Senator seeks to keep 9/11 bill free of Iraq provisions

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., is making it clear he does not want Iraq-related amendments attached to a bill scheduled for floor action this week that would implement unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Democratic leaders seemed inclined Monday to hold off introducing Iraq-related amendments to the bill, possibly to avoid upsetting Lieberman and moving him closer to switching party affiliations, which would swing the Senate back to GOP control.

But one aide said it also depends on whether Republicans push to attach language supportive of President Bush's so-called surge in U.S. troop strength in the most dangerous areas of Iraq. "The Democrats won't [offer Iraq amendments] if Republicans don't," this aide said. "That would be an absolute miracle in my view, but let's keep our fingers crossed."

An aide to Lieberman said the chairman "prefers that the 9/11 Commission bill not be used as a vehicle for Iraq debate." In letters and calls to senators, family members of 9/11 victims also say the bill is not the appropriate way to debate Iraq-related measures. The Senate plans to begin debate on the bill Tuesday.

An aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said no decisions have been made about how to proceed with proposals dealing with Iraq.

Meanwhile, Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., has been drafting one of the leading proposals for changing Iraq policy. But one of his aides on Monday said he has not decided to attach his plan to the 9/11 bill. "He just has not made a decision as to how it will proceed," the aide said.

Levin has been a critic of the war, while Lieberman has been the administration's strongest Democratic supporter in the Senate.

Lieberman won re-election as an independent but pledged to continue to caucus with the Democrats. Levin was asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday whether it is worth risking losing control of the Senate by pushing Iraq legislation not supported by Lieberman.

"Joe Lieberman is a person of conscience," Levin said. "Providing we vote our conscience, I think Joe Lieberman will respect that. He is a Democrat, and I expect him to remain a Democrat."

Lieberman wrote a long op-ed in Monday's Wall Street Journal asking Congress to give Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of multinational forces in Iraq, time to secure Baghdad. "I appeal to my colleagues in Congress to step back and think carefully about what to do next," Lieberman wrote.

"Gen. Petraeus says he will be able to see whether progress is occurring by the end of the summer, so let us declare a truce in the Washington political war over Iraq until then." Lieberman added.