Coburn Still Backs Iraq
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, has not changed his mind about the U.S. mission in Iraq, just because some of his Republican colleagues seem to be looking for a new direction.
Coburn said in an interview that it is premature to make judgments about how well the “surge” in military might is working since the deployment of more troops was just recently completed.
He said he was “aghast” that senators were coming out now to voice opinions that the Iraqi government was making no progress and that the military mission should be reassessed.
Two prominent Republican senators, Sen. Richard Lugar, of Indiana, and Sen. Pete Domenici, of New Mexico, have made public statements in the last few weeks raising questions about the progress being made.
“I think they reflect political considerations rather than military and national security considerations,” Coburn said.
The senator said, “One way for sure to make sure (the Iraqi government) doesn’t make progress is for us to bail.”
The way to ensure the government makes progress, he said, “is for us to continue to put the pressure on them that we have.”
The Senate this week is working on the defense authorization bill, which sets Pentagon policy. Several amendments regarding U.S. operations in Iraq are expected. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Virginia, offered an amendment today to ensure longer stays at home for active duty and Guard and Reserve forces.
Returning today from a week back in Oklahoma, Coburn said he believes the majority of the people in the state “are still supportive of the efforts” in Iraq.
Chris Casteel
Washington Bureau
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Senator Coburn should know all about “political considerations.” You may not be familiar with the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
pending before the U.S. Senate. It would put limitations on employers and
insurers accessing genetic information and instituting discriminatory
practices based on its use. Who wouldn’t support this bill?
Why Senator Coburn who claims on his website
that one of his top priorities is access to health care that’s who.
While this bill passed 420-3 a few months ago in the House (an extremely
rare bipartisan showing particularly in this Congress)Senator Coburn has
put a hold on the bill in the Senate preventing it from coming to the floor
of the Senate for a vote despite overwhelming bipartisan support in that
chamber. So much for fulfilling his promise to constitutents. It just goes
to show its politics as usual for Senator, oops, I mean Dr. Coburn!