Senate Republicans block Iraq measure

February 17, 2007
Senate Republicans block Iraq measure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans blocked the U.S. Senate on Saturday from considering a rebuke to President George W. Bush's Iraq troop buildup, but lawmakers vowed to continue waging a bitter struggle over war policy.

For the second time in two weeks, Republicans senators halted progress on a nonbinding resolution opposing Bush's recent decision to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the resolution the day before.

House rebukes Bush on Iraq

February 16, 2007
House rebukes Bush on Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats on Friday in passing a two-sentence resolution denouncing President Bush's plan to boost troop levels in Iraq.

The resolution passed easily, 246-182.

Democratic leaders on Saturday will attempt to bring the same measure to the floor in the Senate.

The resolution says that Congress supports the military but disapproves of Bush's plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq. A clear majority of Republicans battled to the end against the resolution.

Poll: Most Americans Want Congress to Go Beyond Non-Binding Vote on War

February 13, 2007
Poll: Most Americans Want Congress to Go Beyond Non-Binding Vote on War

NEW YORK A new Gallup Poll released today -- as a landmark debate on the Iraq war begins in the House of Representatives -- finds that most Americans favor congressional action for a cap on, and then withdrawal of, troops. They are less excited about the current nonbinding resolution against a "surge."

7 GOP Senators Back War Debate

February 8, 2007
7 GOP Senators Back War Debate

Senate Republicans who earlier this week helped block deliberations on a resolution opposing
President Bush's new troop deployments in Iraq changed course yesterday and vowed to use every
tactic at their disposal to ensure a full and open debate.

In a letter distributed yesterday evening to Senate leaders, John W. Warner (Va.), Chuck Hagel
(Neb.) and five other GOP supporters of the resolution threatened to attach their measure to any
bill sent to the floor in the coming weeks. Noting that the war is the "most pressing issue of our
time," the senators declared: "We will explore all of our options under the Senate procedures and
practices to ensure a full and open debate."

Hagel Acquiesces To Block Debate On Non-binding Iraq Resolution

February 6, 2007
Hagel Acquiesces To Block Debate On Non-binding Iraq Resolution

Hagel is a co-sponsor of the non-binding, bipartisan resolution – but he joined every other
GOP senator in voting to avoid debate.

Interestingly, Hagel was still talking last Friday about the absolute need for the debate. That
was the same Friday when the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky confidently
guaranteed that all of the Republican flock would be in the fold, voting against taking up the
resolution.