House Votes to Redeploy Troops
On July 12, the House of Representatives voted 223-201 to begin redeployment of troops in Iraq. The plan calls for “the reduction of the number of U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq to a limited presence by April 1, 2008.” Redeployment would begin no later than 120 days after an actual bill was passed. The vote comes as the Democrats strive desperately to maintain credibility in a situation where they have a majority in Congress; they have a mandate from voters to end the war, yet they have consistently voted to continue funding the war.
The current bill is consistent with plans proposed by the Democratic presidential candidates, like Senator Hillary Clinton, and with the leading body and voice of the ruling circles, the Democratic Leadership Council. It does not demand immediate withdrawal, it does not demand an end to the occupation of Iraq, it says nothing about closing military bases in Iraq, and it does not stop the use of paid government mercenaries, which now outnumber troops in Iraq. It also leaves the size of the “limited force” in Iraq up to President George W. Bush.
Instead, consistent with the claim that the problem in Iraq is “mismanagement,” the bill calls for the redeployment to be “implemented as part of the comprehensive U.S. strategy for Iraq,” required by the bill. The “strategy” is to be presented by the president to Congress by January 1, 2008. It is to include “U.S. national security interests in Iraq and the broader Middle East region and the diplomatic, political, economic and military components of a comprehensive strategy to maintain and advance such interests.” It also is to justify the “minimum force levels required to protect U.S. national security interests in Iraq after April 1, 2008.” The bill also calls on Bush to speak to use of military forces in Iraq to “protect U.S. diplomatic facilities and citizens,” to “engage in actions to disrupt and eliminate al-Qaida and its affiliated organizations,” and to “train and equip members of the Iraqi Security Forces.” It calls for the strategy to include “specific plans for diplomatic initiatives to engage U.S. allies and others in the regions to bring stability to Iraq.” Bush is required to submit the strategy and plans to Congress but the bill includes no requirement for Congress to approve them. Thus, the bill leaves the size of the deployment and continued U.S. occupation in Bush’s hands. Indeed, it puts in law what has already occurred — Bush is only to consult with Congress and decisions concerning wars and occupations are to be left solely to the president.
The bill in no way meets the demands of the people to bring all U.S. troops home now. Iraq belongs to the Iraqis. This means the U.S. must get out now — no bases, no mercenaries, no actions to “disrupt and eliminate” the broad resistance to U.S. occupation and aggression, in Iraq and the region as a whole.
No U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan! U.S. Out of the Middle East!
The current bill is consistent with plans proposed by the Democratic presidential candidates, like Senator Hillary Clinton, and with the leading body and voice of the ruling circles, the Democratic Leadership Council. It does not demand immediate withdrawal, it does not demand an end to the occupation of Iraq, it says nothing about closing military bases in Iraq, and it does not stop the use of paid government mercenaries, which now outnumber troops in Iraq. It also leaves the size of the “limited force” in Iraq up to President George W. Bush.
Instead, consistent with the claim that the problem in Iraq is “mismanagement,” the bill calls for the redeployment to be “implemented as part of the comprehensive U.S. strategy for Iraq,” required by the bill. The “strategy” is to be presented by the president to Congress by January 1, 2008. It is to include “U.S. national security interests in Iraq and the broader Middle East region and the diplomatic, political, economic and military components of a comprehensive strategy to maintain and advance such interests.” It also is to justify the “minimum force levels required to protect U.S. national security interests in Iraq after April 1, 2008.” The bill also calls on Bush to speak to use of military forces in Iraq to “protect U.S. diplomatic facilities and citizens,” to “engage in actions to disrupt and eliminate al-Qaida and its affiliated organizations,” and to “train and equip members of the Iraqi Security Forces.” It calls for the strategy to include “specific plans for diplomatic initiatives to engage U.S. allies and others in the regions to bring stability to Iraq.” Bush is required to submit the strategy and plans to Congress but the bill includes no requirement for Congress to approve them. Thus, the bill leaves the size of the deployment and continued U.S. occupation in Bush’s hands. Indeed, it puts in law what has already occurred — Bush is only to consult with Congress and decisions concerning wars and occupations are to be left solely to the president.
The bill in no way meets the demands of the people to bring all U.S. troops home now. Iraq belongs to the Iraqis. This means the U.S. must get out now — no bases, no mercenaries, no actions to “disrupt and eliminate” the broad resistance to U.S. occupation and aggression, in Iraq and the region as a whole.
No U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan! U.S. Out of the Middle East!
