Senate Democrats Fight to Stay Unified Against Bush on Iraq

Senate Democrats fight to stay unified against Bush on Iraq

By Elana Schor

The Guardian

The Senate is headed for a fresh test of Democrats' ability to stay unified against the Bush administration on Iraq, with duelling plans to fund the war on track for votes before Congress leaves town for Thanksgiving.

The House of Representatives approved $50bn for Iraq late Wednesday in a 218-203 vote, linking the money to a binding deadline for the start of US troop withdrawals that has drawn a presidential veto threat. Republicans in the Senate are insisting on 60 votes to approve the Iraq measure, however and minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has offered his own $70bn war bill with no strings attached.

Nevada Democrat Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said he would keep the chamber in session through the weekend if necessary to ensure a vote on the war funding. Such a delay could compel the four Democratic senators running for president to alter their campaign schedules to stay in Washington.

"We're going to move forward on this legislation this week", Reid said. "We'll either do it the easy way or the hard way."

Another shot of pressure on the four senators running for the Democratic White House nod came courtesy of Russell Feingold, their liberal colleague from Wisconsin and a leading anti-war voice. Feingold gave a speech Thursday morning announcing he would oppose the House Iraq bill as too weak, dissociating himself from liberal Democrats in the House who had cheered the war legislation.

"A 'goal' for redeployment doesn't cut it", Feingold said. "We need a binding deadline."

The Democratic and Republican war proposals could face separate or linked votes in the coming days, with 60 votes needed for either to pass. While some moderate Democrats are likely to back McConnell's $70bn bill, few on Capitol Hill expect that either plan would win sufficient support to pass.

If the delay in war funding persists through the Christmas holidays, the next test will come in early 2008. At that point, the presidential primaries will be reaching a climax as congressional Democrats decide whether to win sufficient GOP votes for war funding by dropping strong anti-war provisions or to stand their ground into the spring.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi of California told reporters Thursday that if the Senate fails to approve the Iraq money, Democrats would not take up another war proposal in 2007. The Bush administration will be able to fund troops in Iraq until February by borrowing from Pentagon money already approved by the president. Charles Schumer of New York, the Senate's third-ranked Democrat, said that funding Iraq through regular Pentagon accounts would be "the first time that the Iraq war, or at least a part of it, will be paid for", referring to the Bush administration's practise of asking for war money outside the regular budgeting process.

Republicans believe they have the upper hand in the Iraq debate in light of reports showing insurgent attacks on the decline in Baghdad. GOP aides circulated reports this week of as many as 3,000 troops on track to return home by Christmas, painting Democrats' efforts as unnecessary.

Democrats have acknowledged that low approval ratings for Congress under their control are due in large part to voter dissatisfaction with the war. By insisting on no more money for Iraq without a mandate to draw down the US military presence, they hope to force Republicans to join their camp or suffer political damage for backing the Bush administration's Iraq policy.

"The American people see their government is not affecting the change they want", Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House majority leader, said. "They are frustrated and angry. I don't blame them."

Reid Hits "Bully" Bush: "He Damn Sure Is Not Entitled" To A Blank Check For Iraq