This is one of the more odd developments of the Iraq debate. Warner and Lugar are seemingly too serious to jump on to the Salazar ISG bandwagon, perhaps realizing that something more real has to happen to satisfy voters. They don't want to go all out and tell Bush what 70 percent of the American people are telling him: "Get out of Iraq!" So they have this new proposal:
One of the main elements of their amendment, which was filed shortly after noon today, would require the president to seek a new rationale for the war authorization by the time Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, delivers a report in September on the progress of the troop buildup. The measure also would require the president to review and update the National Intelligence Estimate for Iraq no later than Sept. 4.
The AP has a little more:
The Warner-Lugar proposal states that "American military and diplomatic strategy in Iraq must adjust to the reality that sectarian factionalism is not likely to abate anytime soon and probably cannot be controlled from the top."
Accordingly, Warner and Lugar say Bush must draft a plan for U.S. troops that would keep them from "policing the civil strife or sectarian violence in Iraq" and focus them instead on protecting Iraq's borders, targeting terrorists and defending U.S. assets.
The first and most glaring drawback here is the premise Bush would voluntarily change course in this debacle and reduce forces. It's hard to imagine that this proposal wouldn't also meet Bush's veto pen. Now that would be an interesting development, that might actually make some Republicans break for real and finally join with Dems in demanding a withdrawal.
But more, by demanding a new rationale for a new war authorization, Warner and Lugar are asking their colleagues to vote for a whole new war authorization. Can you imagine that anyone but Joe Lieberman would enthusiastically vote for more war?
One hates to say this about two Senators who have served with some distinction and for many, many years. But this is just kind of goofy.