While most of us were sleeping last night, members of the United States Senate were debating a proposal to require that President Bush begin withdrawing American troops from
The measure needed 60 votes to pass, but only received 52. Four Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for it.
The measure is different than one Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., has signed on to in that it’s more rigid because it sets a firm withdrawal date. Domenici favors a goal of withdrawing all combat troops from Iraq by March 2008 and implementation of other recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, and he voted against the proposal that was debated last night and this morning.
In a news release, Domenici criticized Democratic leaders. The proposal was to add the withdrawal dates to the bill that funds most military programs for the 2008 fiscal year, and the leadership pulled the entire bill after the proposed amendment failed.
“I hope we will come to our senses and take up this bill again soon without the ‘my-way-or-the-highway’ demands of the majority leader. Delaying this bill sends a terrible message to our troops in harm’s way and to the nation,” Domenici said. “I understand public frustration with the war, but a precipitous and arbitrarily mandated withdrawal is not a wise solution to the situation in
The Senate can’t debate the proposed amendment Domenici is cosponsoring related to the Iraq Study Group recommendations unless the majority leader brings the defense-funding bill back for consideration.
The rare, all-night session came after the House voted last week to approve the withdrawal plan the Senate defeated early today. The bill was sure to have been vetoed by Bush if the Senate had approved it.
Here’s video of Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., talking about the bill on the Senate floor.
Update, 1:05 p.m.
The Democratic Party of New Mexico criticized Domenici’s vote in a news release sent today:
“Pete Domenici had an opportunity today to side with our troops and with the people of