House Liberals Draw Line in Sand on Iraq

House Democratic liberals have drawn a line in the sand. They're not going to vote for any defense spending bill unless it leads to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. In the spring, liberals had reluctantly supported Democratic leaders and voted for a war funding bill. But now, some 70 Democratic liberals sent a letter to President Bush (and copied to the House Democratic leadership) that says:

We are writing to inform you that we will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave office.

The letter was not signed by any member of the Democratic leadership team or by Rep. David Obey, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, or Rep. John Murtha, chairman of the appropriations defense subcommittee.

--Silla Brush