Senator Dodd is set to introduce legislation that would prevent an increase in troop levels in Iraq without prior Congressional authorization:
A Bill
To prohibit an escalation in United States military forces in Iraq without prior authorization by Congress.
…
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON ESCALATION OF UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES IN IRAQ WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION BY CONGRESS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the levels of United States military forces in Iraq may not exceed the levels of such forces in Iraq as of January
1516, 2007, without specific authority in statute enacted by Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act.
The linked PDF is an early version of the bill; when the bill is actually introduced, the date will read as corrected above.
My initial reaction is that this legislation has a better chance of passing than does Senator Kennedy’s legislation denying funding for a troop escalation (which Senator Dodd also supports) and also has a much better chance of surviving the sure veto. This legislation has the potential to attract more Republicans who have become disillusioned about Iraq.
On the Presidential race front, in order to burst through the cacophony created by too many candidates and too low approval ratings, Dodd will have to gain traction somehow. Given Dean’s (almost) success in 2004 and the unpopularity of the war in Iraq (at large and with Democratic voters), I think its a safe bet that the mantle of the “Bring the Troops Home Now” Candidate would suit him just fine. More like this, please.
As soon as I have more information, I will update. but it seems likely that this bill will be introduced later today. This bill was introduced late yesterday.
5 responses so far ↓
I notice that this is a pretty specifically targeted bill–it’s just about Iraq, and won’t affect the ability of this or future presidents to adjust troop levels elsewhere as needed. Interesting. This may make something of a splash–we’ll see.
In other Dodd news, he’ll be having a rally in Hartford this Friday at 5:30, at the Old State House. Why he didn’t decide to announce at such a rally in his home state, instead of on the radio, is beyond me.
I like that Dodd is doing this but there is always Kenedy’s bill to consider as well. In the case of the reckkless bush administration it would be safer and wiser to back whichever bill has more controls.
A: it won’t work
B: Dodd must really want 6 dollar a gallon gas something awful.
Dodd is solid.
Dodd’s actions are bad for the USA, not that I’m surprised by his behavior. Fortunately, Connecticut still has Lieberman … not all of our Senators are focused on creating a ruinous approach to dealing with the Muslims who wish for all Americans to be dead ASAP.
God bless George W. Bush. God bless Joe Lieberman.
By the way, does anybody know whether or not the Muslim school which Obama attended in Indonesia was one of the Wahhabi schools? Just curious …
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