WASHINGTON – In a blunt challenge to President Bush, the leader of the Senate’s new Democratic majority said Monday he will “look at everything” within his power to wind down the war in Iraq, short of cutting off funding for troops already deployed.
But despite their hints to the contrary, strategists and analysts said, it’s unlikely Democrats will cut off funding to block key elements of proposals the president plans to announce Wednesday.
“I think we’ve got to tell the president what he’s doing as wrong. We’ve got to start bringing our folks home,” said Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, in remarks that portend a struggle if, as expected, Bush announces plans for an increase in troop strength of 20,000.
More broadly, Reid signaled that Bush’s expected call for an additional $100 billion for the war would receive close scrutiny from newly empowered Democrats.
“We have a platform we didn’t have before, Leader Pelosi and I, and we’re going to … focus attention on this war in many different ways,” said Reid. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., suggested over the weekend using Congress’ power of the purse to restrain any troop buildup.
Meanwhile, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said one option under consideration would be for Congress to vote on denying the use of funds for an increase in the U.S. deployment.
“We would be looking at ways to restrict funding that would not harm the troops or put them at risk, but yet prohibit the president from advancing the war in any way, including sending additional troops,” said Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md.
But Democrats are constrained by their reluctance to use their budgetary power to deny funding for the war at a dangerous time in Iraq, said Jeffrey McCausland, a defense specialist who served on Clinton’s National Security Council.
“Both sides are wandering around warily looking at each other, trying to figure out how far to take it,” McCausland said.
Ross Baker, a Rutgers University political scientist, said Congress’ spending power is “a little bit like the doomsday weapon – you really can’t use it unless you’re willing to deal with the consequences of using it, and the Democrats certainly aren’t willing to be known as the party that cut off funding for the troops.”
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