Senate Democrats Unveil New Iraq Strategy

Senate Democratic leaders late Tuesday unveiled a trio of amendments to the defense authorization bill that represent the majority’s next effort to force a turnaround in the Iraq war and isolate the White House from its Republican supporters.

The first amendment, crafted chiefly by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), mandates the start of a troop withdrawal from Iraq within 120 days of passage. The second amendment, crafted chiefly by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), would set strong troop readiness standards and ensure a minimum period between Iraq deployments.

The third amendment, a hotly sought goal of Reid’s that was crafted chiefly by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), would block spending on a future military presence in Iraq after April 2008, save for troops on counter-terrorism and training missions.

A possible fourth vote could come on revoking Congress’s original 2002 war authorization, a tactic favored by many but agreed upon by few. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) has suggested “de-authorization” followed by a new, targeted mission, while Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) have suggested forcing President Bush to seek a new authorization from Congress.

I constantly hear how the Democrats were elected to stop the war and have done nothing. The truth is that they need 60 votes in order to end any filibuster on Iraq and they do not have those votes. They have 49 votes plus Tim Johnson who is still recovering from brain surgery. Joe Lieberman is an independent and votes with the President on the War. The only real way to stop this war is to pressure the Republicans who will not vote against the President. The American people need to understand this and aim there anger where it belongs.