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Senate Democrats Split Over War Proposals: GOP Ridicules 2 Plans for Pullout From Iraq

Posted on: Thursday, 22 June 2006, 12:00 CDT

By William Neikirk, Chicago Tribune

Jun. 22--WASHINGTON -- Senate Democrats put up a divided front on the Iraqi war Wednesday while Republicans stood firmly by President Bush in a debate that put in sharp relief how the conflict may play as an issue in this year's campaign for control of Congress.

While Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) called for a withdrawal from Iraq of all U.S. forces by July 1, 2007, other Democrats rallied behind a non-binding proposal urging Bush to submit a plan for phased redeployment of troops by the end of the year.

The GOP ridiculed both approaches. But the war is unpopular, according to public opinion polls, and Democrats played to their strength in that regard as they used the Senate floor as a forum to reach voters.

The Republican-controlled Senate was expected to defeat both proposals, offered as amendments to a defense spending measure, but the debate put on display a number of would-be presidential candidates on the No. 1 political issue facing the country. Votes are expected Thursday.

Though they were divided, it appeared that many Democrats were trying to distance themselves from proposals by Kerry and other Democrats to require a date-certain withdrawal--a plan many thought exposes them to charges that their only policy on Iraq is to "cut and run."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), an opponent of a firm date for withdrawal and a leading candidate for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president, backed the non-binding resolution. She lambasted the White House and Republicans in a speech that brought some clarity to her position.

"They may not have a war strategy but they do have a re-election strategy," said Clinton, adding that the White House had questioned the patriotism of those who have criticized the continuing American involvement in the war. "This is politics at its worst."

She criticized the open-ended White House policy and said a new direction is needed.

"While our troops are serving bravely and with our national security in the balance, it is time to choose what is more important, a strategy to win in Iraq or a strategy for Republicans to win elections here at home," she said.

By contrast, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, called the proposals for withdrawal "a road to disaster" that could undermine the new Iraqi government and even spark a civil war. "Violence will rise immensely," he said, and the entire Middle East would be threatened.

McCain said the two Democratic proposals were rooted in election-year politics and would only make matters worse. Iran would gain influence in the region, he said, and terrorists would gain in strength. "I do not believe that they [terrorists] will stop in Iraq," McCain said.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), often mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, opposed the Kerry withdrawal plan in favor of the non-binding approach offered by Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Dianne Feinstein of California and Ken Salazar of Colorado.

Although critical of the Bush policy, Obama said "we need to exit Iraq, but not in a way that leaves a security problem behind. ... We did not think through going in. We should think through going out."

He added that it was unacceptable for the conflict to drift and that Iraqis should be told to "get on with it" in quelling the violence.

And he took a shot at presidential political adviser Karl Rove for criticizing Democrats on the war during campaign jaunts to New Hampshire. Such politicking has to end, he said.

Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) said both Democratic versions provide for a timetable for withdrawing troops, even if one is non-binding. The U.S. has made great progress in stabilizing Iraq, he said, but the Democratic proposals would impede that progress.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) supported both the Kerry mandatory withdrawal plan and the non-binding approach. He said the Iraqis have been sent a message that the best army in the world and American taxpayers will support them indefinitely, adding that the Bush administration has "no end in sight" to the war.

While the Democratic Party appears divided on the war, Durbin said, "100 percent of our caucus believe it's time for a change, while 100 percent of the Republican caucus believes that it's time to stay the course."

wneikirk@tribune.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Chicago Tribune

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Chicago Tribune

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