UK Plans Troop Reduction

Staff / Truthdig Oct 9, 2007 The British government is planning to downsize its military presence in Iraq this May by 800 to leave a total of 7,000 troops, a move Defense Secretary John Reid insists is not meant to signal a "handover of responsibility" to Iraqi forces, according to the BBC. Updated Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Vetoes Children’s Health Care Bill

Staff / Truthdig Oct 3, 2007 President Bush may not have done his party any favor in coming elections by exercising his veto privilege -- the fourth time he's done so -- to deep-six a bipartisan bill passed by Congress that would have renewed the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Limbaugh Is Called Out for ‘Phony Soldiers’ Remark

Staff / Truthdig Oct 2, 2007 He's certainly not famous for his magnanimity, but this time Rush Limbaugh's sharp tongue seems to have gotten him into a real pickle. The conservative radio talk show host is under fire from congressional Democrats for his recent statement that U.S. troops who oppose the war are "phony soldiers." Limbaugh's ill-conceived rant also caught this active-duty soldier's attention, judging by his blog. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Review of Bridges Ordered After Collapse

Staff / Truthdig Aug 3, 2007 As divers continue their search for bodies in the Mississippi River after Wednesday's bridge collapse in Minneapolis, federal transportation officials are calling for a review of some 700 similar structures. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Reid Promises to Force Filibuster on Iraq Withdrawal

Staff / Truthdig Jul 17, 2007 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has announced that Senate Democrats are going to force Republicans to filibuster all night long if they want to continue to block Iraq troop withdrawal legislation. Previously, the Democrats politely allowed the opposition's formal promise to filibuster to stand in for the action itself. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

House Passes Iraq Withdrawal Bill

Staff / Truthdig Jul 13, 2007 Although the legislation is sure to be shot down by President Bush if it survives in the Senate, the House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday calling for the majority of U.S. troops in Iraq to be withdrawn by April 2008. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Call to Limit Deployments Is a No-Go in Senate

Staff / Truthdig Jul 12, 2007 So much for "supporting our troops": A bipartisan proposal sponsored by two combat veterans to give exhausted U.S. troops more time between their military deployments overseas was defeated by Republicans in the Senate, the first vote of a two-week congressional debate on Iraq. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Democrats Get the Message

Staff / Truthdig Jun 30, 2007 The Democrats in Congress know Americans are frustrated with their failure to change Iraq policy and have devised a new strategy to try to convince voters to keep them in the majority. The plan includes weekly war votes to put the hawks on the defensive, along with more aggressive legislation that would set a binding withdrawal deadline, raise troop readiness standards and close Guantanamo. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Odd Couple Still Pushing Immigration Reform

Staff / Truthdig Jun 16, 2007 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Bush are determined to push through the ailing immigration reform bill, despite heavy opposition from both sides of the aisle. Reid, who has partnered with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Democrats would work through the July 4 recess if necessary. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pelosi, Reid: ‘Surge’ Has Failed

Staff / Truthdig Jun 14, 2007 Top congressional Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid sent President Bush a pre-emptive strike in the form of a letter Wednesday, prior to a meeting with him later in the day, declaring that the "surge" strategy in Iraq was a failure on several fronts Reid and Pelosi's challenge came on the same day as news broke about an "indefinite" curfew imposed in Baghdad. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Democrats Will Try Again to End War Funding

Staff / Truthdig May 9, 2007 Sen. Russ Feingold, Majority Leader Harry Reid and eight other Senate Democrats have decided to respond to Bush's veto with an amendment that would halt war funding if troops were not safely withdrawn from Iraq by March 31, 2008. Exceptions would include operations against terrorist organizations, training for Iraqi soldiers and protection of U.S. infrastructure and personnel. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush, Democrats Sound Off on the Veto

Staff / Truthdig May 2, 2007 The president says the Democrats are trying to substitute political opinions for military judgment (he should talk). House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the president wants a blank check for the war and he's not going to get one (at least for now). On Wednesday they meet to debate the issue in person. Here's a preview. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )