Kennedy, Democrats to Keep on Bush

by David Tamasi

WASHINGTON - As President Bush's request for $87 billion for post-war Iraq winds its way through Congress, do not expect Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to remain on the sidelines.

"The senator will continue to question the administration's proposal," said Kennedy spokesman Jim Manley. "Both as a member of the Armed Services Committee and as a duly elected member of the Senate."

Manley said Kennedy, one of the Senate's most powerful and outspoken Democrats, would be offering an amendment to Bush's proposal that would "spell out the role Congress plays in appropriating money for this type of purpose." The legislation, which would give Congress a greater say in how the money is spent, is still being drafted, he said.

Bush has asked Congress for $87 billion more for military and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The mere size of the request, coming at a time when American soldiers are continuing to come under attack in Iraq, has prompted Democrats and some Republicans to question how the administration plans to wrap up military operations and rebuild the country.

Perhaps no lawmaker has offered a more blistering critique than Kennedy. In an interview with the Associated Press Sept. 18, he called Bush's justification for war with Iraq a "fraud" that was "made up in Texas," the president's home state. Kennedy went on to say the administration was sending money to "political leaders in all parts of the world, bribing them to send in troops."

Bush told Congress and the American public he was going to war to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. Inspectors have failed to find proof such weapons exist.

Kennedy voted against the war.

A spokesman for Sen. John Kerry, a Democratic presidential contender from Massachusetts, seemed to egg Kennedy on. "Senator Kennedy should continue to speak out on what he believes in," said the spokesman, Tony Wyche. Kennedy was scheduled to campaign with Kerry this weekend in Iowa.

Kerry voted last fall to authorize Bush to wage war. During his months on the presidential campaign trail this year, he has criticized the administration's motives and planning.

On Tuesday, Republicans took to the Senate floor to denounce Kennedy's harsh language. Sen. Robert F. Bennett, R-Utah, said "the senior senator from Massachusetts has made a charge he cannot substantiate." Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said, "I think it was a slur on my home state of Texas."

Other Republican senators did not return calls or were unavailable for comment.

Yet, with the President's poll numbers dropping, Democrats appeared emboldened to defend Kennedy.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., told reporters, "We ought to have this open discussion and expression of views without challenging the motives, the patriotism or the very right of any senator to express himself or herself."

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other high-ranking administration faced tough questions and criticism from Democrats when they pushed Bush's proposal during committee hearings last week.

L. Paul Bremer, III, administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, appeared Thursday before the Armed Services Committee. Kennedy wasted little time attacking the Bush post-war strategy.

"Is this the best that this administration could do," Kennedy asked, "in terms of developing a plan that is going to have not only the support of the American people, but the international community and that offers us the best hope to provide some relief to our troops and to bring democracy to Iraq and hopefully to bring our troops home with honor?"