More in GOP want Iraq military limits

[babylonsister]

More in GOP want Iraq military limits

By ANNE FLAHERTY and KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writers 59 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Republicans increasingly are backing a new approach in the Iraq war that could become the party's mantra come September. It would mean narrowly limited missions for U.S. troops in Iraq but let President Bush decide when troops should leave.

So far, the idea has not attracted the attention of Democratic leaders. They are under substantial pressure by anti-war groups to consider only legislation that orders troops from Iraq.

But the GOP approach quickly is becoming the attractive alternative for Republican lawmakers who want to challenge Bush on the unpopular war without backtracking from their past assertions that it would be disastrous to set deadlines for troop withdrawals.

"This is a necessary adjustment in the national debate to reintroduce bipartisanship, to stop the `gotcha' politics that are going on that seem to be driven by fringes on both sides and change the terms of the discussion," said Rep. Phil English, R-Pa.

English is among the more than 40 Republicans in the House and Senate who are sponsoring legislation intended to shift the mission of U.S. troops. Several other GOP lawmakers, facing tight elections next year and a strong anti-war sentiment in their districts, say they are considering this approach.

"Settling Sunni-Shiite rivalries over who occupies what street in Baghdad is not in the vital interest of the United States," said Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who said she is considering her options. "And we should only have Americans in harms' way where there are U.S. interests at stake."

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070729/ap_on_go_co/republicans_iraq

[spanone]

1. 'let bu$h* decide when the troops should leave' ???? Surely they jest.

this should NEVER attract the attention of the Democratic leaders cause it's horseshit.

[babylonsister]

3. Bet me; this is all I could find, but see second article referenced here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1442615

This is supposedly 'the plan' of Murtha's. I don't know if it's been paaed or not, or if it's all talk still.

[Eugene]

2. If the exit date is left up to Bush*, the US will never leave Iraq.

Alternative? It's more like the Repubs are walking
away from the war without really trying to stop it.