Senate Debates U.S. Troop Tours in Iraq

Delaware's Joe Biden offered a new measure, stating that Congress should "actively support a political settlement among Iraq's major factions."

A plan from Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin would begin to re-deploy troops out of combat within 90 days with a deadline for full withdrawal from combat to follow in nine months. A similar plan fell eight votes short in July.

Also revived is Jim Webb of Virginia's requirement that home leaves for troops last at least as long as their deployments. Currently, the Pentagon cannot make that guarantee.

Many Republicans are sympathetic to that idea, and seven of them voted with Webb last summer, still four short, however, of the 60-vote bar.

SEN. JOHN WARNER (R), Virginia: I endorsed it. I intend now to cast a vote against it.

KWAME HOLMAN: In an ominous sign for the Webb amendment, one of his previous Republican allies, fellow Virginian John Warner, took the floor today to say he could not support it this time.

SEN. JOHN WARNER: I agree with the principles that you've laid down in your amendment, but I regret to say that I've been convinced by those in the professional uniform that they cannot do it and do it in a way that wouldn't invoke further unfairness to other soldiers now serving in Iraq.

SEN. JAMES WEBB (D), Virginia: This amendment is not only constitutional, not only responsible, but it is needed. It is needed in a way that transcends the politics. After four-and-a-half years, in the environment in Iraq, it's time that we put into place operational policies that sensibly take care of the people we are calling upon to go again and again.

KWAME HOLMAN: But last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates disagreed.

ROBERT GATES, Secretary of Defense: As well-intentioned as many of these proposals are, I think the reality is they become very difficult for us to manage in and end up imposing some real hardships on, not only on our forces, but also potentially impacting combat effectiveness and risk.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), Arizona: So what's this debate about? This debate is about whether we will force, as Senator Biden was quoted, "the easiest way" for his Republican colleagues to change the war strategy and a backdoor approach aimed at influencing the conduct of the war. Not only that, it's blatantly unconstitutional.

KWAME HOLMAN: South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham agreed.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), South Carolina: So if you think it's all the things I said before -- lost, hopeless, stupid, worst decision ever made in terms of U.S. foreign policy -- end the thing, end it. Cut off funding. Don't play this game of having 535 people become generals who have no clue of what they're talking about.

KWAME HOLMAN: But Maryland Democrat Barbara Mikulski said a vote to cut off funding for the troops was not a possibility.

SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI (D), Maryland: I'm going to support the Webb amendment because I'm never going to vote to cut off money. But I will vote to protect our troops, and the best way is at least to give them more time. While we're giving the Iraqis more time, how about giving our troops more time to be at home? I'm really hot about this.

KWAME HOLMAN: Late this afternoon, the Webb amendment again fell short, garnering fewer Republican votes than in July. Votes on the other Iraq measures are expected later this week.