Ron Wyden Discovers His Spine

Hat tip to Blue Oregon
Wyden says Congress must vote on Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden on Friday called for Congress to vote on whether to keep American troops in Iraq for at least three more years, as President Bush has said he intends.

Wyden, a Democrat who voted against the war in 2002, said the vote would hold Bush accountable for presenting a realistic war plan and a budget for securing peace in Iraq. The vote also would hold Congress accountable by making it act like an equal branch of government, as the Constitution requires, Wyden said.

"I rise today to offer a simple proposition: Congress should act like a coequal branch of government and vote on whether or not to keep American troops in Iraq for at least three more years," Wyden said in a speech on the Senate floor.

Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said after a visit to Iraq last month that the country may be descending into civil war.

On Friday, Wyden said it is now time for Congress to act.

OK, maybe I'm being a bit hard on Mr Wyden in the title, he did after all vote against the war but this is the first indication of a backbone since then. But enough negative. Good for you Ron Wyden and your proposition makes sense.