Reid signals willingness to compromise on Iraq

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Friday that he may change his negotiating strategy in an effort to gain a compromise with Republicans that would alter U.S. war policy in Iraq.

"I remain absolutely committed to changing course in Iraq and bringing our troops home," Reid said, adding, "There are a number of different ways to do that legislatively."

Reid noted that Republicans have wanted to wait until September to reconsider the war. That is when Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commanding officer in Iraq, is to deliver a status report to Congress.

"I am willing and ready to help my Republican colleagues keep their word by working in a bipartisan way to change course in Iraq," Reid said. But, he added, "Enough Republicans need to break with the president to give us the 60 votes necessary to do so."

Reid's views came in a statement issued by his office. It expanded on comments he made in a Washington Post interview published on Friday.

The majority leader's remarks are being seen as a shift from an unwavering strategy that included Reid holding the Senate in an all-night session in July to debate a resolution to withdraw troops. The resolution drew only four Republican votes and failed, 52-47.

"I don't think we have to think that our way is the only way," Reid told the newspaper. "There is no reason that this be Democrat versus Republican."

Reid was traveling Friday and was unavailable for further comment, his office said.

Congress returns from its summer recess on Tuesday, and Reid said he considers the coming weeks "one of the last opportunities" to change course on the war.

Reid's signal for compromise may not be enough to sway Republicans who have grown suspicious of him, according to Washington political analyst Stuart Rothenberg.

"Republicans believe Reid and the Democrats have been trying to beat up on the president and score points to position themselves for the 2008 election," Rothenberg said.

This has prevented an agreement even though a growing number of Republicans believe it is time to break with the president and send a signal that there should be a change in Iraq, Rothenberg said.

Rothenberg said there still is an opportunity for a bipartisan agreement on Iraq. "The ball is in Reid's court," he said.

"If the Democrats can negotiate with Republicans and agree on a common language and approach on Iraq, that would send a clear signal to Bush that there is a bipartisan majority for the president to change policy," he said.

Seeking common ground, Reid signaled he might resurrect a bill that would require soldiers to be granted leave time that is at least as long as their most recent deployment.

That measure, introduced by Sen. James Webb, D-Va., would effectively reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq.

On July 11, the Senate voted 56-41 for Webb's amendment, falling four votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a Republican filibuster. But it did gain seven Republican supporters.

Another option Reid is said to be considering is an amendment by Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Ken Salazar, D-Colo., that would change U.S. policy in Iraq to reflect recommendations made last December by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.

Although he has criticized the amendment as being "toothless" and still has concerns about it, Reid said he would be willing to hear out the sponsors.

Calls and e-mails to Alexander and the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Friday were not returned.

Meanwhile, Reid's comments set off alarms on at least one liberal blog. Joshua Micah Marshall in Talking Points Memo headlined one entry, "Reid Backs Off Firm Troop Withdrawal Timetable."