Senate seeks to put imprint on Iraq policy

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.

A similar resolution picked up 39 votes in the Senate in 2006 and, most recently, 51 votes in 2007, including two Republicans, Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Gordon Smith of Oregon. Senators Reed and Levin say they could lose votes because the April 30 date is binding, not a target date as it has been previously. "But we could also gain votes," Levin said.

Democrats are also rallying GOP support on amendments aiming to improve the quality of life for US forces facing repeated deployments. Sen. James Webb (D) of Virginia and Senator Hagel are cosponsoring an amendment to limit the length of troop deployments overseas. "It's a floor to protect the well-being of the people who will be sent," says Senator Webb.

On the Republican side, intense discussions are ongoing on how to balance the need to pressure the White House for change, yet maintain support for US interests in the region.

"The president and his team must come to grips with the shortened political timeline in this country for military operations in Iraq," said Sen. Richard Lugar (R) of Indiana, in a June 25 speech that set off a run of GOP defections.

But he and other Republicans, including Sens. George Voinovich (R) of Ohio and Pete Domenici (R) of New Mexico, who have since broken with the White House, say that the US has legitimate interests in the region that must be preserved.

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