Finally. Nancy Pelosi says she’s going to support Rep. Murthra’s resolution to end the war.
WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) – House of Representatives Minority leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday backed a call by Democratic Rep. John Murtha to quickly start the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
“I will be supporting the Murtha resolution,” Pelosi said of Murtha’s resolution calling for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq at the earliest practicable date.
Pelosi, of California, said she believed a majority of House Democrats “clearly supports Mr. Murtha,” but she said she would not press for a united Democratic position on the issue.
Pelosi was speaking in response to george’s address to his friends this morning. Murtha’s plan is not, of course, as simple-minded as repugs would like to think. She says “she would not press for a united Democratic position on the issue,” but I think it’s high time we stand in solidarity with Murtha, who is concerned about the well-being of the troops. If you missed it, here’s the full text of Rep. Murtha’s resolution, courtesy of Steve Clemons:
RESOLUTION
Whereas Congress and the American People have not been shown clear, measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential to “promote the emergence of a democratic government”;
Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U, S. military forces cannot be achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U S. troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;
Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency,
Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80% of the Iraqi people want U.S. forces out of Iraq;
Whereas polls also indicate that 45% of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified;
Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action;
Therefore be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,That:
Section 1. The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date.
Section 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S Marines shall be deployed in the region.
Section 3 The United States of America shall pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.
Surely more Democrats will come forward to support this measure, but I’m taking no chances. I’ve asked my representative to support Mr. Murtha, but it’s much more impressive coming from the Democratic leader. Go, Nancy!
(Cross-posted at the big orange)