Yesterday, Republicans blocked the Senate debate on the bipartisan resolution that opposed Bush’s troop “surge” in Iraq. It was a procedural vote, that was divided closely along party lines, and it “left the Democratic leadership 11 votes short of the 60 needed to begin debate on the bipartisan resolution.” Harry Reid told Republicans on the Senate floor, “You can run but you can’t hide. We are going to debate Iraq.”

The decision short-circuited what had been building as the first major Congressional challenge to President Bush over his handling of the war since Democrats took control of Congress last month, and left each party blaming the other for frustrating debate on a topic that is likely to influence the 2008 presidential and Congressional races.

At issue is a compromise resolution drawn up chiefly by Senator John W. Warner, Republican of Virginia, that says the Senate disagrees with President Bush’s plan to build up troops and calls for American forces to be kept out of sectarian violence in Iraq.

The deadlock came after Democrats refused a proposal by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, that would have cleared the way for a floor fight on the Warner resolution in return for votes on two competing Republican alternatives that were more supportive of the president.

In the wake of the blocked vote from yesterday, John Kerry held a press conference today announcing that he is introducing legislation that “would include many of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group and set a firm deadline for the withdrawal of most U.S. troops from Iraq.”

Kerry said the other key elements of his bill are: launching a major diplomatic initiative, enforcing a series of benchmarks for meeting key political objectives, shifting the military mission to training Iraqi security forces and counter-terrorism operations, and maintaining on over the horizon presence to protect U.S. regional interests.

“The only people who believe there is a workable military solution for the conflict in Iraq is The Bush Administration,” Kerry said. “We must find a way to force the Iraqi politicians to make the tough compromises necessary to find a sustainable political solution. It’s time to sponsor a regional effort aimed at using diplomacy to achieve peace. We can’t pull the plug on our efforts in Iraq overnight, nor can we endlessly debate continuing the status quo into the next decade. My plan offers a rock solid deadline that forces Iraqis to step up their responsibilities while redirecting the mission of US troops to training, counter-terrorism and force protection.”

“The president is asking Congress to approve another $245 billion to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have little to show for our effort in Iraq and the president and Republicans in Congress are attempting to prevent us from debating this issue on the floor of the Senate. The American people aren’t interested in 60-vote minimums. They want to see the leaders in Washington have a plan for moving our brave men and women out of the chaotic civil war in Iraq.”

The legislation is based on Kerry’s bill from last year, which also called for creating a firm one year deadline for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq, leaving only the minimum number necessary to complete the training of Iraqi security forces, go after terrorists, and protect United States facilities and personnel. In December, the Iraq Study Group set a goal of withdrawing United States combat forces from Iraq within a year. This date was based upon the timeframe for transferring responsibility to Iraqi security forces set forth by George W. Casey Jr., and on the schedule agreed upon by the Iraqi government for achieving key political and security objectives. It is also consistent with the President’s stated objective, worked out with the Iraqi government, of transferring full security responsibility to the Iraqis by November of 2007.

John Kerry continues to believe that setting a one year deadline is necessary to make that goal a reality.

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