News
Mar 16 2007
State's Senators Blame Politics
Oklahoma's senators said they view the debate on the war in Iraq as a political exercise, and that's why they were among only nine senators who voted against having the debate on a resolution calling for U.S. troops to be withdrawn by March 2008.
"It's 100 percent political,” said Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, on Wednesday.
He called the resolution an attempt "to micromanage the war by a bunch of people who don't know where Iraq is.” Inhofe said, "I think we have military generals and skilled people to make these decisions.”
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said the debate was "all politics and not policy.”
"The only thing Congress can do that will truly make a difference is cutting off funding,” Coburn said.
If the Senate wants U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq, he said, senators should use a spending bill to eliminate funding for the mission. "No matter where you are on the war, the resolution doesn't mean anything,” he said.
"It's 100 percent political,” said Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, on Wednesday.
He called the resolution an attempt "to micromanage the war by a bunch of people who don't know where Iraq is.” Inhofe said, "I think we have military generals and skilled people to make these decisions.”
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said the debate was "all politics and not policy.”
"The only thing Congress can do that will truly make a difference is cutting off funding,” Coburn said.
If the Senate wants U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq, he said, senators should use a spending bill to eliminate funding for the mission. "No matter where you are on the war, the resolution doesn't mean anything,” he said.
