Out of Iraq in '08?

The day's other big story, of course, is the new Democratic plan on Iraq, to get combat troops out of Iraq by the end of next summer. The White House is already planning a veto. Hillary Clinton is trying to weasel between the two. My temporary hometown L.A. Times has the best rundown on what the House and Senate plans say. I'm curious: What do you guys think? Does a deadline for bringing combat troops home make sense? Let's hear it...

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate unveiled timetables for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. Both approaches would allow some forces to remain to protect American operations, train Iraqis and conduct counter-terrorism raids.*

House proposal

__July 1: __The president must certify that Iraq is making progress toward key goals, such as disarming militias. If he does not, combat troops would be withdrawn by December.

Oct. 1: The president must certify that Iraqis have met key goals. If he does not, combat troops would be withdrawn by March 2008.

March 1, 2008: Latest start date for the redeployment of combat troops.

__August 2008: __All combat troops must be withdrawn.

Senate proposal*

__120 days after passage: __The president must begin withdrawing combat troops.

__March 31, 2008: __The goal for redeploying all combat forces.