If you were a democrat, how would you end the war?

Question

The democrats have tried to put a timetable into the bill giving money for the Iraq War. This has been unsuccessful because of veto and filibuster. So it seems that this method wouldn't work. Do you see another way for the democrats to end the war? Or do you have any ideas as what you would do in their position to end the war?

I am NOT asking for you opinion on the Iraq War, or the democrats, republicans, or the president. And I am not asking you opinion on the timetable or ending the war ideas. I am not endorsing nor against ending the war. I am asking this question purely as a process of the government question. So please only answer the question, and don't comment on democrats, republicans, or the president in general. Thank you.

Great answers so far. And no insults. thanks.

Answer 1

Yeah, stop sending war spending bills to the President.

There is nothing in the Constitution which states that a spending bill for war HAS to be sent to the President by Congress.

Congress by Constitutional authority, holds the purse strings and can legally cut off funding at any time by not sending additional bills to the President.

Right now Reid/Pelosi are playing a game of chicken with Bush. It is in Reid/Pelosi's best interests to make Bush flinch first, which if they hold fast on the $50 billion limit and pull-out timeframe, will come soon. Bush will have no choice but to acquiesce.

BTW: I am not taking sides here, just presenting the facts of the situation.

Answer 2

Wow....great question.

The Democrats really don't have many options in ending the war. They CAN still use the power the purse, however. It is Congress's option to list restrictions on the use of finances. If the Democrats stick their guns and send up a bill stating that they will not fund the war without a time table for the removal of troops then the ball would be in the White House's court. The President can veto the spending bill and send it back to Congress. Even if Congress doesn't have enough votes to override the veto...they still have three options. Give in to the President and fully fund the war effort OR send up another bill with the same or slightly changed wording OR say funding for the war stops immediately. The biggest problem is that the Democrats do not want to seem as anti-troops. The money that is raised for the war effort goes mainly to funding these men and women, and to cut it off completely would be to put them in harms way.

I don't think we will see a resolution to this war until after the 2008 election.

Answer 3

Not sure the democrats can. The war will continue until the government in Iraq actually wants to form a government and stop fighting to be the next Hussein. As usual our troops are being used as the worlds police force.

Answer 4

Why do human beings look upset with the Democrats over wars while it is the Republicans who've a tendency to invade extra regularly? the two Afghanistan and Iraq have been Bush's wars, and Obama is taking flight from the latter.

Answer 5

First, I would withdraw 50% of all troops in Iraq.
Second, I would move 1/2 of the remaining to the borders of Iraq.
Third, I would move the remaining 25% equally between Saudia Arabia & Kuwait. There is were we need to train the Iraq Police and Military.
Forth, I would partition Iraq into a Kurd, Sunni, & Shia States, with each state have a police - military force made up of equall amounts of the other ethnic peoples ( ie in the Sunni State 50% of police and military Kurd & 50% Shai)
Lastly, I would use all force ( political, financial, & military if needed ) to make Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, and all other moderate Arab countries to pay for the secruity and politcal over-seeing of this newly created 3 - state democracy with a central government in Bagdad.

Answer 6

I would give the Iraqi government 2 months to meet a list of criteria, then pull all troops out to defensible positions away from urban areas. We can't be the police force forever.

Answer 7

Keep all media, foreign and domestic away, then do what was always done to end a war, break things, kill people, and let the blood spolled by civilians be on their hands.

Answer 8

Well number one, this isn't a war, it is an attempt to set up a democracy. I would give the Iraqi government a realistic time line to do it themselves and stick to it. they are not going to be in a hurry to accomplish anything if they know we are there indefinitely.

Answer 9

peace flowers, and other $H!+. that's how a democrat ends a war.

Answer 10

I'd evac them out of IRAQ asap to a safe country and start bringing them all home now