More than 100 Democrats -- including 11 who voted for the war
resolution -- have signed onto a letter to President Bush requesting
an explanation of the so-called Downing Street memo, a British
document that charges the administration planned to go to war even
without hard evidence of the presence of weapons of mass destruction.

From The Boston Globe, 6/11/05:

More in Congress want Iraq exit strategy

Unease grows as war backing falls

By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON --

Faced with plummeting public support for the war in Iraq, a growing
number of members of Congress from both parties are reevaluating the
reasons for the invasion and demanding the Bush administration produce
a plan for withdrawing US troops.

A bipartisan group of House members is drafting a resolution that
calls on the administration to present a strategy for getting the
United States out of Iraq, reflecting an increasing restlessness about
the war in a chamber that 2 1/2 years ago voted overwhelmingly to
support the use of force in Iraq.

The House International Relations Committee on Thursday approved a
similar proposal, 32 to 9, with strong bipartisan support.

Sponsored by Representative Joseph Crowley, a New York Democrat who
voted to authorize force in Iraq in 2002, the proposal represents the
first time a congressional committee has moved to demand steps be
taken so that US troops can start coming home.

More than 100 Democrats -- including 11 who voted for the war
resolution -- have signed onto a letter to President Bush requesting
an explanation of the so-called Downing Street memo, a British
document that charges the administration planned to go to war even
without hard evidence of the presence of weapons of mass destruction.

The proposed resolutions would not have the force of law, if approved
by the House and Senate.

But the actions reflect discontent among lawmakers in both parties who
are hearing constituent complaints about the war's escalating body
counts and uncertain end.

Representative Walter Jones of North Carolina, a conservative
Republican who voted to authorize force, said his district is growing
weary of a war that has cost the lives of more than 1,600 US troops
and left more than 12,000 wounded.

''I'm hearing: 'How much do we have to do? We're giving blood. We're
giving money. What is the final chapter for our involvement?' I think
people are looking to the administration for an explanation, whether
we have done all we can do," said Jones, whose district is home to
60,000 retired military personnel.

Jones said he felt misled by the administration on the reasons for the
war because no weapons of mass destruction have been found.

''If I knew [then] what I knew today, I would not have voted for the
resolution," Jones said.

Representative Marty Meehan, a Lowell Democrat who also voted for the
war resolution, said he and some Democratic colleagues are working
with five to 10 House Republicans on a resolution calling for an exit
strategy to ease the United States out of Iraq.

He said he hoped to get the support of 25 or more Republicans, despite
the fact that only six voted against the war resolution.

''The war is going terribly," Meehan said.

''It's due to a lack of a plan to win the peace. Mistakes have been
piling up."

___________________________________________________________

Folks are gettin' wise. It sure took long enough. Coulda saved some
lives if these "wise folks" had awakened from their naps a li'l sooner

Harry

More than 100 Democrats -- including 11 who voted for the war
resolution -- have signed onto a letter to President Bush
requesting an explanation of the so-called Downing Street memo,
a British document that charges the administration planned to go
to war even without hard evidence of the presence of weapons of
mass destruction.