Biden-Brownback Iraq measure clears hurdle

A nonbinding measure supporting the split of Iraq into federal regions appears headed for congressional approval as part of the defense authorization bill that was completed in conference Thursday night.

Despite broad bipartisan support in the Senate, the language advocating such a split, which is one of the few Iraq-related measures that have been passed, did not gain traction in the House. After passing the Senate 75-23, the so-called Biden-Brownback amendment was tacked onto the Senate’s Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill.

{mosads}Several sticking points between the House and Senate versions were eventually stripped, including a controversial hate-crimes provision. The Biden-Brownback language survived, though it was altered to ensure that the call for federalism in Iraq doesn’t infringe on the country’s sovereignty.

The amendment’s September Senate vote was a triumph for Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), the lead sponsor of the proposal. His language attracted the support of 26 Republicans as well as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), one of Biden’s chief rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) missed the vote, but his office indicated support for the measure.

The conference report on the defense authorization bill is expected to pass in both chambers, leaving the White House as a remaining obstacle.

However, President Bush is unlikely to veto the authorization simply to prevent Biden’s amendment from passing, since it is a nonbinding resolution. Instead of acting as a policy mandate, it would recommend that the president alter the U.S. diplomatic approach in Iraq.

Bush has publicly promised to reject other congressional attempts to interfere with Iraq strategy, which he says should be decided by Gen. David Petraeus and military officials on the ground. While the White House is expected to frown on the amendment, it may ultimately decide it is palatable due to the necessity of passing the authorization, which includes nearly $200 billion in war funding and over $500 billion for the Defense Department.

The main provisions of the amendment urge the U.S. government to assist Iraq in devolving power from the central government.