Hagel Joins Levin and Biden

Chuck Hagel (NE) has joined Senators Levin and Biden in sponsoring a non-binding resolution in opposition to escalation. From CNN:

Speaking on CNN's "The Situation Room," Hagel said Congress needs to be more assertive in determining U.S. policy regarding what he called a civil war in Iraq.

"We are no longer just going to quietly stand by, as we have done for the last four years, and let our young men and women be thrown into this conflict when they cannot affect the outcome," Hagel told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"This is the biggest issue facing our country since Vietnam," Hagel added. "It's dividing our nation. It is dangerous for our country. It's dangerous for the world. The Congress needs to be part of this."

CNN reported yesterday that as many as eight republican senators will support this resolution. They flashed a shot with Collins, Hagel, Smith, Coleman, Snowe, Sununu and two others who I don't recall. My recollection is that six of the eight are in the class of 08. MyDD reports that Kennedy said something similar yesterday, citing potential supporters in ME, NH and MN.

Smith has said he cannot support the resolution as it stands:

One Republican opponent of a troop increase, Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon, said he opposes the resolution because it uses the word "escalating," which he said is a partisan term used by Democrats that "unnecessarily inflames the resolution."

Biden, Levin and Hagel said the wording could be changed to make the resolution more palatable.

John Coryn, on the other hand, expressed strong support for the president's plan, and there is no sign that McConnell is weakening either.

The pressure keeps growing. And the president's Iraq policy is cratering. Kevin Drum, citing the LA Times:

Public support for the war has pretty much cratered:

As he seeks to chart a new course in Iraq, Bush also faces pervasive resistance and skepticism toward the U.S. commitment -- more than three-fifths [62%] of those surveyed said the war was not worth fighting.

....Asked about Bush's recent announcement that he would dispatch another 21,500 troops to Iraq, three-fifths [60%] said they opposed the move, while just over one-third [36%] backed it.

....A narrow majority -- 51% -- want Congress to try to block Bush from sending more troops to Iraq.

....Americans divide in similar proportions when asked whether Congress should attempt to require Bush "to begin withdrawing the troops already in Iraq."

Exactly half said Congress should take steps to begin removing troops (42% opposed such an effort).

Somebody remind me. How long did it take before public opinion turned this sharply against the Vietnam War?

(Answer: It's a trick question. Opposition reached 61% in 1971 but never exceeded that number. The Iraq war is now more unpopular than the Vietnam War ever was.)