Does John Warner Hold the Key to Iraq?

By: Lowell
Published On: 5/31/2007 7:25:18 AM

According to David Broder, there's an "endgame ahead" with regard to Iraq, and the people with the most leverage are neither on the far right or the far left.  In Broder's opinion they're "centrists," and the key to Senate centrists on Iraq is Virginia's own John Warner:

the man who can do the most to catalyze the shift among Republicans is Sen. John Warner of Virginia, the widely respected former chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Colleagues say that Warner is torn between his loyalty to the president and his deep anxiety about events in Iraq. And as a former Navy secretary, he has an acute awareness of the price America's fighting men and women are paying for the policy mistakes there.

If Warner shifts, many other Republican senators will move with him, and the policy will change. I think that time is coming soon.

In other words, John Warner may hold the key to the entire Iraq War debate.  That's a lot of responsibility resting on his shoulders; let's hope he makes the right choice (e.g., getting us out of this misbegotten and mishandled fiasco without doing any further damage to our interests in the region or to our tarnished international reputation).

Comments



Warner Webb (novamiddleman - 5/31/2007 8:13:01 AM)
Like I have been saving for almost a month now, there is a golden opportunity for both of these men to make Virginia proud

Both understand three fundamental concepts

1.  Not having a mission or refusing to change course is a mistake but equally leaving too early is also a mistake

2.  The ultimate solution is on the military, economic, and diplomatic fronts

3.  Ensuring those currently serving and the veterans are treated fairly is paramount

As a slight aside Warner did have a bill about two weeks ago that addressed all three of these points but it was shot down by the democrats so in my view the ball is more in Webbs court to get more democrats in line.

"On Wednesday, the Senate voted 52-44 for a plan tying political and military progress in Iraq to future U.S. aid for rebuilding the war-ravaged country. Under the proposal by Sen. John Warner, a Virginia Republican, Bush would have to submit reports to Congress in mid-July and mid-September on the situation in Iraq.

Same bill

"A second amendment, setting political benchmarks for the Iraqi government while requiring the White House to meet new reporting requirements, was rejected 52 to 44, with seven Democrats and one independent voting for it, along with most Republicans. Like the withdrawal amendment, it required 60 votes to pass."

Source WaPo



Ah, we must intensify our letter writing campaign then (Hugo Estrada - 5/31/2007 9:16:04 AM)
This makes a lot of sense. We need enough people to override the certain veto that Bush will strike on all legislation ending his beloved war.

So ending the war in Iraq is mainly on the hands of people wanting to end the occupation of Iraq who have moderate or at risk Republican senators and representatives.

And Broder's column seems to make it clear that we Virginians have a especially important role.



Reminding Republicans (Bubby - 5/31/2007 12:32:13 PM)
I'll be reminding Senator Warner (and other Republicans), that their continued support of the President's policy is abusive to the military, and ultimately, a dereliction of their responsibility to safeguard our national security. 


Argh another wingnut that makes me mad (novamiddleman - 5/31/2007 4:31:01 PM)
Safeguard our national security are you kidding me????

Can you honestly saying leaving Iraq as is would safeguard our national security

P.S. Back to your regulalary sechduled program

P.P.S.  Only directed at Bubby.  Most of the people on Raising Kaine don't want an immediate withdrawal.



Wait A Minute (norman swingvoter - 5/31/2007 7:49:43 PM)
I don't see where he says he wants an immediate withdrawal.  However, I for one, am unwilling to give bush and company an open ended commitment in Iraq.  I can't see that the Iraq government has much of a sense of urgency to get going.  This latest crap by the Iraq government is a total outrage.  When our men and women are bleeding and dying in the field, I don't expect to hear that the Iraq parliament has decided to go on a 2-month vacation as it announced.  I also picked up the Richmond Times Dispatch, not exactly liberal, this morning and there is an article that bush is now comparing Iraq to Korea where we have had troops 50 years.

http://www.cnn.com/2...



Earth to Novamiddleman (Bubby - 5/31/2007 9:57:02 PM)
I can honestly tell you that by end of year 2007 George Bush will have foundered the All-Volunteer Army and Marine Corps on his multi-rotation, occupation of Iraq and our over-worked warriors.  There is only so much we can expect of these volunteers, especially the officer corps.  If that means anything to you, then now would be a good time to call your Republican representatives and tell them to man-up and demand a plan from their Commander-in-Chief.  You know, look after America.


I doubt it (KathyinBlacksburg - 5/31/2007 5:36:26 PM)
Interesting question.  However, I seriously doubt that John Warner holds the keys to anything.  His previous "departures" with the White House have culminated in giving Bush what he wanted.  It seems like his "efforts" are more pretense than actual effort.


I doubt it too.... (soccerdem - 5/31/2007 7:38:50 PM)
Warner is all talk and no action.  And Broder, especially in recent columns, doesn't seem to be a friend to Democrats.  I'd take this with a grain of salt!


Say what you will (Draft Me Please - 6/1/2007 9:27:24 AM)
but there are few men in the Senate in whose hands I would better trust the management of the war in Iraq than John Warner. Jim Webb is up there as well, but Warner's experience as SASC Chairman and Secretary of the Navy, and the respect that he commands from both sides of the aisle in the Senate chamber put him in a perfect position to be "the decider" on this issue.

I am fairly confident (and more hopeful) that he will embrace the fact that a) he is a REPRESENTATIVE of a group of people who want to be out of Iraq and b) that the actions that we are taking are taking a toll on the armed forces that will decrease readiness and in the end lower our national security.