WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today voted against the motion to proceed to consideration of a resolution sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid disapproving of the President’s new strategy in Iraq. The motion failed with a vote of 56-34. 60 votes were needed to proceed to consideration of the resolution.
On Friday, Chambliss took to the Senate floor to oppose the resolution. The floor speech can be viewed on the senator’s website at
www.chambliss.senate.gov under the News Center section. Please select ‘TV clips.” Highlights of Senator Chambliss’ floor speech are included below:
Mr. President:
I rise today to oppose the resolution, S. 574, that the Senate will vote on in relation to tomorrow. Mr. President, the first paragraph of that resolution is a commendable one and one that every Member of this body should support and will. However, the second paragraph is simply inconsistent with a vote that every Member has already made and should be opposed by every Member of this body. Therefore, the resolution as a whole should be opposed.
Exactly three weeks ago, on January 26th, the Senate unanimously approved General David Petraeus for his fourth star and to be Commander of Multi-National Forces, Iraq. No senator opposed his nomination. In my twelve years in the United States Congress, I do not think I have seen Members of Congress express any higher confidence or support for a nominee for any position than they have for General David Petraeus. I have not heard anyone criticize him, and rightly so.
In his nomination hearing, when asked about his opinion of the President’s plan for Iraq that he now has the responsibility of executing, General Petraeus said, “I believe this plan can succeed if in fact all of those enablers and all the rest of the assistance is in fact provided.” General Petraeus supports this plan, and now, the same Senate that voted unanimously to confirm General Petraeus is going to vote on whether they agree with the plan he supports and that they confirmed him to execute.
Some people would like to mislead the American people into thinking that Republicans are opposed to debating Iraq and the various resolutions on Iraq. In fact, Mr. President, Republicans welcome that debate, and that’s why many of us are down here today. However, Republicans rightfully oppose the Democrats dictating what resolutions can be considered.
If Senators truly disapprove of this decision they should be willing to vote for or against a resolution that clearly expresses their convictions, and that’s exactly what Senator Gregg’s resolution does. However, Democrats are not willing to do that. Senator Gregg’s resolution expresses the Sense of the Congress that, “no funds should be cut off or reduced for American troops in the field which would result in undermining their safety or ability to complete their assigned missions.” If senators truly do not support the mission that we are sending General Petraeus and our men and women in uniform to carry out then they should be willing to have an up or down vote on the Gregg resolution.
Several weeks ago President Bush addressed the situation in Iraq before the American people, and everyone was anxious to hear his plans for a new strategy. It is clear that Americans want a victory in Iraq; however, they do not want our presence there to be open-ended. I agree, and most importantly, I believe that it is time for the Iraqi government to step up and take responsibility. They need to take control both militarily and politically. I believe the Iraqis must deliver on their promise.
Mr. President – there is nothing easy or pretty about war and this war is no exception. This war has not gone as well as any of us had hoped. Additionally the President’s new plan which is already being carried out in Iraq is not guaranteed to work. However, it is my firm conviction that the President’s plan deserves a chance to succeed and we in the United States Congress should do all we can to help it succeed. The Reid Resolution does not do that and that is why I urge my colleagues to vote against cloture on the motion to proceed to the Reid Resolution tomorrow.
The resolution opposes the President’s plan without offering any alternative. It opposes the mission which the Senate has unanimously confirmed General Petraeus to carry out. Mr. President, I urge a vote against the implementation of cloture tomorrow.
-30-
