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
Page 2 of 3
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.
"The task of securing US interests in the Middle East will be extremely difficult if Iraq policy is formulated on a partisan basis, with protagonists on both sides ignoring the complexities at the core of our situation," Senator Lugar added.
Senator Smith, who broke with the White House on the war last December, says it's essential to maintain "a reasonable security force in Iraq so that our people remaining aren't just slaughtered."
But he and other Republicans interviewed by the Monitor say that they are deeply disappointed with the failure of the Iraqi government to take the steps toward political reconciliation needed to sustain a unified nation. "A lot of people have growing misgivings that the US has a partner in Iraq that wanted what we wanted," he says. "No matter what they say, their actions are very much about carving up the country."
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