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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Senate Debates Military Draw-down in Iraq

    Democratic Senate leaders staged an all-night debate on their plan to give President Bush just 120 days to start bringing troops home from Iraq. Republicans called it a "circus," a "mockery" and "Kabuki theater." Before noon today, the Democrats lost a procedural vote to cut off debate.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Democratic Senate leaders staged an all-night debate on their plan to give President Bush just 120 days to start bringing troops home from Iraq. Republicans called it a "circus," a "mockery" and "Kabuki theater." Before noon today, the Democrats lost a procedural vote to cut off debate. Yet, despite today's outcome, there's no doubt that many Republicans are uncomfortable about the President's course in Iraq—especially those who are up for re-election next year, and back an alternative that incorporates recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. Meantime, polls show that a majority of Americans think it's time for the troops to come home. We hear about the marathon session and what's next for efforts to force the President to change direction. We also talk to authorities about troop withdrawal, whether the "surge" still has a chance or if it is only postponing the inevitable.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Political Theater and the War in Iraq
    1. 1:36US Forces Announce Capture of Link between Two al Qaedas
    2. 7:26Senate Debates Military Draw-down in IraqYou’re reading this
    3. 42:40Vick Indictment Draws Attention to Pit Bull Fighting
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

    • KCRW placeholder

      Vanessa Romo

      LA School Report

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • KCRW placeholder

      Emily Pierce

      Roll Call

    • KCRW placeholder

      Barry McCaffrey

      Former Commander, US Southern Command

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ned Parker

      Reuters News Service

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Political Theater and the War in Iraq
    1. 1:36US Forces Announce Capture of Link between Two al Qaedas
    2. 7:26Senate Debates Military Draw-down in IraqYou’re reading this
    3. 42:40Vick Indictment Draws Attention to Pit Bull Fighting
    Back to To the Point