Senate vote sends message to Bush
Resolution passed urging regular updates on war Coalition forces have ‘done their job,’ Warner says
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Senate, led by anxious Republicans, passed a resolution yesterday which for the first time has opened the door to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
Republicans derailed a bid by Democrats to force President George W. Bush to outline a flexible timetable for a troop reduction, but did agree to a provision which would set the stage for a “ phased redeployment’’ of U.S. troops, which have now topped out at 160,000. The vote, although non- binding, is a stiff message to a president whose popularity is in the 30 per cent range.
It is also an acknowledgement by Republicans that they are heading into congressional midterm elections next year, tarred by an unpopular war being waged by a president who will not face voters again.
Virginia Senator John Warner, chair of the Armed Services Committee who co- sponsored the Republican amendment with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, said Iraqis have about 120 days to get their house in order and show greater control of their own destiny. “The coalition forces, most particularly the United States and Great Britain, have done their job, have experienced — sadly — deaths, injuries,’’ Warner said, “( and there has) been a tremendous contribution of the taxpayer dollars from this country and other countries.
“ Now we expect in return that they ( Iraqis) take charge of their nation and run it and form a democracy and prevent any vestige of a civil war from taking place.’’ The Senate vote came as the White House sought to regain control of the war at home, vigorously countering Democrats who have been accusing Bush of lying about the threats posed by Saddam Hussein in the run- up to the war. The Senate decision to demand regular updates on a war which has killed 2,071 Americans and cost this country more than $200 billion ( U. S.) came one day after the president said a debate in the U. S. over the war would send the wrong message to the insurgents. But the Senate passed the resolution by a vote of 79- 19 while Bush was on his way to Japan.
In successive speeches on Veteran’s Day last Friday and Monday in Alaska, Bush sounded like a campaigner, taking on “ irresponsible’’ Democrats who he said also backed the war based on the same intelligence available to everyone.
Yesterday, the Republican National Committee released a video with clips of prominent Democrats, including former president Bill Clinton and his secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, speaking of the threat posed by Saddam. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also sought to “retrace the actual history’’ yesterday at a Pentagon briefing. “We have people suggesting that the reason we’re there was because this president decided to go in based on information that was unique to him, and it wasn’t unique to him,’’ Rumsfeld said. The Senate amendment introduced by the Republicans requires a White House report within three months of the bill’s passage and every three months thereafter outlining the current military situation, status of Iraqi troop training and status of efforts to forge a deal among Iraq’s rival political factions.
It said 2006 should be “ a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty.”
Democratic leader Harry Reid crowed that his party had forced a change in Iraq policy from the Republicans.
“ It’s not often you see in our legislative halls here in Washington votes of no confidence on an administration,’’ he said.
“( Yesterday) you saw a vote of no confidence in the Bush administration’s policy on Iraq."
Reid called the Republican policy of “stay the
course’’ a bumper sticker,
not a policy.
Republican leader Frist
called the Democratic
plan the “cut-and-run’’ approach. A Gallup poll done for CNN and USA Today revealed yesterday that only 35 per cent of Americans approve of Bush’s performance in Iraq while 63 per cent disapprove.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair also hinted earlier this week that British troops could begin withdrawing Iraq by the end of 2006. ONLINE UPDATES
For the latest on Iraq, go to: www. thestar.com