The White House on Friday sought to downplay the significance of three Republican senators dissenting from President Bush’s Iraq policy in the space of 10 days.
Bush spokesman Tony Fratto said the “dangerous” demands by Democrats for a hasty troop withdrawal are a far cry from the “thoughtful” dissent of GOP Sens. Pete Domenici, Richard Lugar and George Voinovich.
“I think it’s important to remember they’re not talking about a precipitous withdrawal; they are not talking about defunding the troops,” Fratto told reporters. “Those are hugely important distinctions.”
The spokesman’s comments echoed Domenici’s remarks in a conference call with reporters.
“I’m not calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq or a reduction in funding for our troops, but I am calling for a new strategy that will move our troops out of combat operations and on the path to continuing home,” Domenici said. “We cannot continue asking our troops to sacrifice indefinitely while the Iraqi government is not making measurable progress.”
Domenici’s remarks came 10 days after Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned the utility of Bush’s recent surge of 20,000 additional troops into Iraq to stabilize the war-torn nation.
“In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved,” Lugar said on the Senate floor. “Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term.”
Last week, Voinovich called on Bush to withdraw U.S. troops, although he said it should be done “gradually and responsibly.”
Fratto said such suggestions are “distinctly different from what Democrat leaders are talking about – where they are talking about pulling out troops in 120 days, which isn’t even really possible, forgetting that it’s not advisable.”
Hoping to capitalize on the Republican defections, Senate Democrats next week plan to renew their push for a troop withdrawal and a cutoff of funding for the Iraq war.
