Coleman said his own strategy in providing oversight of the war will involve listening closely to General David Petraeus, named by Bush as the top commander in Iraq in February.

“Are we still in the cross-hairs of a civil war? How do we get out of that? What is Plan B?” Coleman said, summarizing some of the questions that will be asked.

He expects honest answers from Petraeus, who promised to provide an update for Congress in September, including a candid admission that the war is no longer winnable if he believes that.

Walz doesn’t expect to hear it if Petraeus ever reaches that conclusion.

“When the president disagrees with generals,” Walz said, “he just removes them.”

Klobuchar, Kline part on Iraq bill

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Collin Peterson, a Democrat whose district includes Sibley County, voted for the $124 billion funding bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that sets dates for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Rep. John Kline, a Republican whose district includes Le Sueur County, opposed the bill. Both Klobuchar and Kline issued written statements about their votes.

“We have to wrap our arms around those who serve and sacrifice for us,” Klobuchar stated. “I believe we can do much better for our troops and this bill is the first step in realizing that. The very best thing we can do for our troops is to get this policy right. This means sending a clear message to the Iraqi government that we are not staying there indefinitely.”

Kline, a retired U.S. Marine, voted against the bill because of the withdrawal dates.

“As a Vietnam veteran, I witnessed firsthand the micromanagement of the war from Washington and ironically they are endorsing the same incompetent policy of interference,” Kline stated. “By placing these restrictions that will force a presidential veto, the Democrats once again have delayed essential funding for our troops.”