The House passed the non-binding resolution condemning Bush's troop surge. The vote was 246 to 182, with 17 Republicans voting for the resolution and 2 Democrats voting against it. The Senate now is taking up the same language. The previous Senate version was blocked by the Republicans, but this newer, simpler version is likely to pass. Both measures are non-binding, and only symbolic. But the thing to watch is John Murtha's new plan that would kick Bush right in the butt. Murtha is head of the committee that approves funding for the war, and he may just get his plan passed.
Here are some details of Murtha's plan from CBS News:
The House vote against the president's troop increase was purely symbolic, but CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports Democrats are now focusing on the next step – binding actions to halt the surge.
Rep. John Murtha, head of the powerful House committee that approves funding for the war, is the lead architect of the new plan.
"The real vote will come on this legislation I'm putting together," Murtha, D-Pa., said Thursday.
Murtha's legislation would set strict conditions on combat deployments, including a year rest between combat tours; ultimately, the congressman says, his measure would make it impossible for President Bush to maintain his planned deployment of a total of about 160,000 troops for months on end.
"If they can't extend people, if they can't send people back that don't have equipment and so forth, they can't continue the surge is what it amounts to," Murtha said.
Murtha's proposal also might block the funding of military operations inside Iran — a measure intended to send a signal to Mr. Bush that he will need Congress' blessing if he is planning another war.
"The president could veto it, but then he wouldn't have any money," Murtha told an anti-war group in an interview broadcast on movecongress.org.
AI
