On the heels of Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's comments the other day that a positive progress report from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker might be "a big problem" for Democrats, there are more signs today of disagreement among House Democrats about how to proceed on Iraq.
The Hill reports a small but significant item. For the first time in recent memory, House leaders have scheduled a vote on legislation related to Iraq that most Republicans can vote for:
Sponsored by Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and John Tanner (D-Tenn.), the bill would order President Bush to deliver within two months a plan on how to redeploy troops. It will be on the suspension calendar, meaning there will be no amendments, but it needs a two-thirds majority to pass.
This bill does not have much significance, and that's precisely why many House Republicans will vote in favor. It will allow them to tell constituents uneasy about the war that they voted for legislation to require a plan for redeployment, or that they voted 'against the president' on Iraq. But because the legislation offers something for Republicans, it's highly controversial among House Democrats:
Progressive Caucus leaders were fuming after they walked into a meeting with Pelosi to find out that she had decided to allow a vote Thursday on an Iraq bill they consider too mild...
Progressive leaders feel that such measures give cover to Republicans to go home for the August break and tell constituents they have voted for redeployment, without voting on strict measures that would order Bush to bring the troops home.
The continuing success of Operation Phantom Thunder has given Republicans a reason to stick with the president, presaging a major fight over Iraq policy in September, when General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker issue their progress report. If Congressional Republicans do back a request by President Bush to maintain the surge, the president will almost certainly prevail.
