The Wall Street Journal reports that Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia is reconsidering his support for a defense amendment offered by fellow Virginian, Democratic Senator Jim Webb.
WASHINGTON -- In what could be a serious setback for Senate Democrats, Republican Sen. John Warner says he is "reconsidering" his support of a defense amendment requiring all U.S. troops returning from Iraq be guaranteed more time at home before their next deployment overseas.
Crafted by his fellow Virginian, Democratic Sen. Jim Webb, the amendment has been widely seen as perhaps the best shot Democrats have of gathering enough bipartisan support to overcome Senate procedural obstacles and make a real dent in the Bush Administration's Iraq policy.
Mr. Warner, a past chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and major voice on defense policy in his party, is vital to that effort and had supported the proposal in July when it captured 56 votes, just four short of the 60 needed to end debate.
But in an interview Tuesday, the senator said he is "reconsidering his position" in light of the administration's willingness to move closer to him on expediting some reduction in U.S. troop levels this year in Iraq. "It took a lot of convincing to make the first units come home before Christmas," Mr. Warner said. "There is a lot of importance in that."
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has opposed the amendment, even after Senator Webb offered changes that would delay the effective date. Senator Warner's change in position would seem to add a significant obstacle to a congressional takeover of the war in Iraq.
Comments