Salazar backs move to restrict military action in Iraq

Myung Oak Kim And M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, February 24, 2007

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Denver, said he supports the concept of passing a binding resolution in Congress that would restrict military involvement in Iraq, but that such a plan could only succeed with bipartisan support.

Salazar said he's not involved in the drafting of the Democratic proposal, expected to be introduced next week.

He also emphasized that sponsors need to bring Republicans on board before introducing the measure.

The proposal would repeal a 2002 Senate vote that authorized U.S. military involvement in Iraq and replace it with a more stringent plan that includes removing troops from combat by March 2008.

Salazar spoke about his views on Iraq during an editorial board meeting Friday morning at the Rocky Mountain News.

The senator said he supports increased diplomacy and a more focused mission that puts the U.S. military in a training capacity and working to protect the Iraqi borders.

He expressed concern, however, over the politics surrounding these efforts, given the number of senators who have presidential ambitions.

"It becomes difficult when everyone tries to out-Iraq each other," he said.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, opposes the idea of revisiting the 2002 war authorization, spokesman Steve Wymer said Friday.

Allard supports President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops and a new commander to Iraq in hopes of turning the situation around.

"(Allard) wouldn't support anything, including the measure that Democrats have proposed recently or the resolution last week, or anything that would undermine that effort," Wymer said.

kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2361