As readers of this blog know well, I have been calling for a bipartisan coup against this administration since early December 2006 when it became clear that the administration would not heed the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. What I have in mind is that the Senators most responsible for our foreign policy get together and explain to the administration that their time is up and that they cannot continue the war in Iraq. Either they begin a phased withdrawal or risk conviction in the Senate after articles of impeachment are voted out of the House. I know this seems like a long-shot to people more familiar with the harsh partisanship of recent years. But, it is something that logic dictates. And we are starting to see some movement along these lines.
When John Murtha came out against the war in Iraq it was described as an earthquake in Washington. Murtha had a strong reputation as a military hawk and his defection was seen as highly significant. How much more so is the defection of former chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator John Warner (R-VA)?
DANA BASH: Well, today, we are going to hear from a very influential, a senior Republican, making clear that he does not support the president on increasing the troop levels in Iraq. That Republican is the senior senator from Virginia, the former Armed Services Chairman in the Senate, John Warner.
We are told that he is going to introduce a resolution late this afternoon along with at least one other Republican and a conservative Democrat, making clear that he believes that sending more U.S. troops into what he has called increasing sectarian violence is a mistake.
And that is a message, certainly that is not going to sit well with the White House because John Warner, as I said, is a very influential voice when it comes to military matters, especially the Iraq war. Until this fall, he had been whole-heartedly behind the president and the war. He’s somebody who has a lot of sway with his colleagues, Republicans and Democrats here on the Hill.
This is not an earthquake. This is Krakatoa. No Senator has a veto over the president’s foreign policy, but Warner comes as close as you can get. With Warner’s defection there is cover for every Democrat to oppose Bush’s plan.
I watched Senator Jon Kyl speak in the Senate today. He made a fairly reasonable plea to his fellow Senators that they not undermine the escalation by voting for the non-binding resolution. He correctly noted that such a resolution would send a highly discouraging message to our troops and would embolden our enemies. It’s a testament to how completely discredited the administration is that the Senate would even consider undermining the president’s plan. But for John Warner to introduce the resolution is the final straw.
I hope that Warner is prepared to take the next absolutely necessary step, if and when Bush refuses to back down. They cannot remain in office.
