The Senate continues to debate whether or not they will support Bush's new plan for Iraq. Of course it's fate really resides in the hands of the Republicans, because with very few exceptions Democrats want to run away. And it seems that Democrats have once again overplayed their hand and the prospect for them getting a "non-binding" no-confidence resolution through is rapidly diminishing.
In attempting to silence debate, Majority Leader Harry Reid has alienated powerful allies he might have had on the Republican side such as Senator Warner who now vows to filibuster even the resolution he himself proposed.
Sen. John W. Warner will join his fellow Republicans in voting Monday to block the resolution he wrote rebuking President Bush's Iraq war policy.
"Senator Warner supports the Senate Republican leadership's effort to establish a free and open debate on Iraq on the Senate floor, including possible amendments," a spokesman for the Virginia Republican said yesterday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Warner told colleagues during a closed-door strategy meeting at the Library of Congress that he opposes the manner in which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, is conducting debate on his resolution, which condemns Mr. Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq.
Senate Republicans are opposed to a vote on the Warner resolution unless they also get votes on two other resolutions. One of those alternatives supports Mr. Bush's plan, and the other would prohibit cutting funds for the war. Republicans also want each resolution to require 60 votes to pass.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, told reporters yesterday that he expects to have all 49 Republicans in the chamber -- nine votes more than are needed for a filibuster -- to vote Monday to block the nonbinding resolution.
Meanwhile, the Military leadership in Iraq is advertising in advance of the new offensive
A U.S.-Iraqi offensive against militants in Baghdad will begin within days and take place on a scale never seen during four years of war, American officers said yesterday.
And reports from the ground seem to indicate the preparations are already under way
The security plan isn't at work yet and Baghdad is receiving heavy blows. This is not unexpected because the enemies recognize what Baghdad means to the outcome of this war. Life and stability in this city will mean defeat for terrorists of all backgrounds and they feel they must fight hard to stop this from happening.
There was notable deployment of Iraqi army units and armored vehicles on the streets yesterday. I saw one of those armored units establish battle positions at one of the important intersections in Baghdad; soldiers were erecting tents and the vehicles were set in defensive formations. Maybe that intersection will become the border of one of the nine sectors.
Al-Mada had a report yesterday that spoke of similar activities across Baghdad:
Although the government didn't announce a date for launching the security plan, preparations can be easily seen through the deployment of security forces and the reestablishment of many checkpoints. Eyewitnesses told al-Mada that they saw army units deploying to the suburbs of Baghdad. Army vehicles drove through main streets asking people to remove the barricades they built earlier as a defensive measure against attacks from death squads.
All of this, though isn't happening fast enough for some Iraqis
A growing number of Iraqis are saying that the United States is to blame for creating conditions that led to the worst single suicide bombing in the war, which devastated a Shiite market in Baghdad on Saturday. They argued that the Americans had been slow in completing the vaunted new American security plan, making Shiite neighborhoods much more vulnerable to such horrific attacks.
And why do they feel that way? Because the Shi'ite militias, such as the Madhi Army have read the writing on the wall and are rapidly splitting the scene.
Many Shiites believe the Mahdi Army should be allowed to protect them.
The critics said the new plan, which the Americans have started to execute, had emasculated the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia that is considered responsible for many attacks on Sunnis, but that many Shiites say had been the only effective deterrent against sectarian reprisal attacks in Baghdadfs Shiite neighborhoods. Even some Iraqi supporters of the plan, like Hoshyar Zebari, the foreign minister who is a Kurd, said delays in carrying it out had caused great disappointment.
In advance of the plan, which would flood Baghdad with thousands of new American and Iraqi troops, many Mahdi Army checkpoints were dismantled and its leaders were either in hiding or under arrest, which was one of the plan’s intended goals to reduce sectarian fighting. But with no immediate influx of new security forces to fill the void, Shiites say, Sunni militants and other anti-Shiite forces have been emboldened to plot the type of attack that obliterated the bustling Sadriya market on Saturday, killing at least 135 people and wounding more than 300 from a suicide driver's truck bomb.
Here's the thing: It's pretty clear that many in congress are just dead wrong on this issue. Those who say this initiative to pacify the violent sections of the country can't work are clearly already wrong. Just the hype, and preparations, are enough to send the bad guys running like Democrats.
Granted, this is only the first part. The harder part is to hold and build long enough for indigenous security to take hold and grow. That's the real test. But to say it can't be done with enough time and money is simply (dare I say it) wishful thinking of the part of Democrats.
At this point, Democrats need Iraq to fail for political purposes. 2008 looks much, much worse for them if stability in Iraq is achieved. Especially since so many of them have taken the position that running away is the only rational choice.
It may be that Republicans have stepped away from that precipice: Everyone can afford to wait and see what happens, and even more than Senator Reid's double dealing, I suspect Republicans have grokked that message. Because if it does work, and there is stability in Iraq in 2008, all those who worked against it will be marked with the yellow streak.
The politics of the situation clearly will reward those who are slow to condemn.
