Published Sunday, November 27, 2005 in the East Valley Tribune as “Destroying enemies hasn’t worked, but dialogue and reconciliation might.”
Despite U.S. Rep. Hayworth’s orchestrated 403-3 vote against immediate withdrawal, the Republican consensus on the war has fallen apart.
Last week in a startling rebuke to the President, the Senate voted 79-19 for Senator John Warner’s amendment to the military appropriations bill calling for 2006 to be “a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty,” which would create conditions for “the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq.” Redeployment is military speak for withdrawal. In fact, if combined with votes for a stronger amendment which failed, all but 14 Senators are on record calling for a strategic focus aimed at withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Every Republican Senator up for re-election except Kyl voted for the resolution, all of whom had previously authorized the war. Altogether Republican Senators voted 43-13-1 in favor with Kyl and McCain in the minority. Read the rest of this entry »