Leadership- and Not!

Los Angeles Times:

House Democratic leaders today unveiled legislation to start withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq as soon as July 1 and conclude their removal no later than August of next year.

Troops could remain, but they would be restricted to engaging in counterterrorism activities, training Iraqi troops and protecting Iraq's borders. Maintaining order in Baghdad and other cities embroiled in sectarian violence would be off-limits.

As long as U.S. troops were present, the Democratic bill would provide President Bush with the funds he seeks to equip them. It would also beef up spending for the care of wounded soldiers and veterans.

It's not perfect, but it's a huge step up from non-binding distractions!

Of course...

AP:

House Democratic leaders vowed Thursday to pass legislation setting a deadline of Sept. 1, 2008, for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq, a challenge to President Bush's war policy that drew a blunt veto threat in return.

"It would unnecessarily handcuff our generals on the ground, and it's safe to say it's a non-starter for the president," said White House spokesman Dan Bartlett.

On a political level, that's fine: it will clarify, once and for all, that this is Bush's war- a Republican war. On a tactical and humanitarian level, it's the arrogance, incompetence, and utter indifferent to human suffering that defines this disastrous maladministration.