After Edelman letter, Clinton, Kerry will sponsor law requiring Pentagon briefing on Iraq withdrawal

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: July 20, 2007
Clinton, Kerry to sponsor law requiring Pentagon briefing on Iraq withdrawal


Clinton fired back at the Pentagon Friday after it called a question of hers ‘premature.’

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A day after reports of a testy exchange between Democratic Senator and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and the Department of Defense, CNN has learned that Clinton and Sen. John Kerry will join forces to introduce legislation requiring the Pentagon to brief Congress on the military’s contingency plans for withdrawing from Iraq.

In May, Clinton sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates requesting that Gates brief the appropriate congressional committees about the Pentagon’s contingency plans for withdrawal. Clinton’s May letter also asked, in the alternative, that Gates explain why no such plans existed.

Earlier this week, Defense Department Undersecretary Eric Edelman responded to Clinton’s letter” “Premature and public discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies in Iraq, much as we are perceived to have done in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia,” wrote Edelman. Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, fired off another letter to Gates Thursday again requesting that the Pentagon brief Congress about withdrawal plans. Gates has yet to respond to Clinton’s second letter.

CNN has learned that Clinton and Kerry are upping the ante and will introduce legislation that requires Gates to provide the congressional briefing Clinton has now requested twice. “From New Orleans to Baghdad, this administration has made planning a dirty word and an alien concept, and the damage to our country has been immeasurable as a result,” Kerry told reporters on Friday. “We need to make sure that we are smarter getting out of Iraq than we were getting into Iraq,” added Clinton....

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/20/clinton-kerry-to-sponsor-law-requiring-pentagon-briefing-on-iraq-withdrawal/#more-945

[blondeatlast]

1. GOOD. Pin the bloodthirsty hawks to the wall!

Make the RRR enablers go on record against this!

GOOD.

k&r

[globalvillage]

4. John Kerry always stands up for Dems

From his email today:

"You and I know damn well what happens at moments like this: the Administration attacks their opponents ruthlessly. They smear, they lie. Yesterday they went after Sen. Clinton. I stepped up to defend her. Tomorrow who knows which Democrat they'll attack. Here's what I'm asking you: I don't care if you have a horse in 2008, or who you're supporting. Anytime you see a Democrat get attacked, please step up and defend them."

[avrdream]

8. I got that e-mail today as well.

My thought: John Kerry is a classy man.

[applegrove]

2. “We need to make sure that we are smarter getting out of Iraq than we were getting into Iraq,”

Nuff said!

[stillcool]

3. Jeezus Cripes...

they have to pass a law to get a congressional briefing? While their at it, maybe they can pass a few more...reinstating a few branches of government.

[blm]

5. That's what struck me, too. BushInc changed all the rules during his stolen reign.

.

[FiveGoodMen]

7. Outlaw pardons!

Whether it requires a law or a constitutional amendment, I say remove the right of the executive to grant pardons. Then they can't cover for themselves.

Also: legislate a definite, loophole-free end to signing statements.

Also: heavily restrict executive privilege.

If we get out of this one alive, let's never go through it again!

[The Doctor.]

9. Amen.

[panader0]

6. Plan ahead? WTF??

[emulatorloo]

10. kick n/t