[Peace-discuss] Senate debate begins - hurray for Byrd

[Jim Buell]

Senate debate has started on Bush's Iraq bill - CSPAN and WILL-AM are 
carrying it live. Here's a CNN blurb on the procedural vote. Thank god for 
Robert Byrd, at least - I've read elsewhere he's considering a filibuster 
against the main bill.

>WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Senate
>                   debate on committing U.S. troops
>                   to disarm Iraq marks "the
>                   beginning of the end of Saddam
>                   Hussein and all he stands for,"
>                   Minority Leader Trent Lott said
>                   Thursday.
>
>                   "It is time that we take action to avoid some
>                   horrendous events that could occur if we
>                   don't," the Mississippi Republican said.
>
>                   The Senate voted 95-1 on a procedural motion
>                   that clears the way for votes next week. Sen.
>                   Robert Byrd, the chamber's senior Democrat,
>                   voted against it and warned that a
>                   pre-emptive strike would turn the United
>                   States into a "rogue nation."

(By the way, sorry about sending the Blagojevich message twice - a slip of 
the fingers.)

jb