1:25 p.m.
Breaking a parliamentary roadblock, the Senate today began its first formal debate on the Iraq war since Democrats took control of Congress, taking up a Democratic resolution calling for President Bush to withdraw U.S. combat troops by the end of next March. The White House swiftly issued a veto threat.
The 89-9 vote paved the way for consideration of the legislation, which would start troop withdrawals within four months and calls for — but does not require — the complete removal of combat troops by the end of March 2008. The vote came after many Republicans abandoned the tactic they had used twice earlier this year to prevent the Senate from considering legislation aimed at forcing an end to the war.
Despite the vote, most Republicans opposed the bill and it was expected to eventually fall short of the 60 votes it will need. Even so, the debate will give Democrats a chance to put Republicans on record as opposing a timetable on the war.
“This is the message the American people delivered to Congress on Nov. 7, 2006, and this is the message we must send to President Bush,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
The Senate breakthrough came after Republicans abandoned demands for assurances that a debate on the war include consideration of various proposals from members of their party, including a resolution vowing to protect funding for troops. Fearful such a measure would undercut the antiwar message Democrats wanted, Senate Democrats had refused.
But confident that the latest Democratic proposal would fail, Republicans agreed to let debate begin. Republicans have argued that Congress should give the troop increase Mr. Bush ordered in January time to work. The president says the increase — 21,500 combat troops plus thousands of additional support troops — is needed to help stabilize Iraq, where U.S. forces are commanded by Gen. David H. Petraeus.
“It is a clear statement of retreat from the support that the Senate only recently gave to Gen. Petraeus,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, referring to the chamber’s recent approval of Gen. Petraeus’ nomination as commanding general of the Iraq war.
The White House said the resolution “infringes upon the constitutional authority of the president as commander in chief by imposing an artificial timeline to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, regardless of the conditions on the ground or the consequences of defeat,” according an administration statement.
The Senate measure is weaker than legislation being considered by House Democrats that would demand troops leave before September 2008. However, several Senate Democrats have been reluctant to impose a strict deadline on the president.
In the House, Democratic leaders continued to try to rally members behind spending legislation aimed at ending the war. The House passed a nonbinding resolution in February stating opposition to Mr. Bush’s decision to send additional troops to Iraq.
The $124 billion measure would include $95.5 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The money for the Defense Department is $4 billion more than the president requested — extra money intended to enhance operations in Afghanistan and pay for added training and equipment and improved medical care for U.S. troops.
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