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Senate Backs a Pullout Date in Iraq War Bill

The Senate went on record for the first time on Tuesday in favor of a withdrawal date from Iraq, with Democrats marshaling the votes they needed to deliver a forceful rebuke to President Bush’s war policy.

By a vote of 50 to 48, with a few crucial votes shifting in favor of the Democratic position, the Senate rejected a Republican effort to strip from the military spending bill any mention of a withdrawal date. The legislation will now move forward with a nonbinding goal of beginning a gradual withdrawal of American troops from Iraq within 120 days of the measure’s enactment, with a pullout by March 31, 2008.

“This bill should be named the Date Certain for Surrender Act,” said Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican. “A second-year cadet at West Point could tell you that if you announce when the end will be, it’s a recipe for defeat.”

Mr. McCain, who had planned to be away from the Capitol on Tuesday campaigning for his presidential bid, turned to a large map of Iraq positioned next to him on an easel as he made his argument. He pointed to areas around the country where Gen. David H. Petraeus, the American commander, has reported some success in his new military plan.
“We cannot give up,” Mr. McCain said, “just as we are starting to turn things around in Iraq.”

This bill will be vetoed.

And Chuck Hagel – kiss your Senate seat and any chance to run for the Presidency good bye.

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The Michael Ramirez Files

Rasmussen Reports: 2008 Republican Presidential Primary

It’s Giuliani by twenty points in the race for the GOP nomination.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone poll finds former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) with support from 35% of those likely to vote in a Republican Primary. That’s up two points from a week ago. Over the past six weeks, Giuliani’s support has ranged from 32% to 37%. Giuliani currently leads all Democrats in General Election match-ups. This includes Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards, Governor Bill Richardson, and Senator Joe Biden.

Rudy has stabilized around 35 %, McCain is still sinking or floating and Romney is dead in the water.

But, what about Fred Thompson?

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) recently indicated his possible interest in the race. Thompson has not been included in the polling to date, but will be included in next week’s update. A poll released last week showed Thompson tied with New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) but trailing Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

Next week’s Rasmussen poll will be interesting to see if McCain or Romney get a bump with Thompson in the sample and where he places in the mix.

Will Thompson erode Rudy’s support?

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The Rudy Giuliani Files

British Prime Minister Tony Blair looks on at a Public Service Reform conference in Westminster, London, Tuesday, March 27, 2007. Britain hopes that diplomacy will win the release of 15 sailors and marines detained by Iran but is prepared to move to a ‘different phase’ if negotiations fail, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday.

PM warns Iran over Navy captives

Downing Street said the UK could end up releasing evidence proving the group had not ventured into Iranian waters.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has called for their “speedy return”.

Meanwhile, the family of the only woman detained, Faye Turney from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, has said this is a “very distressing time” for them.

The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran.

Iran says they were trespassing in Iranian waters when they were seized on Friday – but the prime minister said the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.

And what does a “different phase” mean?

Coincidentally (or not), the United States Navy with the John C. Stennis has been conducting manuvers in and around the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran.

The U.S. Navy on Tuesday began its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by a pair of aircraft carriers and backed by warplanes flying simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.

The maneuvers bring together two strike groups of U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. warplanes to conduct simulated air warfare in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes.

The U.S. exercises come just four days after Iran’s capture of 15 British sailors and marines who Iran said had strayed into Iranian waters near the Gulf. Britain and the U.S. Navy have insisted the British sailors were operating in Iraqi waters.

Fancy that……

USS John C. Stennis

And the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is in the region conducting war games with the USS John C. Stennis.

USS Dwight David Eisenhower

Stay tuned……

British hostages paraded in Iran on TV in 2004

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Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?

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Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?

Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran

Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance

Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters

Day By Day by Chris Muir

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