The Iraq Vote

I was wrong, sadly, last week to say that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would vote for the Iraq supplemental bill. They voted against. As readers here know, I would have voted for the bill. Voting against it means you're in favor of a precipitous departure from Iraq. I'm for a careful departure from Iraq, and an immediate disengagement from the areas of most intense factional fighting like Baghdad. I respectfully disagree with those like, Russ Feingold, who have consistently taken a different view.

It's difficult, though, to have much respect for Clinton and Obama, who--when you hear them speak--are opposed to an immediate withdrawal, but voted for a measure which, if passed, would force one. You might say, this was a symbolic vote. It wasn't. It was a political vote. Yesterday I spoke with Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Ca.) just back from Iraq, who voted for the bill--as did a majority of Democrats who are not running for President. "Look, I would love to have cast a vote against Bush on this. We need a new strategy and I hope we can force one in September," she told me. "But I flew into Baghdad on a troop transport with 150 kids, heading into the field. To vote against this bill was to vote against giving them the equipment, the armor they need. I couldn't do that."