House Passes Rest For Troops (Webb Amendment)
The House has just passed H.R. 3159, Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act by a vote of 229-194. The bill mandates troop rest times equal to their deployment times, similar to an amendment by Senator Jim Webb, D-Va supported by 56 Senators as an amendment to the defense authorization bill. It would require active duty forces to be guaranteed that their time at home match the length of their deployment. National Guard and reservists would be home for three times the length of the deployments. The bill would allow the President to waive these requirements to meet the national security needs of the country, and allow Service Chiefs of Staff to allow for the voluntary mobilization of members. These requirements would apply to those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The bill also expresses a sense of the Congress that the goal for the time between deployments for regular components should be one year deployed to two years at home station, and the goal for the reserve components should be one year deployed to five years at home station.
The question for the Members of the House today is, who do you stand for? Do you stand for military planners or other members of the Pentagon who have the executive branch to speak for them, or do you stand with the American people, the families of our troops and the troops themselves to be sure that we increase our readiness, to make sure that we honor their service, and their valor, and their sacrifice by making sure that they are not only retrained and ready, but they have time to be home with their family before they are redeployed?
That little proviso for Bush to waive these restrictions seems ripe for problems.
Here in Oregon, our favorite Repub congress-critter, Walden, voted No. I'm wondering how many times he took advantage of congress being in recess to get a little R&R, but apparently our troops don't deserve that much. Shame, shame, shame.
with a slightly larger democratic majority Bush's right to waive the restrictions wouldn't be in there.
That little problem makes this amendment null and void, sadly.
Of course Bush is going to use that proviso and keep the troops rotated at the same rate they are now, because Iraq is necessary to National Security or something.
That one little proviso makes this whole thing pointless.
That waver giving Bush control renders the bill useless. I hope we all remember how little our troops and their lives are worth to those who forced that little gem when it is time to vote.
So what is the prognosis for passing the Senate?
Will Bush veto?
Can we get a super majority?
Otherwise.....this means jack.
It's sad that this is the only way they can get any legislation to pass...
So they included a signing statement in it for the liar in chief. How convenient. Get some balls and impeach him.
Why can't we have an military anti-recruitment movment?
Openly critisize the blantant lies of military recruitment adds, its the right thing to do.
and next....the obstruction begins . the senate republicans and/or bush will say "f*ck the troops! they're just our tools of war."
Sure, the Troops will get some R&R, but much of the "time at home" will also be devoted to training. Our Soldiers will still have to be ready to fight if and when ordered.
Ok so they went to an all volunteer military. Fine.
So if its voluntary, why can't they quit?
If they could quit, then it would truly be an all voluntary military.
Otherwise they are forced into servitude.
Maybe the military lifers are afraid to many troopies would quit and they might have to do some fighting themselves?
yeah.
Does this all seem like a waste of time sometimes? I guess having an historical record is all fine and good, but nothing gets accomplished. Very disappointing.
Were there regulations in place before this bill passed the House? If so, what are they? The Republicans in the Senate are almost guaranteed to filibuster this, and if it would ever pass, Crawford's village idiot will undoubtedly veto it.
Well that's nice. The bill actually puts a Bush signing statement right in it. "This is the law, but if the President doesn't feel it works for him, he can ignore it". Can Congress get any dumber? I'm guessing they can.
allows the president to ignore. more BS, who do they think they are fooling with this act?
And imagine what national security needs might be coming. False flag this summer?
Man, I wish this was a bill that the dems could brag about, but having that provision in the bill is like telling Bush he won't need to issue another signing statement cause we covered it already. What a shame...
Now we can see that it is not the Neo-cons that truly support our troops
Mr. NeoCon @ 10:
they sure could use a good man like you to hand out pro kits!
Those folks in Congress - so brave!
One thing the Bush Republicons have seemed to have overlooked. It is never a sign of strength when your group, country or otherwise starts imposing loyalty oaths.
So, so brave!
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sponsor of a proposal to boost vehicle mileage to 35 miles per gallon by 2019, said he decided not to pursue the matter after consulting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi in a statement said she supported requiring automakers to make more fuel efficient vehicles but that the issue was deferred "in the interest of promoting passage of a consensus energy bill."
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/2/173313/2931
Good job, Nancy! Just terrific, Ed!
You go, Congress! You GO!
the HOUSE should pass a permanent "REST" resolution for the BUSH administration by IMPEACHING them right away.
It is NOW at the point where either they IMPEACH these crooked people or WE will make sure to replace them and bring SPINE back to our CONGRESS. that is their perogative.
Bush did not serve as well as Cheney, Rumsfeld and co.
Let's remember all who vote against this one and vote them all out in 2008. Let’s clean the last congress out. The ones who control us by fraud were in the corporation pocket. They all have to go.
I did vote by proxy to get rid of a Republican senator and it work. Next time we should eliminate more.
Then demand real changes in our constitution. Like winner takes all, no more delegates. We need term limit for all even the Supreme Court. We are 2007 not 1776 mode. It is time to upgrade our constitution like we do our computer! What would happen if you did not upgrade your PC????????????? Crash………….
DON"T BRING THE TROOPS HOME!
Keep 'em in the field George for as long as you can.
How else is Saudi Arabia going to use up the $20B in arms you'll be selling them?
IT is CLEAR as day light that the SPEAKER of the House is complicit in this administration breaking of the U.S. Constitution. We need to shine the LIGHT on the enabler, we may discover the REAL truth behind the reason they chose to go against their OATH of duty to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution and why they chose to ABUSE their power by means of refusing to up-hold the one REMEDY that can end this madness---IMPEACHMENT.
It is highly suspicious that they continue to take this route and go against the vast majority of people (70% of the voting population) call for impeachment.
Kryptik @ 3:
BINGO. It's just the loophole the little bastard needs.
another weak kneed bandaid
That little provisio: Bush will grab them back by the scruff of their necks, run them into the ground as always.
Are the dems fucking stupid or what????
anon @ 23:
4 years back the idea which has ripened is this:
Replace quasi dems with the threat of fresh contenders for their seats.
(Sheehan's awkward move to replace Pelosi is the wrong contender, but the right idea)
Put kindling under all those seats in '08 and we'll see the action we're looking for.
re: @30, Same to the republicans, who must be kept busy saving their own asses.
You heard it here first: CHAOS brought to you by your friendly constituents.
H. Res. xxxx
"The terms of rest between deployments will be as follows: After a soldier returns from his current deployment to Iraq, he will stay home. Permanently. Because we are done fighting in Iraq, effective now."
Come get me when they pass this one. Short of that, they are all fucking worthless shitbags.
so the senate dems pass a bill telling the pres to treat the troops right or else...he'll have to waive the bills restrictions.
whoop de doo. that's tellin him.
why even bother dems? why not just be honest and give unka georgie a great big ol' joe lieberman kissi-poo right upfront instead of foisting all this useless crap on us?
these four dinos voted against the bill:
Brian Baird, Christopher Carney, Jim Marshall, Charles Melanco
navyswan @ 33:
Yes and yes. These Deployment and rest schedules, don't they prolong a soldier's committment? So the WH can collar them and interrupt and tie up their lives for years?
WWII a soldier had a rest after 170 days on the front lines, NOT A YEAR which is cruel beyond words! And then to throw them back in after a few weeks or a month???
This proposal is empty. The dems are stupid or cruel to give BUSH ANY OPTIONS, personally I now believe they are complicit. To bring up reasonable tours, and take it away by giving bush anything is a cruel and punitive TRICK on the troops. When are they going to mutiny?
Impeachment was a good idea 5 years ago, and it's IMPERATIVE now.
Stupid question: where can I go to see the votes? I feel a letter to my senator coming on.
The little exception might be exploitable, but it does make sense if we have a reasonable president. Even so, it can be a trap to Bush if he decides to use it.
It really annoys me when people say "way to go democrats" as if they had any power in this congress. If nothing else, this bill shows that there is no way the house or senate can pass anything worthwhile as long as the power is so split. any progress is going to come very, very slowly. i'm really disappointed that other people blame the democrats for this. ignorant people. there is no realistic alternative right now.
Oh come on, that litttle provision that gives Bush the power to extend troop deployment isn't as bad as you guys make it sound. It's bad for the troops if Bush does uses the provision, buuuuuuuut it makes him look like an asshole if he does use it (hopefully that will keep him from doing it) and if he does use it, at least Republicans will face political repercussions. Anyway, in the future there might come a time when a REASONABLE president would need to deploy troops for a long time. [Deleted. Surely you are able to express your thoughts without the abuse-Sitemonitor]
Which brings me to the reason we need to stop funding and bring these young people home.
That is the only sure solution to our problem is to stop this mad man right dead in his disgusting tracks
Straight Shooter @ 1:
The guys (and gals) in Vietnam got Bangkok, Manila, Hong Kong - take a look at what the guys (and gals) in Iraq get...
http://snipurl.com/1p47l
Boo Boo JaBOO @ 40:
Wow. Since when has bush displayed any awareness of appearances or cause and effect or cared how his actions impact his party? Since when has bush shown any conscience about the impact during or after combat for ANY soldier, any citizen or their families? Bush destroys and never cleans up afterwards. He's a disgusting piece of shit with facial features.
Just as this piece of legislation was written to rest soldiers (since they are not machines and stretched past their limits) which in all past wars was understood as a right and HUMAN NEED which this administration has to be forced to comply with on all matters pertaining to cause and effect, sociopathically GONE and in need of restraint because of it's complete lack of conscience like any CRIMINAL MIND.
Legislation is written as needed and rewritten as needed and making provisions for FUTURE WARS when what is happening is CONSTANT WAR.
You sound like a cancer with it's own logic. ugh.
Speaking of R&R @ 42:
Read this one. Our soldier's R&R is more like an hour in the exercise yard at Reiker's Island.
BUSH HOW DO I HATE THEE? No torture is extreme enough you fucker.
You give liberals a bad name with your crazy histrionics. You guys need to chill with your overly dramatic rhetoric.
crazylove @ 43:
You still sound like a cancer with it’s own logic. ugh.
Boboboboo, I just don't understand why [Deleted] insist on stationing your [Deleted] asses here.
I suspect people like yourself really have nothing to say to each other and bore one another to tears.
Emptiness of everything you poor impoverished sot.
[Please express your thoughts without insulting other posters-Sitemonitor]
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