US Senate Republicans to allow debate on Iraq rebuke
Source: Reuters
By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate planned to begin debating on Wednesday a resolution to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, but Republicans made clear they opposed the measure and would try to prevent its passage. Some Republicans said on Tuesday events in Iraq had convinced them it was better to go ahead and debate President George W. Bush's war policy than block consideration of Democratic proposals to change the policy for a third time. "The surge is underway," said Mississippi Republican Sen. Trent Lott, referring to Bush's recent decision to add about 26,000 troops to the Iraq conflict. "There are some positive signs here." Republicans will not stop the Senate from considering the Democrats' withdrawal plan in a procedural vote expected on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, told reporters. McConnell opposed the Democrats' measure, which he said "moves us down the road toward further micromanaging the troops," and he noted similar language had drawn a veto threat from Bush. Democrats said they did not know if they could muster a majority for the measure in the narrowly-divided chamber. Under the plan, the United States would begin withdrawing soldiers from Iraq within four months. It sets a goal of pulling out all combat troops by March 31, 2008. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said he knew of 49 Democratic votes for the plan. One Democrat, South Dakota's Tim Johnson, is ill, and another senator who calls himself an independent but caucuses with the Democrats, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, is opposed. "I start with 49," Reid said. "Unless you get some Republicans it's hard to get to 50, even with modern math." Even after debate begins, Republicans could still block a final vote. Under Senate rules, most procedural motions require 60 votes out of the 100-member Senate to pass. In the House of Representatives, the Appropriations Committee hopes to approve a similar measure attached to a $124.1 billion spending bill that would provide funds to U.S. troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill also has sweeteners in it, such as new aid to farmers and southern states rebuilding after hurricanes that hit in 2005. Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, the Democratic chairman of the panel, wants to add conditions to the war money that would bring U.S. troops home from Iraq by August, 2008 at the latest. Even if the bill is approved by Obey's panel, it faces tough going in the full House. It is opposed by some liberals, who think it does not get troops out fast enough, as well as by some conservatives, who worry about directing the war from the halls of Congress. The vote "will be closer than we would like," confided one senior House Democrat who asked not to be identified and said the measure might not make it to the House floor next week. "Congress should approve the funds our troops are counting on without strings and without delay," White House budget director Rob Portman said. (Additional reporting by Rick Cowan)
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