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GOP Senate Bigwigs Push for Iraq Shift

Lugar, Warner seek redeployment, want specifics by October

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 14, 2007 11:22 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Two of the GOP's most respected foreign policy experts want troop realignment in Iraq, and they proposed Senate legislation yesterday that calls for the White House to have a plan in place by mid-October. The move by Richard Lugar and John Warner was the latest sign of disintegrating Republican support for President Bush's Iraq strategy, the Washington Post reports.

The measure, formulated as an amendment to a defense-appropriation bill, is largely nonbinding, but the October deadline—a month after the military's legislatively mandated update on the troop surge—is a clear challenge to the president. "We believe the new-way-forward strategy, which became fully operational less than a month ago, deserves the time to succeed," a White House spokesman said.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., meets reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Nov. 8, 2006 file photo. Warner and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., cast aside President Bush's pleas for patience on Iraq Friday, July 13, 2007 and proposed legislation demanding a new strategy by mid-October to restrict the mission...
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., meets reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Nov. 8, 2006 file photo. Warner and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., cast aside President Bush's pleas for patience on Iraq Friday,...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., left, talks with National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, following a meeting with Republican Senators to discuss Iraq. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., left, talks with National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, following a meeting with Republican Senators to discuss Iraq....   (Associated Press)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., right, looks on as Sen. John Warner, R-Va., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 22, 2007, following debate on the Iraq funding bill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., right, looks on as Sen. John Warner, R-Va., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 22, 2007, following debate on the Iraq funding...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. is shown in this 2005 file photo. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Lugar cast aside President Bush's pleas for patience on Iraq Friday, July 13, 2007 and proposed legislation demanding a new strategy by mid-October to restrict the mission of U.S. troops. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. is shown in this 2005 file photo. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Lugar cast aside President Bush's pleas for patience on Iraq Friday, July 13, 2007 and proposed legislation demanding...   (Associated Press)
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Related coverage

A bipartisan stance on the war becomes increasingly elusive
New York Times

Grim news from the Pentagon coincides with the proposal
Associated Press

The blogosphere reacts

"This proposal is shameful because it's designed for purely political purposes"
California Conservative blog

"It's hard to imagine that this proposal wouldn't also meet Bush's veto pen"
Daily Kos Blog

"The significance may be weighted more toward its authors than on its substance"
MSNBC

World • Politics • US

 
troop surge • Senate • Iraq pullout • Iraq appropriations • John Warner • Richard Lugar • Senate Republicans • Iraq war • Iraq exit strategy • George W. Bush

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