By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
September 21, 2007
WASHINGTON - The Senate rejected legislation Friday that would
have ordered most U.S. troops home from Iraq in nine months,
culminating a losing week for Democrats who failed to push
through any anti-war proposal. The vote, 47-47, fell 13 votes
short of the 60 needed to pass.
"We're going to continue to lose lives and squander resources
while they (the Iraqis) dawdle," said Sen. Carl Levin,
D-Mich., who sponsored the bill.
Republicans blocked the measure, contending it would have
dire consequences for the region and usurp control of the war
from seasoned generals. Last week, Gen. David Petraeus, the
top U.S. military commander in Iraq, recommended to Congress
and President Bush that some 130,000 troops be kept there through
next summer a slight decrease from the more than 160,000 troops
there now.
"It would be a very overt rejection of Gen. Petraeus'
leadership," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. The military
commanders "have earned the ability to carry on their
mission," he later added.
Blocking the bill were 43 Republicans, Connecticut Independent
Joseph Lierbman and Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark
Pryor of Arkansas and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. Whereas
Nelson and Pryor say they are reluctant to embrace a timetable
on troop withdrawals, Dodd said he refuses to support anything
short of cutting of funding for combat.
Three Republicans Sens. Olympia Snowe of Maine, Gordon Smith
of Oregon and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska voted with 44 Democrats
in favor of the bill.
Petraeus' Capitol Hill testimony is widely seen as a primary
factor in shoring up support among Republicans, which had deteriorated
steadily throughout summer. While still nervous about the ongoing
violence in Iraq and unpopularity of the war, many GOP members
say they now remain hopeful that another year of combat will
stabilize Iraq and prevent U.S. troops from returning to the
region a decade later.
"If we leave, we will be back in Iraq and elsewhere in
many more desperate fights to protect our security and at an
even greater cost in American lives and treasure," said
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a presidential candidate and the
top Republican on the Armed Services Committee.
Frustrated by the lack of Republicans willing to break ranks,
Democrats this week abandoned for now attempts to reach a bipartisan
compromise on Levin's legislation. Levin had said he would
have been willing to turn the nine-month date into a goal for
troop withdrawals, rather than a mandated deadline.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Republicans, along
with Bush, now own the war.
"Back home they assert their independence, but in Washington
they walk in lockstep with the president and continue to support
his failed policies," said Reid, D-Nev.
Recent polls show that American views of the war largely have
not changed since Petraeus appeared before congressional committees
two days last week.
A poll released this week by the nonpartisan Pew Research
Center found that 54 percent of Americans still favor bringing
troops home as soon as possible. And despite slight improvements
in the public's view of military progress, more said the U.S.
will likely fail in Iraq than succeed by 47 percent to 42 percent
about the same margin as in July.
Friday's vote finished a week of disappointments for Democrats.
On Wednesday, the Senate rejected legislation by Sen. Jim
Webb, D-Va., that would have guaranteed troops more time at
home; it fell by a 56-44 vote with 60 votes needed to advance.
On Thursday, the Senate blocked legislation sponsored by Reid
and Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., that would have cut off funding
for combat in June 2008. That measure failed by a 70-28 vote,
32 votes short of 60.
On Thursday, Republicans successfully pushed through a resolution
condemning an advertisement by the liberal activist group MoveOn.org.
Displayed in The New York Times, the ad taunted Petraeus as "General
Betray Us."
The resolution, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, passed
by a 72-25 vote.
House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the House
should consider a similar measure. But when asked if House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., would allow it, spokesman Nadeam
Elshami said in an e-mail: "The House is going to devote
its full attention to providing health care to children, promoting
energy independence to improve America's security, reducing
global warming, and responsibly redeploying U.S. forces now
in Iraq.
"These are the priorities of the American people," he
said.
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