Washington, D.C. – Council for a Livable World applauded the Senate for holding an important vote today on the war in Iraq.
The resolution offered by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) would have required President Bush to begin a troop withdrawal from Iraq within 120 days of adoption while establishing a goal of pulling all combat troops out by March 31, 2008.
The Reid resolution failed 48-50, with Gordon Smith (R-OR) the only Republican voting in favor and Ben Nelson (D-NE), Mark Pryor (D-AK) and Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT) the only Democrats voting in opposition.
“Today’s vote on the Reid resolution demonstrated significant progress over Senate votes in June 2006 when a weaker measure offered by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) received 39 votes,� commented John Isaacs, Executive Director of the Council for a Livable World.
“Republicans – only one of whom today broke with President Bush’s failed war policy – are clearly at risk of paying a political price at the polls in 2008,� continued Isaacs.
In June 2006, the Senate considered a Levin-Reed proposal calling for the phased redeployment of American forces from Iraq and a Kerry-Feingold-Boxer amendment mandating that troop withdrawal be completed by July 1, 2007. The Levin-Reed plan was ultimately rejected 39–60 with 37 of 44 Democrats voting in favor. The Kerry-Feingold-Boxer legislation was beaten back 13–86.
“With 46 of 48 Democrats supporting Senator Reid’s call for a withdrawal timeline, the caucus is more unified against the war than it ever has been before,“ Isaacs continued.
“This vote sets the stage for more tough votes on the Supplemental Appropriations bill, the Defense Authorization Bill and the Defense Appropriations bill to pressure the President and the Republican Party to join the majority of the American public in opposing the war.�
The Council for a Livable World, based in Washington, D.C., works tirelessly to reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security. Founded by Manhattan Project scientist Leo Szilard in 1962, the Council provides Members of Congress with technical information on weapons of mass destruction and operates a Candidate Fund that helps elect candidates who support sensible national security policies.
