By Leigh Ann Caldwell
Washington, DC – The US Senate is debating an exit strategy in Iraq. New York Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken opponent to a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops. Thursday, Clinton will vote for a plan to redeploy.
The non-binding measure calls for the phased redeployment of US troops in Iraq to begin this year -- but offers no deadline for complete withdrawal.
For Senator Clinton, this is a happy medium.
"I simply do not believe it is a strategy or a solution for the President to continue declaring an open ended and unconditional commitement," Clinton said. "Nor do I believe it is a solution or a strategy to set a date for withdrawal without regard to the consequences.
The Senate will also vote on a second measure that calls for the redeployment of US troops by July of next year. Most Republicans will oppose both proposals. They say the US presence in Iraq is essential to fight the war on terror.