From CQ Today: Clinton and Byrd Seek New Showdown With Bush Over Authority for Iraq War

[ProSense]

From CQ Today: Clinton and Byrd Seek New Showdown With Bush Over Authority for Iraq War

By Martin Kady II, CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY
Published: May 4, 2007

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton laid down a fresh challenge for President Bush on Iraq, seeking to rescind his current authority to conduct the war.

Under Byrd’s proposed resolution, the 2002 war authorization (PL 107-243) would expire on its fifth anniversary and Bush would have to provide new rationale to Congress to continue the conflict. The proposal could defuse a political problem for Clinton, a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, by offering her a way to address her 2002 vote in favor of the authorization that has alienated a portion of the Democratic base.

The Byrd-Clinton resolution would not set a timetable for withdrawal of troops. It would allow Clinton and other Democrats a chance to force Bush to redefine the mission in Iraq while averting a direct showdown over U.S. troop funding.

Clinton’s move sends a shot across the bow of her two main Democratic presidential rivals, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina (1999-2005) and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. Edwards has renounced his war authorization vote and Obama, close to Clinton in Democratic polls, has said he was always against the war.

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(emphasis added)

Wait until October for no timetable, no cutting funds, then let Bush define the mission. Wonder what he has in mind?

[ProSense]

1. Edwards, Obama others on the bill

Obama's campaign issued a lukewarm response to what it called the "Byrd measure," noting the Illinois senator had introduced legislation to begin redeploying troops this month.

"As someone who opposed this war from the start, and opposed its authorization by those in Congress, Senator Obama would support this measure," spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. "But he doesn't believe we should wait until October to begin bringing this war to a close."

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A former North Carolina senator, Edwards voted for the 2002 war authorization but has since recanted his vote. At a campaign stop in New Orleans, he insisted Congress use its funding authority to end the war.

"Congress, right this minute, has the authority to stop this. All they have to do is use it instead of doing these other measures that are off in the future," he told The Associated Press.

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