It seems that the “dwell time” amendment that Senator Jim Webb has proposed will likely be reintroduced and voted on tomorrow (Wednesday). The Senator’s website features a copy of the updated amendment (pdf) along with a fact sheet (Word doc). The Senator has recorded a brief video on this topic (available here as a FLV file and here as an MP4 file – neither of which will open in Windows Media player – check out this for an FLV player and this for an MP4 player).
As I reported last week, the amendment received 56 votes last time, four shy of the filibuster-proof 60 needed. One of those who may vote with Webb this time is John Warner. RK has the phone number for contacting Warner’s office.
Technorati Tags: Jim Webb, dwell time amendment
I know this is trite, but these so called “support the troops” guys and gasl are pathetic. why don’t they just let blackwater stay in iraq and just fade away.
so when bush says he needs billions for iraq. say yeh sure, it is for the mercenaries.
hey if our troops were staying at the marriott in baghdad, or even living in the green zone I would pay, but they are sleeping on the ground for god’s sake with a ration of two walmart bottles or water a day.
talkabout supporting the troops.
Posted by linda b | Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 12:02 amVivian, The VLC player is really quite useful. It even has the ability to record streaming video, if set up right, and uses a lot less memory than WMP. (This is the one you have above as the MP4 player suggestion.)
Just thought you would like to know.
Posted by Mark Brooks | Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 12:38 amThanks for the info.Good to know
Posted by vjp | Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 1:02 amThe Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Warner is reconsidering his support. I learned this from talkingpointsmemo.com which reports that Warner is “reconsidering his position” in light of the administration’s willingness to move closer to him on expediting some reduction in U.S. troop levels this year in Iraq. “It took a lot of convincing to make the first units come home before Christmas,” Mr. Warner said. “There is a lot of importance in that.”
This is patently a false rationale. Warner initially “broke” with Bush by saying that a symbolic number of troops needed to be withdrawn to make clear to the Iraqi government that our commitment is not open-ended. Bush’s pledge to bring some troops home by this Christmas sends absolutely the opposite signal to Iraqi government. Between Gen. Petraeus’ testimony and everything the Bush Administration has said since, it is clear that the only troops that are coming home are those that were going to have to come home anyway because the surge can’t be sustained beyond the middle of next year.
I’m not sure how you pressure a guy who’s announced his retirement, but it’s definitely worth trying.
Posted by jsrutstein | Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 5:44 amYes, VLC is good for pretty much everything. It’s my primary non-MP3 player.
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Warner’s going to abandon Webb on this. Instead of standing a little taller on his way out, he’s going to keep stooping lower and lower. 2008 can’t come soon enough.
Posted by MB | Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 8:58 amWarner is bailing, I fear, in the worst possible way.
This morning, he introduced a side by side resolution with the Webb amendment. This non binding resolution has only 1 purpose, offer political coverage for the wavering republicans who may now vote against a REAL bill to support the troops.
Posted by Newport News Dem | Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 12:28 pmOur troops are being held hostage in Iraq. No Americans are allowed to leave the Green Zone because of increased violence because of the Blackwater mercenary killings last weekend.
Blackwater has been told to leave Iraq because of that.
Condi called Maliki and APOLOGIZED for the killings?
This is outrageous.
Bring them home NOW.
Posted by linda b | Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 3:24 pmThe amendment didn’t go anywhere! Only 56 votes for it and John Warner voted against it! Won’t have that problem with the next Warner.
John Warner just dropped down from statesman status to just another Republican with that vote. I used to have a lot of respect for him! Too bad he couldn’t vote for what he knew was right thing to do!
Posted by BS | Thursday, September 20, 2007, 10:15 pm