The Dems Make a Move

Enough is enough already:

Senate Democratic leaders intend to unveil a plan next week to repeal the 2002 resolution authorizing the war in Iraq in favor of narrower authority that restricts the military's role and begins withdrawals of combat troops.

House Democrats have pulled back from efforts to link additional funding for the war to strict troop-readiness standards after the proposal came under withering fire from Republicans and from their party's own moderates.

…The new framework would set a goal for withdrawing combat brigades by March 31, 2008, the same timetable established by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Once the combat phase ends, troops would be restricted to assisting Iraqis with training, border security and counterterrorism.

Senior Democratic aides said the proposed resolution would be sent directly to the Senate floor for action, without committee review, possibly as an amendment to a homeland security bill scheduled for debate next week.

I'm sure the idea of repealing the war resolution has something to do with the saber-rattling over Iran, because there have been fears that the administration will try to use the resolution to justify military action against Iran, by virtue of some vague wording in the resolution like "Whereas it is in the national security interests of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region," and administration claims that Iran is meddling in Iraq (ergo making itself part of the existing war). So repealing the resolution is a good idea for more reasons than just hastening a withdrawal, although that's reason enough.

Creature also points out that "couching the language of this plan to parallel the Iraq Study Group is a smart move and will keep the American people firmly on the side of the Democrats as the debate moves forward." Absolutely. The ISG will give "the Democrat Party" some much-needed cover as the screeching about stab-in-the-backism inevitably begins.

Meanwhile, I've no idea what this new tactic means for Lieberman, who's been threatening to switch parties if the Dems embrace a defunding strategy. Also, I don't really care. I know the war is a ginormous issue, but if Lieberman—particularly after insisting he's a good Dem by pointing to his record on social and economic issues—is willing to switch over to the GOP because of this, they can bloody have him.