[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 25226-25227]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            VOTE EXPLANATION

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I was unable to cast a vote on Friday, 
September 21, on amendment No. 2898 to the Defense authorization bill. 
I have voted against similar measures in the past, and had I been 
available to vote on Friday, I would have again voted against this 
attempt to direct a precipitous withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
  The terms of this amendment would have required U.S. troops to begin 
leaving Iraq within 90 days of the Defense authorization bill's 
enactment and complete that withdrawal within 9 months. While I 
understand public

[[Page 25227]]

frustration with the war, I believe a precipitous and arbitrary 
withdrawal mandated by Congress is not a wise solution to the situation 
in Iraq. I cannot support attempts to set an arbitrary deadline for 
withdrawing our forces from Iraq, which endangers our troops, our 
safety at home and the overall stability of Iraq and the Middle East.
  I believe our military commanders should determine how and when our 
troops begin leaving Iraq based on conditions on the ground. General 
Petraeus announced this month that he would be able to begin 
withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. I believe Congress should rely on 
the guidance and leadership of General Petraeus and our other 
commanders on the ground to determine how best to eventually bring our 
troops home from Iraq.

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