Although the Republican-controlled Senate rejected Democratic efforts to set timetables for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, it approved an amendment to a defense appropriations bill that focuses on next year as a turning point for the military.
The measure, approved by 79-19, states that 2006 should mark a transition to Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi forces taking the lead for the nation's security and setting the stage for American forces to leave.
Forty one of the 55 Republicans voted for it.
The amendment also requires the Pentagon to provide detailed quarterly reports to Congress, including information about Iraqis training their own police and military.
This shows that the concerns of the American people are finally reaching our elected officials. When will our sons and daughters be home?Senator John McCain has been butting heads with Vice President Cheney over the use of torture. Senator McCain has first hand knowledge of torture since he was a POW. He knows the physical and psychological scars that remain after such treatment. Although I do not agree with McCain on many issues, I do agree with him that the U.S. must not use torture.
