Domenici to change policy stance on Iraq war

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., plans to announce later this morning “a change in his policy on the war in Iraq,” according to a news release from his office.

The change isn’t specified, but will be announced at a news conference at 11 a.m. in Albuquerque.

In April, Domenici voted against a Democrat-sponsored bill to set troop-withdrawal deadlines, saying it was “irresponsible” because Congress would be “deserting our commitments to our military leaders and telling them that none of it matters, the war is over and your mission is done.”

At the same time, Domenici said he understood “the deep national unrest over the course of the war. I do not support an open-ended commitment in Iraq.”

He called for the Iraqi government to step up but said, in the meantime, Congress needed to support the troops.

Withdrawal deadlines were never imposed, as Democrats backed down during the standoff with President Bush.

Update, 11:15 p.m.

Domenici is calling for a reduction and redeployment of American troops from Iraq. I’ll have a complete article shortly.