Passed the timeline. This was a surprise, as McConnel was claiming he had the votes, and Cheney was in route to the Senate in case of a tie.
Hagel flipped and supported the dems on it. That's how it went through. No word yet on whether Cheney had another heart attack on hearing the news.
Now, it gets interesting.
Senate backs March '08 pullout
Defying veto threat, lawmakers narrowly signal support for troop pullout
BREAKING NEWS
The Associated Press
Updated: 5:39 p.m. ET March 27, 2007
WASHINGTON - Defying a veto threat, the Democratic-controlled Senate narrowly signaled support Tuesday for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by next March.
Republican attempts to scuttle the non-binding timeline failed on a vote of 50-48, largely along party lines. The roll call marked the Senate's most forceful challenge to date of the administration's handling of a war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,200 U.S. troops.
The provision is attached to a $122 billion bill that would fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The United States Senate will ensure they have everything they need to continue this fight as we have done," said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. But, he added, "We must also ensure that our soldiers have a strategy for success."
Different withdrawal dates
The bill is similar to one the House passed last week, but with a tougher deadline. While the Senate identifies March 2008 as a goal - giving the president leeway to ignore the deadline - the House voted 218-212 to require all combat troops out as of Aug. 31, 2008.
The withdrawal proposals have drawn veto threats from President Bush and rallied Republicans.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17811336/
Hagel flipped and supported the dems on it. That's how it went through. No word yet on whether Cheney had another heart attack on hearing the news.
Now, it gets interesting.
Senate backs March '08 pullout
Defying veto threat, lawmakers narrowly signal support for troop pullout
BREAKING NEWS
The Associated Press
Updated: 5:39 p.m. ET March 27, 2007
WASHINGTON - Defying a veto threat, the Democratic-controlled Senate narrowly signaled support Tuesday for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by next March.
Republican attempts to scuttle the non-binding timeline failed on a vote of 50-48, largely along party lines. The roll call marked the Senate's most forceful challenge to date of the administration's handling of a war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,200 U.S. troops.
The provision is attached to a $122 billion bill that would fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The United States Senate will ensure they have everything they need to continue this fight as we have done," said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. But, he added, "We must also ensure that our soldiers have a strategy for success."
Different withdrawal dates
The bill is similar to one the House passed last week, but with a tougher deadline. While the Senate identifies March 2008 as a goal - giving the president leeway to ignore the deadline - the House voted 218-212 to require all combat troops out as of Aug. 31, 2008.
The withdrawal proposals have drawn veto threats from President Bush and rallied Republicans.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17811336/
