Why do Republicans hate our troops?

The House voted on Thursday to limit how quickly American troops can be sent back to Iraq after serving a rotation there, in the Democrats- latest challenge to Bush administration war policy.

The vote, requiring that active-duty members of the military get at least as much time at home as they served in Iraq before being sent back, passed 229 to 194. Members of the Reserves and National Guard would qualify for at least three times as much time at home as they spent in Iraq.

The measure, opposed by the administration, is unlikely to make it through Congress. Senate Republicans blocked a similar proposal last month. But Democrats wanted to take at least one more vote expressing their dissatisfaction with the way the war is being conducted. Democrats said the measure was a response to the Bush administration’s decision to quickly send units back to Iraq in order to provide the forces needed for its troop buildup, a decision that Democrats said was straining the military, hurting morale and destabilizing military families.

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