Senate seeks to put imprint on Iraq policy

Some GOP lawmakers are among those trying to force the White House to shift its war strategy.

from the July 11, 2007 edition

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Washington - Despite a growing number of Republicans openly opposing the White House on the Iraq war, the Senate is not yet at the critical mass of votes needed to force a change in strategy.

But discontent in GOP ranks is producing the most wide-open debate in the Senate since US forces entered Iraq in March 2003.

This time, Republican lawmakers are joining Democrats in developing amendments to a $648.8 billion defense authorization bill on issues ranging from adequate rest for troops between deployments to a top-to-bottom overhaul of the mission.

"Senators are listening very carefully. This issue has got the full attention of everybody," says Sen. John Warner (R) of Virginia, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The debate is also revealing a growing bipartisan consensus on the facts on the ground, including the conviction that – short of draconian measures – current US force levels cannot be sustained in Iraq beyond next April, regardless of whether Congress has the votes to legislate a timetable of withdrawal.

"The surge has to come to an end because of lack of manpower, and there is a growing recognition among all my colleagues that the public will not support the war," said Sen. Jack Reed (D) of Rhode Island.

On Tuesday, he and Sen. Carl Levin (D) of Michigan, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced an amendment calling on the Secretary of Defense to begin the reduction of the number of US forces in Iraq not later than 120 days after the enactment of the law – and to complete the transition by April 30, 2008.

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