Leahy And Sanders Again Join In Offering Amendment
To Require Redeployment Of U.S. Troops Out Of Iraq

 Troop Withdrawal Amendment Dies In 28 To 70 Senate Vote 

WASHINGTON (Thursday, Sept. 20) -- In a vote of 28 to 70, the U.S. Senate Thursday afternoon defeated an amendment backed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to require the President to begin redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq within 90 days of enactment, with full redeployment by June 30, 2008.  The amendment was the strongest amendment on ending U.S. involvement in the Iraq war that has been offered to the annual Defense Authorization Bill, which has been before the Senate all week.  Opponents of the amendment had required a threshold of 60 votes. 

The Feingold Amendment, cosponsored by Leahy and Sanders, also would terminate funding for military operations in Iraq after June 30 next year, with exceptions for targeted operations against al Qaeda and its affiliates, providing security for U.S. government personnel and infrastructure, and for limited training of Iraqis.   

Leahy said, “This is the only proposal that addresses the President’s failed Iraq policy head on.  If the President insists on endlessly prolonging this conflict, then Congress must be the catalyst to chart a new course.  We will keep pushing to achieve that.” 

Sanders said, “I am supporting the strongest legislation in Congress to end the war in Iraq as soon as possible.  After 3,800 American troops have been killed, 28,000 wounded and $500 billion spent on a war President Bush misled us into, it is a tragedy that he still has no exit strategy.  Some of his advisers say the war could go on another five years or 10 years.  That is unacceptable.” 

# # # # #