( Gulfnews ) Democrats' efforts to challenge President Bush's Iraq policies were dealt a demoralising blow on Wednesday in the Senate after they failed to scrape together enough support to guarantee troops more time at home.
The 56-44 vote -- four short of reaching the 60 needed to advance -- all but assured that Democrats would be unable to muster the support needed to pass tough anti-war legislation by year's end. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, was seen as the Democrats' best shot because of its pro-military premise.
''The idea of winning the war in Iraq is beginning to get a second look,'' said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who led opposition to the bill alongside Sen. John McCain.
Webb's legislation would have required that troops spend as much time at home training with their units as they spend deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Members of the National Guard or Reserve would be guaranteed three years at home before being sent back.
Most Army soldiers now spend about 15 months in combat with 12 months home.
''In blocking this bipartisan bill, Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are more committed to protecting the president than protecting our troops,'' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Wednesday's vote was the second time in as many months that Webb's bill was sidetracked. In July, a similar measure also fell four votes short of advancing.
But momentum behind the bill stalled Wednesday after Sen. John Warner, R- Va ., announced he decided the consequences would be disastrous. Warner, a former longtime chairman of the Armed Services Committee, had voted in favor of the measure in July but said he changed his mind after talking to senior military officials.
Webb later told reporters there was no doubt Warner's opposition threw cold water on the bill.