Coleman lends support to softer anti-surge resolution in Senate

Senior Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman today identified himself as a supporter of a compromise resolution put forth by his Republican colleague John Warner (R-Virginia) regarding President Bush's plan to increase the troop size by 21,500 in Iraq. Although he is not a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Coleman nevertheless joined the three committee members who sponsored the resolution--who include Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) besides Warner--at a press conference announcing their position.

The Warner resolution stakes a middle ground between Bush's troop escalation and a bipartisan resolution put forth last week by Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska), Joe Biden (D-Delaware), and Carl Levin (D-Michigan), that flatly opposes Bush's surge proposal. The nonbinding resolution supported by Coleman simply states that the White House consider "all options and alternatives" to a troop escalation.