Levin vows to continue fighting against Iraq occupation in Democrats' radio address

[bigtree]

Associated Press - July 21, 2007 12:13 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - A leading Democratic lawmaker is vowing to keep up the fight for legislation that would reduce the number of US troops in Iraq.

Michigan Senator Carl Levin, in his party's weekly radio address, says he won't give up until there are enough votes to stop a filibuster. He's criticizing Republican leaders who blocked a vote on legislation that Levin co-sponsored. It would've ordered troops to start leaving this fall and would've ended major combat by April 30th.

Now, Levin says, "the spotlight needs to shine on those Republicans who talk one way about Iraq back home but vote the opposite way in Congress."

He's also pointing to the latest National Intelligence Estimate, saying it shows an increase in the threat of terrorism and a strengthening of al-Qaida despite the presence of coalition troops in Iraq.

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=6821239



Levin Urges Republicans to Back His Troop Withdrawal Plan

July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Republicans must vote with Democrats in Congress to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and force Iraqi leaders to take responsibility for their country, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said.

With more than 3,600 American lives lost in Iraq, it's clear that there is no military solution to the violence in Iraq, Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, said in the Democratic Party's weekly radio address.

``The spotlight needs to shine on those Republicans who talk one way about Iraq back home but vote the opposite way in Congress,'' Levin said. Republicans this week blocked his proposal to require U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq within 120 days of the measure's adoption.

Levin's proposal got 53 votes. He said he planned to bring the amendment, introduced with Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, back to the Senate floor in the coming weeks.

``If those Republicans who say they want a change in course in Iraq will vote for one, we can start bringing our troops home and force the Iraqi political leaders to take responsibility for their own country,'' Levin said. ``That is the only hope of success in Iraq.''

Only a political agreement among Iraqi leaders can stabilize the country, Levin said. While Iraqi leaders set a timeline for settling their political differences, they failed to meet it, Levin said.

``As long as the Iraqi leaders believe that their future is in our hands instead of theirs, they will continue to dawdle while their country is torn by bloodshed,'' Levin said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=akiY1xfi0gwg&refer=us

[bigtree]

1. kick

:kick:

[blarbushie]

2. kick

:kick: