Angered by Democrats' drive for 'consensus' on Iraq, some Congressional progressives will push for withdrawal on floor
 Consensus-seeking negotiations on a measure that would limit President Bush's troop escalation in Iraq have angered Congressional progressives. RAW STORY has learned that they are readying a response that will call for a more rapid withdrawal of US troops from America's four year-long war.
A Democratic aide close to the Congressional Progressive Caucus told RAW STORY that some Democrats will push for withdrawal when the next bill on Iraq War funding comes to the House floor.
"There is a plan for a whip operation, to get votes for an amendment that will say that any money spent will go toward a fully funded withdrawal," the aide explained. "We can't support the idea of having a $150 billion Supplemental [Defense Appropriations bill] that gives $100 billion for the escalation."
The Congressional Progressive Caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee, both California Democrats. It currently claims 71 Members of Congress in its ranks and has set its own policy on Iraq.
Rising anger among Congressional progressives emerged as House Democrats suggested they were moving closer toward forging a bill that would continue to fund the Iraq War but seek to put restrictions on how the President could spend funds.
RAW STORY confirmed some key details of the funding bill under negotiation in the House Appropriations Committee. "The troops will receive the equipment and training they deserve, President Bush will be held accountable, and the Iraqis will have to meet benchmarks," a Democratic leadership staff member explained.
The Associated Press quoted Democratic Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia today as stating that the measure could see some troops come home.
"If the Iraqis fail to live up to their promises, some troops could be left behind under the Democrats' plan to train Iraqi troops or conduct counterterrorism missions," they quoted him as saying.
Moran also claimed that the bill currently under consideration had "the best chance at attracting broad support," but some sticking points existed.
House Democrats could not confirm to RAW STORY a report in today's Wall Street Journal that within the bill they intend to pass "the White House is given discretion to bypass any such restrictions that it finds burdensome, and President Bush will have a relatively free hand to add the more than 21,500 soldiers and Marines he wants by the end of May."
"The package is not wrapped up. We're still working it out," said Stacey Bernards, the spokesman for House Democratic Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer.
A House Appropriations Committee aide added that negotiations were not likely to wrap up quickly, and explained, "The issue is the need to find consensus and pass the best bill we can."
The terms of the supplemental bill on the Iraq War seemed to represent a victory for the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus in Congress that emphasizes budgetary discipline and has sometimes been identified as "conservative Democrats." They proposed a measure early last month that also emphasized the idea of benchmarks that the Iraqi government must meet to continue to receive American support.
"In furtherance of the partnership that is critical to success in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Administration should firmly condition further American financial, military, and political resources upon steady improvement in Iraqi assumption of principal responsibility for internally policing Iraq," reads a provision of H. Res. 97, a bill providing for Operation Iraqi Freedom cost accountability which was co-sponsored by all Blue Dog Coalition members.
A Democratic aide who works for a Blue Dog member said that if the bill that emerged from the Appropriations Committee was similar to those parameters, "the Blue Dog Members would be receptive, even if it's not their bill exactly."
The Democratic leadership aide insisted that the scaled-back measures in the spending bill did not represent House Democrats backing off from their promises to reign in the Iraq War.
"The principles are still there," the staff member said. "We're keeping up the pressure at home and creating strong incentives and clear benchmarks for the Iraqis to meet."
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