They Voted For You: Troop Deployments

U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va., supported an amendment Thursday to "specify minimum periods between deployment of units and members of the Armed Forces deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom."

The measure proposed by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., to amend the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008" required 60 votes but failed 56-44.

Byrd and Rockefeller also voted for a separate amendment to the bill to "safely redeploy United States troops from Iraq." It fell 28-70.

The Associated Press covered the recent Senate action, while The Register-Herald of Beckley hears from West Virginia's senators on the matter.

Also Thursday, Byrd and Rockefeller cast votes against a measure related to the Iraq bill that would "express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces."

That amendment passed, 72-25.