Reply #24: The Dems will be fortunate to get 40 votes for Feinstein/Levin amendment.

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/19/AR2006061901007.html

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada backs the resolution and his aides say they expect 38 to 40 Democrats and a few Republicans to vote for the symbolic statement. However, they don't expect to get the 51 votes needed to attach the resolution to an annual military bill.

The resolution would urge, but not require, the administration to begin "a phased redeployment of U.S. forces" in 2006 and, by year's end, give Congress its plan for "continued redeployment" thereafter.

Additionally, the resolution calls for American troops, which have been focused on combat operations in Iraq, to more quickly switch to "a limited mission of training and logistic support of Iraqi security forces, protection of U.S. personnel and facilities, and targeting counterterrorism activities."