| from the NYSlimes
I wonder if congress remembers that it does not control foreign policy? Or are we going back to the bad old days of the war powers act?
January 5, 2007
Democrats Mull Trying to Cap Iraq Troops Levels
By REUTERS
Filed at 4:47 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Congress could possibly limit the number of U.S. troops in Iraq by forcing President George W. Bush to seek approval from lawmakers for additional deployments, a top Democratic senator said on Friday.
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin said that was just one of several options before Democrats, who took over control of both the House and Senate this week from Bush's Republicans.
Top Democrats, including Durbin, said the party would not seek to cut funding of troops already there because that could undermine their safety.
But with Bush considering an increase in the number of U.S. forces in Iraq, Durbin told reporters he and fellow Democrats have discussed trying to cap the number there as a potential option.
Asked how, Durbin said, ``It could be legislation that requires the president to come for congressional approval for troops over a certain level.''
``I'm not telling you that is where we will end up, but there are a lot of things on the table,'' Durbin said after a closed-door meeting of fellow Democrats preparing for the new 110th Congress that convened on Thursday.
To pass such legislation in the Senate, Democrats would need the support of a number of Republicans. Democrats control the Senate, holding 51 of 100 seats. But 60 votes would be needed to end a possible procedural roadblock.
Durbin acknowledged bipartisan support would be needed, but said, ``if you notice there are more and more Republicans who are starting to have second thoughts about the president's policy.''
Earlier Friday, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote to Bush urging him not to deploy additional troops but rather begin a phased withdrawal.
Democrats intend to fan already mounting public opposition to the Iraq war next week with the first of a series of congressional hearings on Bush's prosecution of it. |
