Republicans urged not to block Iraq vote

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - A Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee is cautioning Republicans against blocking a vote Monday on a resolution opposing President Bush's troop increase in Iraq, saying it would be a "terrible mistake."

"It's obstructionism," said Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif. "This is not tolerable in a situation where it's the number one topic in the nation, and the Republican party prevents the Senate of the United States from debating."

But Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said proponents of the nonbinding, bipartisan resolution were undermining national security. "This is a vote of no confidence in both the mission and the troops," he said.

On the eve of a possible congressional showdown on Iraq strategy, both sides maneuvered to gain support from a handful of senators who will decide the fate of a resolution criticizing Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq.

Republican leaders in the Democratic-controlled Senate are working to block a vote on the resolution by Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va. They insisted that at least two other GOP proposals be considered and that each require 60 votes — a strategy that could dilute support for Warner's measure and make it tougher for any measure to pass.

One alternate proposal would set benchmark goals for the Iraqi government, while the other seeks to maintain funding for troops in the field.

On Sunday, Feinstein called on Republicans to reconsider their procedural move.

"I think it's a terrible mistake to prevent this debate," she said. "If we can't get this done, you can be sure, a month or so down the pike, there's going to be much stronger legislation."

The Senate, where Democrats hold a 51-49 working majority, has tentatively set an early test vote for Monday.

In a bid to attract more GOP support, Warner added a provision pledging to protect money for troops in combat.

That compromise drew the ire of some Democrats who said it leaned too far in endorsing the status quo. They want to see binding legislation to cap troop levels, force a new vote to authorize the war or begin bringing troops home.

McCain, a 2008 White House contender, is sponsoring the resolution expressing support for a troop increase and setting benchmark goals. He sought to capitalize on some of the Democratic division by calling Warner's plan intellectually dishonest.

The measure, McCain said, offers no concrete alternatives to Bush's plan to add 21,500 troops in Iraq.

"I do believe that if you really believe that this is doomed to failure and is going to cost American lives, then you should do what's necessary to prevent it from happening rather than a vote of 'disapproval,'" he said, noting that the proposal does not seek to cut off troop funding.

A fellow Vietnam veteran, GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska, disagreed with McCain's assessment. Hagel said the resolution would make clear the Senate's belief that Bush's policy is misguided.

Hagel said Warner's resolution strikes a careful balance for a majority of senators who oppose a troop buildup but differ on the appropriate response. The plan also lays out alternatives such as moving troops away from the sectarian violence and closer to the Iraq border to provide "territorial integrity."

"We can't change the outcome of Iraq by putting American troops in the middle of a civil war," said Hagel, who is considering a run for the White House in 2008.

The resolution debate comes as the White House and congressional Democrats prepare to square off over war spending.

Bush's new budget on Monday will ask for $100 billion more for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year — on top of $70 billion already approved by Congress for the current year. The budget will call for $145 billion in war spending for 2008.

The spending request covers Bush's new war strategy, including the increase in troops, White House budget director Rob Portman said Sunday.

Hagel and McCain appeared on ABC's "This Week," while Feinstein and Portman spoke on "Late Edition" on CNN.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070205/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq [link]