Senate GOP blocks Iraq resolution

Senate Republicans yesterday blocked a resolution that would have condemned President Bush’s plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq.

On a 49-47 vote that largely followed partisan lines, Democrats fell 11 “ayes” short of the 60 needed to bring about a vote on the resolution, which is nonbinding but is widely viewed as a declaration of no confidence in the continued mission of the Iraq war and Mr. Bush’s handling of it.

Among those who voted against last night’s motion was Sen. John W. Warner of Virginia, who wrote the resolution but joined other Republicans in opposition to holding a vote because the new Democratic majority is not allowing votes on other war resolutions.

Only two Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Norm Coleman of Minnesota — backed voting on the resolution, and there was opposition from only two members of the Democratic caucus — independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and, in a parliamentary maneuver that gives him the right to bring the resolution back up for debate, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Mr. Lieberman voted “no” because, he said, the resolution is meaningless.

“This resolution is not about Congress taking responsibility,” said Mr. Lieberman, who was among the broad, bipartisan majority in Congress who in 2002 voted to go to war. “It is the opposite. It is a resolution of irresolution.”

Before and after the vote, Democrats accused Republicans of trying to dodge a debate on the increasingly unpopular war.

“You can run, but you can’t hide,” declared Mr. Reid, a 2002 war supporter. “We are going to debate Iraq.”

He promised that the resolution would resurface again during debates and votes on other matters.

Last night’s “cloture motion,” which Democrats supported, was a parliamentary procedure to end debate so that a final vote can be taken. Republicans accused Mr. Reid of restricting debate on the Iraq war.

“Senate Republicans are ready to proceed with a full and open debate on the president’s strategy in Iraq,” Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, said after the vote. “But we want a full debate on all the various resolutions, not just one that was handpicked by the Democratic leadership.”

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Republicans will not allow a vote on the Warner resolution unless it is accompanied by at least two others.

Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire has a resolution that promises not to cut funding for the war. Sen. John McCain also has a resolution in support of Mr. Bush’s “surge” plan, but also setting benchmarks for Iraqi self-governance.

Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, called Mr. Reid’s squelching of resolutions “an effort to short-circuit debate.”

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, said a vote on cutting funds is not necessary.

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