Ten Republicans met behind closed doors late Wednesday with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), R-Ky., in a bid to generate consensus on Iraq. The senators emerged from the meeting to announce that no deal had been reached.
"To feed more American troops into this bloodbath is wrong," Hagel said Thursday on ABC's "Good Morning America." In the end, he said, Iraqis must determine their own future.
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"It is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by escalating the United States military force presence in Iraq," the resolution states.
Hagel, a possible presidential contender in 2008 who helped draft the proposal with Sens. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., called the resolution a "genuine bipartisan effort."
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"If my Democrat colleagues are truly opposed to the mission in Iraq, then as the new majority in Congress they should schedule a serious debate and a vote on cutting off funding for our troops," said Cornyn, R-Texas.
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Sen. Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record) of Minnesota, one of several Republicans wary of Bush's plan, said he is concerned the resolution may go too far. Coleman spokesman Tom Steward said the senator is open to an increase in the Anbar province, for example.
"Senator Coleman has repeatedly conveyed his specific concerns to the president and is hopeful that Congress can find bipartisan common ground on this resolution going forward," Steward said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., said that resolution would say the Senate believes the war in Iraq cannot be lost "and this strategy could bring about success if properly supported."
Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., is considering an alternative proposal. Rather than denouncing the president's strategy, it would voice support for recommendations by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. That panel did not recommend sending more troops unless specifically requested by a military commander.
Coleman is being incredibly stupid. Flipflopping on this is worst thing he can do. Coryn and McConnell's approach makes a heckuva lot more political sense. Back the president, back the troops, accuse the Democrats of cowardice. Graham's position is silly--any war can be lost, and we're losing this one. I continue to believe that Warner may prefer to skip the 08 race, because 1) it is going to be a very ugly campaign and 2) VA is turning purpler by the day.
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