Will a Simple Resolution Lead to Real Change?

Hundreds of thousands of words have been written and spoken regarding President Bush’s plan to send a "surge" of American troops to Iraq, but Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi stressed this week that a proposed, nonbinding House resolution on the matter is actually quite simple.

Consisting of fewer than 100 words, the resolution reads as follows:

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that: (1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and (2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.

As simple as the resolution looks, representatives spent three days debating the it this week, with few if any of the legislators appearing willing to change their minds. The exercise in "debate" was more a chance for representatives to get their five minutes each in front of cameras to read predetermined speeches that would be far less effective than back-room deal-making in changing anyone’s vote. Still, when the vote is taken today (Friday, Feb. 16), it will most likely pass.

During an interview on "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" Wednesday evening, Pelosi said putting Congress on record regarding Bush’s plan will be an important first step in "setting the stage" for a new debate on Iraq. After a series of similar surges and nothing but increased violence to show for it, the American people need political solutions, she said, not another troop increase.

Republican diehards have used the tired argument that a resolution opposing the surge will "embolden the enemy." The president says he welcomes debate but Pelosi says the administration has been working hard to get Republican representatives to vote against the Iraq resolution. It is still obvious that differences are being drawn largely along party lines.

While Congress talks about resolutions and plans further debate, the Iraq occupation will turn four years old next month. There have been 3,127 U.S. solidiers killed there as of Wednesday, along with 32,544 wounded.

"Supporting the troops is not to send them into a conflict against an insurgency in neighborhoods — urban warfare — without the training and equipment that they need," Pelosi said. "That is what the president is doing and that is what we will not support." Asked if she expects the Senate to pass a similar resolution if the House Iraq resolution passes, Pelosi said "I’m absolutely certain of it."

Americans can only hope the resolution will lead to real change.