Debate on troop withdrawals put on hold

[onehandle]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Congressional Democrats have put on the back burner legislation ordering troops home from Iraq and turned their attention to war-related proposals that Republicans are finding hard to reject.

snip...

In the past week, the House passed two bills intended to curb misconduct by contractors in Iraq and one proposal by Tanner and Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, that requires updates on the Bush administration's plans for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. combat forces.

snip...

They also hope that Republicans will grow increasingly nervous about the war's effect on the 2008 elections. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who chairs the panel that oversees military funding, predicted last month that GOP lawmakers will jump ship after the primaries end.

"I see what happens to a Republican when they say we ought to start to get out," Murtha said. "They bash them. I mean they attack them viscerally and of course they're the ones that nominate them. Until that plays out we're going to have a problem."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071010/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

[antimilitarism]

1. The people need to continue protesting until the killing stops

From the protests in London on Monday - Remember this march was banned, yet 5000 people turned up to march, and risked arrest, and a Monday afternoon. Watch the people sit down in the middle of the road and block the traffic until the police were forced to back down and allow protesters through police barriers. This is the way to get the message across, the people need to stand together, together, the people are strong:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/383235.html

http://www.archive.org/details/swc8-10-07

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAVQ0tBwqdI

And some videos of speeches. From Tony Benn, he's 82, a former MP, and a second world war veteran but he's announced he's standing again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btmid67Z3Lc

A former SAS war resister - Ben Griffin speaking out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nYrSIchJhY

And George Galloway, i'm sure you all know who he is :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5YvHIKoG6o

Together, peace can be achieved; divided, the bloodthirsty warmongers win. Stay strong, make sure your politicians know exactly what you think, whoever they might be.

From across the pond.
Peace

[Dhalgren]

3. Thanks for the great links and welcome to DU!

:applause: :hi:

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Adding another welcome to DU!

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

7. *waving* from this side of the pond!!!

:hi: Welcome!!!!

[midnight]

2. No more holds, bring them home-NOW........

[Lerkfish]

5. it would appear that Cindy Sheehan knew more than some gave her credit for

holding the Dem's feet to the fire was a correct strategy, it just wasn't supported enough by enough people. But now its clear as crystal that the dems are fast becoming complicit in not opposing this war.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. K&R

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Democrats no longer pushing Iraq pullout bills

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional Democrats have put on the back burner legislation ordering troops home from Iraq and turned their attention to war-related proposals that Republicans are finding hard to reject.

The legislative agenda marks a dramatic shift for party leaders who vowed repeated votes to end combat and predicted Republicans would eventually join them. But with Democrats still lacking enough votes to bring troops home, the party runs the risk of concluding its first year in control of Congress with little to show for its tough anti-war rhetoric.

"We can no longer approach the discussion on Iraq as a partisan issue," said Rep. John Tanner, a conservative Democrat from Tennessee. "Our soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and guardsmen aren't fighting as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans."

In the past week, the House passed two bills intended to curb misconduct by contractors in Iraq and one proposal by Tanner and Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, that requires updates on the Bush administration's plans for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. combat forces.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/10/us.iraq.ap/index.html