WASHINGTON -- As the Senate moves toward debating President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq, Montana's Democratic senators said they would support a non-binding resolution opposing the troop buildup.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., had not seen a final version of the most widely supported resolution Thursday but said they were likely to vote for it.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved one resolution last week, and other senators have proposed their own versions. But a measure by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., has picked up the most steam.
After changes made Wednesday, the Warner resolution won backing from senators in both parties, including Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich.
Warner's resolution says the Senate disagrees with adding another 21,500 troops to Iraq but would protect funding for the troops already deployed. It also would call for regional diplomacy and for benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet.
"I intend on supporting it," Tester said. "I think anytime you can get a former secretary of the Navy and somebody like Carl Levin, I think it speaks well I have full confidence between those two it'll be a good resolution."
Tester has said he thinks Bush's plan to add troops was moving in the wrong direction.
Baucus also said he planned to vote for a resolution like the one Warner proposed.
"I'll support that," he said.
In a speech on the Senate floor in January, Baucus said he regrets his vote authorizing the war in Iraq, that the U.S. should never have invaded the country and that American troops should start coming home within six months.
He also said that "throwing more troops" at the problem isn't a solution.
The Senate is expected to spend next week debating the Iraq resolutions.
Posted in State-and-regional on Friday, February 2, 2007 12:00 am
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