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In Senate, passage of Iraq resolution uncertain
Debate on whether to oppose Bush's troop 'surge' begins this week, and the risks of action – or inaction – are high for both parties.
By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitorfrom the February 5, 2007 edition
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WASHINGTON - As the Senate launches a historic debate Monday over whether to oppose President Bush's new strategy for the Iraq war, the outcome may well turn on a few votes on both sides of the aisle.
Though not binding on the president, a vote in favor of a resolution to reject his plan to add 21,500 US forces in Iraq would be Congress's first against the war since it authorized the use of force in 2002.
Some backers of a compromise resolution worked out by Sens. John Warner (R) of Virginia and Carl Levin (D) of Michigan say it would be a first step toward pushing for more forceful moves, such as curbing war funds or setting a timetable for troop withdrawal. Opponents, including most Republican senators, say it would send a message of disunity to US friends and foes abroad and undermine prospects for success.
Both sides are weighing the risks of action – or inaction.
It may seem like an easy decision for Democrats, because polls show both the war and the president to be unpopular, says John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. "But if they succeed in hastening the withdrawal, and disaster results, they could wind up with some of the blame, so that's tempering the move to put some teeth in the resolution," he says. "If they put teeth in the resolution, they may be the ones to get bitten."
The risks for Republicans are different but no less sharp. "Association with an unpopular war is hurtful, as they saw in 2006 election," notes Mr. Pitney. "But if they're seen as abandoning President Bush, they could alienate a lot of primary voters and look like flip-floppers. For Republicans, it could become a character issue."
The Warner-Levin resolution calls for shifting responsibility to the Iraq government for dealing with sectarian conflict, but also specifies that nothing in the resolution should not be interpreted as "precipitating any immediate reduction in, or withdrawal of, the present level of forces." About 140,000 American troops were serving in Iraq before Mr. Bush laid out his plan on Jan. 10 to send 21,500 more.
The measure also rules out "the elimination or reduction of funds" because it could "endanger United States military forces in the field."
On the eve of debate, at least 12 Republicans were backing the Warner-Levin measure or were inclined to support it.
For Democrats, there is pressure to produce a bipartisan vote against the president's plan. But their own Sens. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut say they will oppose the resolution because it isn't strong enough.
A competing resolution – sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R) of Arizona, Joseph Lieberman (I) of Connecticut, and Lindsey Graham (R) of South Carolina – calls on Congress to provide "the full support necessary" to carry out the US mission in Iraq, including 11 benchmarks it says the Iraqis must meet.
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