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Senate Dems split on Iraq proposals

BY GLENN THRUSH | Newsday Washington Bureau

June 21, 2006

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Clinton is on a collision course with possible Democratic presidential rivals John Kerry and Russ Feingold over the Iraq War - opposing their amendment to force a complete withdrawal of troops by July 1, 2007.

Clinton, who was heckled by peace protesters in Washington last week, is backing a weaker, nonbinding measure that would suggest a "phased redeployment" of combat units from Iraq before the end of this year.

"Everyone - everyone - expects our troops to begin redeploying this year," Clinton told reporters at the Capitol yesterday. "[But] there is no date certain for the end of our involvement."

The dueling proposals, which come after days of failed negotiations to forge a unified Democratic position, are both likely to be defeated by the Republican majority in a floor vote as early as today.

Clinton's position - that an unspecified number of troops should be pulled out by Dec. 31 with no other timelines - puts her squarely in line with Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.

It represents a subtle, if significant, shift from last fall, when Clinton pointedly refused to assign a specific date for beginning troop withdrawals.

As many as 36 Democrats are expected to join Clinton, according to Senate aides.

"I think it is a very thoughtful approach to what needs to happen, as opposed to the [Bush] administration position, which is, 'We're there as long as it takes,' and they never define it. I find that just inexcusable after three years and three months," said Clinton, who argued against the Kerry-Feingold proposal in meetings last week.

"If you look at the administration's stated position, they will not make any commitment to any kind of redeployment," she continued. "I think that's a mistake because it sends the wrong message to the Iraqis."

The Kerry-Feingold amendment would create a one-year timetable for withdrawing all troops except those "essential to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces, conducting targeted counterterrorist operations and protecting U.S. personnel and facilities."

Kerry (D-Mass.), who was criticized by many Democrats in 2004 for backing the war, has reversed course to become one of the Senate's most outspoken doves, earning the enmity of some fellow Democrats who think he's now dividing the party by leaning too far left.

But recent polls indicate the 2004 presidential runner-up might have the political wind at his back this time.

Americans support a timetable for withdrawal by a 52-42 margin, according to a Pew Research Center for the People & the Press poll of 1,501 Americans taken from last Wednesday to Monday.