyrising.us/content/view/288/165/

Lee, Co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus said the White House still refuses to respond to questions about the Downing Street Minutes despite signatures from 500,000 Americans and 100 Members of Congress.
...
"Two-thirds of current House Democrats one-half of current Senate Democrats opposed the resolution empowering Bush to use force."
http://www.counterpunch.org/gray11212005.html

[AndyA]

2. Well, if Bush doesn't agree with Congress, he'll just do it anyway.

After all, he reserves the right to not follow any law that impedes his Presidential powers. :eyes:

[NewJeffCT]

5. that was my thought as well

Does Bush really care what Congress does or does not do?

[leftchick]

3. what a joke

since when does bush listen to congress? Since when has he been held accountable for not? Newsflash congress critters! The bases are built, the $700 million dollar embassy is almost complete and we are STAYING!

They should have thought of this before they crowned him king of the world.

[heartofthesiskiyou]

12. I saw it. It broke out into

a real cat fight on the floor. Her problems, Rep. Cynthia McKinney's getting into the building best not be confused with how she functions IN the building. She was strong and wasn't getting pushed around. They tried. They lost... Like wow. Dem's are getting on the feisty end of the spectrum lately.

[symbolman]

4. THis is because they've ALREADY BUILT THEM..

and of course it won't be the US building them, it will be a contractor, HALLIBURTON, so there's the SPIN in the first place..

Second is what the other poster wrote, that each bill gets signed into law with the words, NEENER NEENER NEENER penned in by Bush at the bottom.

Biden is grandstanding, and is an idiot. He knows what people want to hear and bends to the wind.

[BuyingThyme]

6. Well, what you have to do is to write a law which makes it illegal to

spend any money on such projects.

Did they do that? Or are they pretending not to know how these things work?

[Oversea Visitor]

7. Who you trying to con

There already superbases in Iraq.

[Rose Siding]

9. Your beef is with the Quakers

[Oversea Visitor]

14. Simple

Those bases has been going up for a long time
Dont tell me all the Congresscritters and Senators dont know what money use for.
It is your money they are spending and it is your right to know where they spend it.
But even though with all the hue and cry
Billions seem to disappear.
And what so far been done..... on yeah some clinic thingy yeah yeah job being done.

[Jacobin]

10. Bwaahahahaha

Congress passes a resolution saying what its POLICY is?

their POLICY is not to torture, either.

WTF?

this country is beyond insane. Beyond fucking insane

[FloridaPat]

11. Aren't they "enduring bases" or something like that - & not permanent

bases? Does this bill cover all the types of bases that might be built? Aren't they a little late? They've been building those things for 2 years now. Are they done or have more to build?

[InkAddict]

13. But, but, but.....

* got some "Divine Dictation" that will certainly supercede Congress' best intentions!

Holy Moses!

[shadowknows69]

15. The city sized embassy doesn't count as a base?

n/t