Byrd Challenges Gates On Iraq Authorization

After bashing Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) in an earlier post for over-the-top language on Iraq, I should also note that Byrd challenged Defense Secretary Robert Gates today on whether the 2002 use-of-force resolution for Iraq is still valid, and he got a less-than-satisfactory answer, although surprisingly candid one for a member of the Bush administration when discussing Iraq.

Byrd and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), a Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, are crafting legislation calling for a new use-of-force resolution for Iraq that would alter, or end, the U.S. military campaign there, an idea that has also been proposed by Sens. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.), as well as New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D). Biden and Richardson are all also White House candidates in 2008.

Click below to read a press release from Byrd's office on his question and Gates' answer.