[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2919-2920]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come 
before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent that following the 
remarks of Senator Snowe of Maine, the Senate stand adjourned under the 
previous order.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Maine is recognized.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I know the hour is late. I want to speak 
briefly to the resolution that has been introduced by our most 
respected Member of the Senate, Senator Warner, regarding Iraq.
  I first ask unanimous consent to be added as a cosponsor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. SNOWE. For the record, I know the Senator from Virginia and the 
Senator from Michigan have had numerous conversations. The proposed 
changes in the resolution that was introduced this evening by the 
Senator from Virginia certainly reflect many of the concerns

[[Page 2920]]

of those of us who are the cosponsors of the Biden-Hagel-Levin 
resolution regarding the troop surge. The changes in the proposed 
resolution now reinforce the opposition to troop increases. It does 
enhance the position. It solidifies the unified view of those of us who 
have adopted a position in opposition to the troop surge. It also helps 
to advance this debate. Now we can begin on a course of deliberation 
within the Senate.
  I join the concerns of Senator Warner and our Republican leader that 
we should proceed in consideration of a resolution and not proceed out 
of order on the Warner resolution. It was introduced as a resolution. 
It should be debated and voted upon as a resolution here in the Senate. 
I am pleased, because I think it does unite us now that we have had 
these types of changes that I think go a long way to making a strong 
statement with respect to the President's proposed strategy of 
increasing troops in Iraq.
  I thank the Senator from Virginia for offering this resolution as 
modified so we can proceed and embark on the deliberations that not 
only consistently are the traditions of this institution but also are 
consistent with the views of the people of this country that this 
issue, which is the preeminent one of our time, deserves a full and 
open debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. WARNER. I thank our distinguished colleague from Maine. I share 
her views, as I expressed them with our leader here, that it was 
certainly always the intention of the Senator from Virginia that this 
matter should be kept in a resolution status, thereby precluding any 
necessity for the President to become involved in the sense of a 
legislative process. I feel confident that what we have put forth are 
recommendations--not orders to the President, not contravening the 
President's constitutional authority in any way, but they are the 
heartfelt thoughts of Senators as to how there could be further 
modifications in the new strategy in such a way as to hopefully lower 
the profile of the United States Armed Forces in the Baghdad operation 
and, thereby, hopefully, wherever possible, not inject them into this 
sectarian violence which can be better handled by the Iraqis, who 
understand the Iraqis, who have a far better understanding of the 
cultural differences that give rise to so much of this sectarian strife 
today. I am optimistic that can come to pass and we can treat this in 
the resolution status and that Senators can work their free will. There 
may be ideas far better than what I have embraced in this resolution, 
together with my colleagues, Senator Collins and Senator Ben Nelson. We 
are open to ideas. It is best that those ideas be exhibited right here 
on the Senate floor in full view of all to determine their merit.
  I thank my colleague. I am honored the Senator sees fit to join us as 
a cosponsor.
  Ms. SNOWE. I want to express my appreciation to the Senator from 
Virginia, because I do think this resolution reinforces the position of 
those of us who oppose the troop surge. I couldn't agree with the 
Senator more about the concerns we have involving the sectarian strife, 
particularly at a time in which the Iraqi Government has not 
demonstrated the political resoluteness to confront its own militias, 
to disarm and demobilize them, to proceed with a political process that 
would advance in unifying the country. That is long overdue. The time 
has come for the Iraqi Government and its people to step up and assume 
those responsibilities. That is why I had for the last few months the 
deep concern about the increase in the level of troops at a time in 
which sectarian strife has enveloped the country.
  It is time for the Iraqi Government, the Iraqi Army to begin to 
proceed to take responsibility for the internal problems that are 
developing. We obviously should move in a different direction and place 
the pressure on them to do what is right.
  Mr. WARNER. I thank our colleague. I also note the Senator from Maine 
was present on the floor in the course of the colloquy between the 
distinguished Senator from Nevada, Mr. Reid, and our distinguished 
leader, Mr. McConnell. I think they are both working toward trying to 
find the basis on which this matter can be treated as a resolution, 
which has been my desire from the first. I believe the Senator shares 
that view very strongly.
  Ms. SNOWE. Absolutely. And I have indicated that concern about 
introducing this resolution in the form of a bill. I also understand 
that at some point that bill would obviously be converted to a 
resolution. But I think we should proceed in regular order and have a 
full and open debate, as the Senator from Virginia has recommended. I 
think that is consistent with the traditions and practices of the 
Senate. And certainly this issue is deserving of open debate for the 
American people.
  Mr. WARNER. I thank the Senator. I am glad she, once again, pointed 
out that if it were to go into bill status, there is a point in time 
when I--and I presume you would join me--and others would move to try 
and have that bill status once again returned to the resolution status 
before any final action on this or other measures that may come before 
the Senate in this debate. Senator McConnell all along to all his 
colleagues has said, me included, that he wanted to try to provide an 
opportunity for as many viewpoints to be heard, either by resolution or 
by amendment, as possible.
  I also note the Presiding Officer was an original cosponsor on the 
resolution that I and Senator Nelson and Senator Collins put forward.

                          ____________________