The Senate debates W.'s fait accompli

The WaPo reports:

"A long-awaited Senate showdown on the war in Iraq was shut down before it even started yesterday, when nearly all Republicans voted to stop the Senate from considering a resolution opposing President Bush's plan to send 21,500 additional combat troops into battle. . . .The Senate's 49 to 47 vote last night to proceed to debate on Bush's new war policy fell 11 votes short of the 60 needed to break the logjam."

[Note: Inquier reports "All Philadelphia-area senators voted in favor of proceeding with debate except Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.)]

Eventhough the actual floor "debate" is bogged down, this dithering in the Senate has been going on since the 25th of January when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 12-9 to send a resolution to the floor condemning W.'s plans. Joe Biden said then that, "My intention was to send the first of many messages -- direct and unequivocal -- to the president: Stop what you are doing."

What has happened since then? Nada, zilch, nothing.

Meanwhile, as the Senate contiunues its pathetic pantamime, Senator Judd Gregg (R-N.H) is helping to gum up the works by putting up hius own resolution which is meant to put everyone on record supporting the troops. Kind of like what happened with John Murtha back in June. A debate about withdrawl turns into a race to vote against buring the flag.

The WaPo reports that Gregg's proposal, "Would staunchly back the White House and the president's decision to boost troop strength in Iraq. It recognizes the power of the president to deploy troops and the 'responsibility' of Congress to fund them -- before stating that 'Congress should not take any action that will endanger United States military forces in the field, including the elimination or reduction of funds.' . . . Gregg appeared to struggle to define the purpose of his proposal, insisting at one point that it is vital to protecting U.S. troops but then acknowledging that none of the resolutions under consideration would have any impact."

That's the whole point right there. The Senate is living in some alternate universe where rules of order and deliberative edicate actually mean something. No matter what nonbinding resolution they come up with, the clock is ticking in Iraq. Since Joe Biden got his resolution passed out to the floor for debate on the 25th, 40 US soldiers have died in Iraq. The surge is already on. When is the Senate going to wake up?

Here is a partial list of US deaths since the 25th of Jan.

[icasualties.org]

25-Jan-2007 Private 1st Class Michael Balsley Baghdad (east of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

25-Jan-2007 Sergeant Alexander H. Fuller Baghdad (eastern part) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

25-Jan-2007 Corporal Mark D. Kidd Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire

25-Jan-2007 Private 1st Class Darrell W. Shipp Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

26-Jan-2007 Private 1st Class Nathan P. Fairlie Ba’qubah - Diyala Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

26-Jan-2007 Major Alan R. Johnson Muqdadiyah (Died in Balad) - Diyala Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

27-Jan-2007 Private 1st Class David T. Toomalatai Taji - Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

27-Jan-2007 Lance Corporal Anthony C. Melia Ramadi - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire

27-Jan-2007 Corporal Timothy A. Swanson Taji - Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

27-Jan-2007 Sergeant Mickel D. Garrigus Taji - Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

27-Jan-2007 Private 1st Class Jon B. St. John II Taji - Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

28-Jan-2007 Chief Warrant Officer Cornell C. Chao Najaf (north of) Hostile - helicopter crash

28-Jan-2007 Specialist Carla J. Stewart Tallil - Dhi Qar Non-hostile - vehicle rollover (M-1114 HMMWV)

28-Jan-2007 Captain Mark T. Resh Najaf (north of) Hostile - helicopter crash

29-Jan-2007 Lance Corporal Adam Q. Emul Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire

30-Jan-2007 Sergeant Alejandro Carrillo Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire

30-Jan-2007 Sergeant Milton A. Gist Jr. Ramadi - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

30-Jan-2007 Sergeant Corey J. Aultz Ramadi - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire

31-Jan-2007 Sergeant William M. Sigua Bayji - Salah ad Din Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire

31-Jan-2007 Corporal Stephen D. Shannon Ramadi - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire - rocket attack

31-Jan-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire

01-Feb-2007 Sergeant Major Michael C. Mettille Camp Adder - Dhi Qar Non-hostile - illness - heart attack

01-Feb-2007 Private 1st Class Tyler Butler Baghdad Non-hostile - vehicle accident

01-Feb-2007 Hospitalman Matthew G. Conte Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire

01-Feb-2007 Private 1st Class David C. Armstrong Baghdad Non-hostile - vehicle accident

01-Feb-2007 Gunnery Sergeant Terry J. Elliott Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire

01-Feb-2007 Specialist Eric R. Sieger Buhritz - Diyala Non-hostile - vehicle rollover

02-Feb-2007 Specialist Alan E. McPeek Ramadi - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire

02-Feb-2007 Private Matthew T. Zeimer Ramadi - Anbar Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire

02-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Taji (near) - Baghdad Hostile - helicopter crash

02-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (south of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

02-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (south of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

02-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Taji (near) - Baghdad Hostile - helicopter crash

03-Feb-2007 Staff Sergeant Ronnie L. Sanders Baghdad Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

04-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Diyala province Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire

04-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (north of) Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack

05-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile - hostile fire

06-Feb-2007 NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad (southwest of) Hostile - hostile fire - small arms fire