Senate To Hold First Iraq Debate Since Dem Takeover

AP ANNE FLAHERTY March 14, 2007 12:11 PM

Breaking a parliamentary roadblock, the Senate voted Wednesday to begin its first formal debate on the Iraq war since Democrats took control of Congress in January. The White House swiftly issued a veto threat.

The 89-9 vote paved the way for consideration of a Democratic measure that calls for -- but does not require --vPresident Bush to pull U.S. combat troops out of Iraq by the end of March 2008. The vote came after many Republicans abandoned the tactic they had used twice earlier this year to prevent the Senate from considering legislation aimed at forcing an end to the war.

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