Will Bush Face Republican Revolt on Iraq?

July 9, 2007 — -- As the Senate today begins debating the Defense Department authorization bill, which outlines spending priorities for the military for the coming fiscal year, Democrats will attempt a major push to end U.S. involvement in the war in Iraq.

With more Republicans rebelling against the president's strategy, observers wonder whether this may be the turning point of the war when Congress will force the president to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

Republicans are increasingly abandoning the president's policy in Iraq, with stalwart GOPers such as Sens. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Dick Lugar of Indiana expressing concern about the president's strategy and joining Republicans who have long been critical of the war.

"I'm unwilling to continue our current strategy when the Iraqi government fails to advance the interest of the Iraqi people," said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.

"If we do not see this administration take some initiatives to make some changes, significant strategic policy changes over the next 90 days, then of course it will be forced on him," said Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday's "Meet the Press."

Few Expect Iraqis to Meet Goals

The ranks of rebellious Republicans is rising as the White House prepares to report to Congress in the next week on progress the Iraqi government is making. Few people expect the Iraqis to meet the benchmarks that were set earlier in the year.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates canceled a four-country tour through Latin America on Sunday to help beef up the progress report, due to Congress on July 15, in the hopes of containing Republican defections.

Democrats hope Republicans will support their amendments to the defense spending bill. Those amendments include new readiness requirements for U.S. troops, cutting off funding for combat operations after April 2008 and changing the mission for U.S. troops.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., may offer an amendment to end the 2002 war authorization, though no one in the Democratic leadership has seen a copy of her legislation.

"I think the dam is about to burst," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on "Face the Nation." "Republican senators who have been holding up a reasonable change in policy on this war are going home and getting hammered by their constituents, and they're beginning to change."

It remains an open question whether any of the rebelling Republicans are willing to go that far.

"It would be surprising to see Republicans vote for troop withdrawal, cutting of money, anything like that," said ABC News' political correspondent Cokie Roberts.

Republicans are nervous that the president's surge strategy is not working and nervous for their own political futures. Many of the Republicans voicing concerns about the war are up for re-election next year.