Democrats reverse course, exactly as predicted>Dems Want to Keep GOP From Votes on Iraq
By EDWIN LAND (AP), Aug 1, 2007
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Democratic leaders are intent on reversing attempts to change course in Iraq at least until fall, rather than allow Republicans to vote for legislation that lacks a troop withdrawal deadline.
Several lawmakers and aides said the goal was to deny members of the GOP rank and file a chance to vote for a limited measure.
Polls have long shown the war to be unpopular, but a survey released during the day by the Democracy Corps, which advises Democrats, reported that many of those polled do not want their representative to undermine the president.
"The one thing that would actually advance the agenda would be to get a redeployment plan," said Democrat Neil Abercrombie, a self-described progressive liberal who has voted for stronger legislation, including a fixed troop withdrawal deadline.
In a challenge to his own leadership, Abercrombie said, "I would hate to be in a situation where the Democratic Party was trying to explain that it wants to score political points rather than end the war."
House Democrats set their strategy as Adm. Michael Mullen, President Bush's choice to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, glided through his confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Mullen told lawmakers that the security situation in Iraq is better since Bush ordered additional troops deployed last winter.
Mullen said repeatedly he wants to see an assessment due in September by Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, before determining what the next step should be.
Bush has said he, too, is awaiting the report before deciding what change in policy, if any, is needed.
Congress is expected to adjourn this week until early in September.
Democrat Harry Reid abruptly postponed debate on a military bill recently after Republicans stymied a final vote on a troop withdrawal plan. The effect was to block action on at least two plans that were designed to nudge Bush in a new direction.
In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said there would be at least two votes later this week that challenge Bush's conduct of the global war on terror.
The first would force the administration to stop using the facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to hold enemy combatants.
The second would guarantee U.S. troops more time at home between deployments to Iraq than they now receive, a proposal she said will make it very difficult for the military to conduct operations it has planned in Iraq.
No vote is planned this week on a proposal by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., that calls for a withdrawal to begin within 60 days.
Murtha, one of Congress' most persistent critics of the war, unveiled his proposal several days ago and said he hoped it would draw support from Republicans who have supported Bush.
One official said that measure may resurface in September, when Congress must vote on additional funding for the war, but cautioned that it may change significantly by then.< |
