In case you haven't been following the twists and turns over the Webb Amendment, until the last day or so it looked like Sen. John Warner (R-VA) was going to break with the president and support the amendment. But then, in the last day or so, he changed his mind, offering up a non-binding, watered down version with Sen. McCain. (and he apparently did so without first informing fellow Virginian Webb! More here.) I've been waiting to hear his explanation for this. Here it is:
I agree with the principles [in the amendment], but I regret to say I've been convinced by those in the professional uniform that they cannot do it and do it in a way that wouldn't invoke further unfairness to other soldiers now serving in Iraq.
Brian Beutler translates:
It will be really unfair if some troops are able to be at home and in combat for equal stretches while others aren't. That would really suck. So the troops will stay in Iraq. And thus, everybody's happy!
If this isn't an example of the perfect becoming the enemy of the good, there isn't one. Because it couldn't be implemented with perfect equality, Warner won't do it. Rather than ensure that some, maybe even most, of the men and women serving in Iraq get the time at home they deserve, he's instead going to essentially do nothing. And the result of that, of course, will be that none of them will be guaranteed anything.
In the end, Webb's amendment fell 4 votes short of the 60 needed to break the Republican Filibuster. Or to put it in the language of 2006, but for the obstruction of the minority party, the will of the American people would have been implemented. In the name of harming the troops, the Republican minority has undermined democracy itself!
But back to today for a moment...as with everything attached to this wretched war, the debate over Webb's amendment had so real low points. Check out this quote from Sen Martinez (R-FL):
I think we would demean their service if we were to say to them that there had to be a parity between the time in service out of the country and the time at home.
Martinez, for those who don't know, is more than just a Republican Senator. He is also the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. [Want video? Here you go.]
Why the men and women in our armed forces continue to vote for Republicans is beyond me.
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