Really Pissed Off!

The Webb – Hagel Amendment went down to defeat on a partisan vote of 56 Yeas to 44 Nays on the Senate at 5:30 PM on September 19, 2007. It was a bi-partisan lifeline to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan that would have allowed our troops an equal amount of time home, before they were redeployed. It also included that no Reserve or National Guard Unit could be redeployed within three years of their previous deployment. It crashed in the halls of the Senate and those who voted against it now have blood on their hands.

The amendment was co-sponsored by Jim Webb (D-VA) and Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE). Facing a possible widening crisis, this amendment allowed the President to waive the provisions of this amendment in cases of national or international emergency through the approval of Congress and allowed individual deployment for those who desired to return to active duty, before their allotted time was up. There was also an exception for Special Forces due their unique operating assignments and rotations. Proponents of the War believed that this was a back door for the reduction of troops in Iraq. We don’t have to worry about a reduction of troops in Afghanistan, as we do not have enough troops there in the first place! On the contrary, we are fast approaching a major crisis with out Armed Forces, given the present situation, especially in Iraq. Besides, when asked what he would do with the reduction of Army and Marines, Bush replied that he would deploy more National Guard Units to fill the gap! At the present, the United States Armed Forces are operating under a 15 month deployment and a 12 month leave time. This amendment was requesting a 1 to 1 deployment to leave ratio. British Armed Forces have been operating under a 1 to 4 deployment to leave ratio.

Why the fuss? Just in case you haven’t noticed, we an exhausting our Armed Forces under the present deployment order by the President, to a point where they are no longer functioning a full capacity. We have stretched our military resources to the breaking point. Mental Health issues have increased expedientially with the present rate of deployment. What is the end result you ask? Our troops may be unable to fight at full capacity, the possibility of failure in missions assigned may be increased and a demoralization of our Armed Services is a definite possibility. We cannot keep up with “The Surge” and maintain our world wide commitments with our present Armed Forces. Gen. James Jones reported that we should “redefine” our mission in Iraq to border security and turn over internal security to the Iraqis, with the hope that they can pick up the stick and run with it. The outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Peter Pace has called for the reduction of troop levels in Iraq. These recommendations are primarily aimed at the condition of our troops, who are burned out by this protracted war. Congress had a chance to make its own statement but the cowards prevailed! Let’s take a look at who voted for the Webb – Hagel Amendment.

All 49 Democrats and 1 Independent in the Senate voted Yea. Only 6 Republicans joined them! They are: Norm Coleman of MN, Susan Collins of ME, Chuck Hagel (co-sponsor) of NE, Gordon Smith of OR, Olympia Snowe of ME and John Sununu of NH! How much do you want wager that those 43 Republicans and 1 Independent who voted Nay have a “We Support Our Troops” bumper sticker on their car, just for their constituencies at home? If they did support the troops, they would have approved this amendment to H.R. 1585 and provided relief for our weary troops. As long as a fraction of our population fights this war while the rest of the nation continues to go to the mall, read the Wall Street Journal to make sure that their investments are doing well and enjoying life as nothing was wrong, these troops will continue to suffer and despair! Shame on those who voted against this amendment and shame on those who continue to support this Imperialistic Administration, which continues to demand more and more lives to continue to perpetrate a lie to the American people!