WASHINGTON: Democrats won a significant victory yesterday with a divided GOP in a vote against troop escalation in Iraq. The House yesterday passed a resolution on the Bush administration's plan with a 246-182 vote showing a comprehensive rejection to the plan.
President Bush's plan to increase US military presence in Iraq with an additional 21,500 troops, had enjoyed some support initially, but yesterday's vote clearly indicates its growing unpopularity.
As many as 17 Republicans had voted against it suggesting a deep rift in the GOP. The non-binding resolution also reflects the American public's increasing frustration with the Iraq conflict. But some GOP leaders complained that the Democrats weren't prepared to consider alternative resolutions backing the President's plan.
Another proposal by Senator Judd Gregg, Rep. N.H., if passed, would ensure funds set aside for military operations in Iraq, would not be slashed.
The highly emotional debate in the House had a lot of rhetoric being exchanged in the crossfire. President Bush had missed the proceedings on TV because of other duties, a spokesman said.
Some of the reasons given for rejection or backing of the resolution in the House: Congressman and war veteran Patrick Murphy, (D.Pa.) reminded the House that half of those that died in Vietnam had remained there although “the civilian leadership in our country knew that it was a strategic mistake to stay there”. The then leaders “didn't have the courage to stand up. This Congress is showing the courage to stand up” Murphy said.
Sen. John McCain (R. Ariz.) called the resolution a “partisan stunt” and “a meaningless, meaningless resolution”.
Vietnam war veteran Rep. Sam Johnson from Texas voted against the resolution and ended the debate with an impassioned appeal “to stand up for my friends who did not make it home, and for those who fought and died in Iraq already”.
