House Votes to Force Bush to Withdraw US Troops From Iraq

By David S. Rosen
Bloomberg.com

Thursday 12 July 2007

The House of Representatives voted to require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by April 2008, defying President George W. Bush's veto threat and his request today for time to allow his war strategy to succeed.

The chamber's 223-201 vote to begin a withdrawal within 120 days occurred hours after Bush released an interim progress report that said the Iraqi government has failed so far to meet several key political goals even as a military offensive has improved security.

"This is the policy that has led us in the wrong direction for four straight years," said Representative Jim Moran, a Virginia Democrat. "This has been the worst foreign policy fiasco in American history."

The measure was backed by only four Republicans in an unofficial tally, making it unlikely that House Democrats can produce the two-thirds majority necessary to overcome Bush's threatened veto.

The House action may create pressure to support a change among Senate Republicans who have expressed frustration with Bush's war.

Seven Republicans, including six who are up for re-election next year, broke from their party yesterday and voted in favor of a Democratic proposal to limit troop deployments.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on a troop withdrawal proposal next week.

Troop Reduction

Bush, in a press conference at the White House, urged Congress not to be stampeded into troop-reduction plans by a report that showed limited political and military progress.

"This is a preliminary report, and it comes less than a month after the final reinforcements arrived in Iraq," Bush said.

The House legislation, introduced by Representative Ike Skelton, a Democrat from Missouri and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, requires Bush to report to Congress if he plans to keep any military personnel in Iraq after most troops are withdrawn.

All Democrats except 10 supported the measure.

"The American people will not stand for changing the conversation, and they will not stand for staying the course," said Representative Lynn Woolsey, a California Democrat. "Neither should this Congress."

Republican leader John Boehner called the legislation "a partisan political stunt."

Some Republicans said Congress should wait until a report in September from Iraq military commander General David Petraeus before considering whether to withdraw troops. Representative Chris Shays, a Republican from Connecticut, said the withdrawal plan "pulls the rug out from under General Petraeus."

World's Economies

Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas warned of destabilizing the world's economies and oil markets if U.S. troops left Iraq and the violence got worse.

"The key nations in the region are terrified by this action and tell us they cannot support this reaction," he said.

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