Senators push for Iraq withdrawal but keep options open

Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., expressed optimism that their efforts to reduce the size of U.S. military forces in Iraq are gaining momentum within both parties.

Amid growing discontent with the Bush administration's Iraq war strategy, Levin and Reed unveiled an amendment to the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill that would mandate the administration begin reducing the size of the U.S. military force there within 120 days.

The amendment also directs a "limited presence" in Iraq by April 2008, with military personnel remaining in Iraq only to protect U.S. and coalition personnel and infrastructure; train, equip and support Iraqi Security Forces, and conduct counterterrorism operations.

But the language, which will be offered on the floor this week, does not prescribe a maximum size for the adjusted force, potentially creating a loophole that would allow the administration to maintain a significant presence in Iraq. Levin said he did not want the amendment to get "mired down" in a debate over how many troops should remain in theater, but rather wanted to focus on changing the course of the war.

Levin emphasized that the deadlines in his amendment -- which are not included in many of the alternative proposals to be offered during debate on the authorization bill this week -- serve as a "forcing mechanism" that would "stimulate action" in Iraq.

Nonetheless, Levin acknowledged that his amendment may fail in a Senate floor vote. If he and Reed cannot line up the necessary votes, the two senators will work with colleagues to devise the best plan to put "maximum pressure" on the Iraqi government to take control of the country's security, Levin said.

The two Democrats have been reaching out to Republicans to gain support for their amendment, hoping to capitalize on the increasingly restive mood among past backers of President Bush's Iraq policy. Although Levin conceded the language had not received public endorsements from Republicans, many of whom were still waiting to review it, Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., issued a statement this afternoon announcing he is signing on as a co-sponsor.

Meanwhile, Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., are now working together on an Iraq amendment that will reflect "their views" on the war, a Warner spokesman said Tuesday. The spokesman added that the two senators will not announce specifics on their proposal until after President Bush announces the findings in the administration's interim report on Iraq.

The Reed-Levin amendment already has drawn strong opposition from Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., who took the floor Tuesday to voice his continued support for President Bush's ongoing "surge" plan to bolster the U.S. presence in Iraq to bring the country's security crisis under control.

McCain acknowledged that problems remain in Iraq, but argued that the surge effort has helped to secure some of the most dangerous areas of the country. "There appears to be overall movement in the right direction," said McCain, a primary supporter of the surge policy who has staked his presidential ambitions on the success of that effort.

Lawmakers will receive briefings Thursday morning on the Bush administration's interim report on the situation on the ground in Iraq. The final report is due Sept. 15.

In Cleveland Tuesday, Bush urged lawmakers to wait for that report. Referring to his Iraq commander, Bush said, "I call upon the United Stats Congress to give General David Petraeus a chance to come back and tell us whether his strategy is working, and then we can work together on a way forward."

Keith Koffler contributed to this report.