PJM News - Senate Rejects U.S. Troop Pullout in Iraq (9199577/AP): "WASHINGTON, Jun 15, 2006 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- The Senate rejected a call for the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq by year's end on Thursday as Congress erupted in impassioned, election-year debate over a conflict that now has claimed the lives of 2,500 American troops.

The vote was 93-6 to shelve the proposal, which would have allowed 'only forces that are critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces' to remain in 2007."


File under: Calling your bluff.

Demomcrats and Republicans alike both know that the talk of withdrawal is fodder for the election. The Republicans shrewdly forced the Democrats to vote on the issue before the election cycle. They now have a hammer to beat them with when they raise the spectre of leaving Iraq. This isn't the last of this issue, nor will Democrats tone down the rhetoric but it is a point scored for the GOP.

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