News / Politics
House Democrats Challenge President Bush, Call for Iraq Withdraw by Fall 2008
House Democrats introduced legislation on Thursday that would impose a deadline for the U.S. military involvement in Iraq. The call for a U.S. withdraw by the fall of next year is the first time the newly elected House Democrats have defined an actual date in the highly sensitive issue.
The Democrats are expected to attach their legislation to President Bush’s request for close to $100 billion for the military’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bush has remained adamant about the importance of an American presence in Iraq and has not taken kindly to conditional funding suggested by Democrats. Recognizing that they are in for a fight, the Democrats are expected to add an additional $1.2 billion for U.S. operations in Afghanistan to $100 billion already requested.
When the spending legislation reaches a vote the Democrats could find themselves trying to convince their own members to support the draft. Many Democrats are opposed to contributing any more money the war and with a unified Republican presence any dissenting votes by the Democrats could kill their efforts.
