Barbara Lee (D-CA) has introduced an amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill.

For those who have been following this issue really, really closely, this amendment mirrors the language of Jerrold Nadler's bill H.R. 455. For the rest of us, the amendment would require that any money spent on military operations in Iraq must be only for protection of our troops and for getting our troops out by the end of 2007.

This amendment, if passed, would require George W. Bush to either accept an early end to our occupation of Iraq (and the resulting U.S. deaths), or veto the supplemental appropriation he needs to continue the occupation.

The current plan being offered by Speaker Nancy Pelosi has more holes in it than a fisherman's net. This amendment has no loopholes, and is a much stronger statement of opposition to Americans dying in an occupation that violates every tenet of decency (not to mention international law).

Progressive groups are contacting their Congressional representatives in support of the Lee amendment. That's a hint.