The latest attempt by the democrats to force some policy on Iraq failed in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 56-44. The amendment (S.AMDT.2909) needed 60 votes to pass.

I wrote about this amendment authored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and my support for it way back on July 9. On July 11, the amendment failed 56-41. At that time, I said it was a good amendment. It is still a good amendment.

This amendment would require deployed troops to spend as much time at home as they are deployed. It is that simple. One item in the amendment that I did not totally agree with was the National Guard and Reserve section. In this amendment, they would be guaranteed three years at home before being sent back. That’s a little too long for me. The amendment also contained language that if the President certifies to Congress that the deployment of the unit or member is necessary to meet an operational emergency posing a threat to vital national security interests of the United States, the requirement could be waived.

As many readers know, I spent several years in the military, and I am pro-military all the way. The current war has taken a toll on our military men and women AND their families. A happy military family is important for the mission. A military person wants to know his/her family is safe, has a place to live, food on the table, and they want to know they’ll be there when they return.

When you join the military you know that there will be times when you are away from home. That’s a given. It’s always nice to know when you will be home and for how long you will be at home. Nothing is more demoralizing than having a set date to come home and then having it changed at the last minute. It kills the morale, hurts the mission, and it hurts the family.

The opponents felt this amendment was a backdoor attempt to derail the war effort. It might have been, but it was good for the troops and their families. If the Pentagon does not have enough troops to do the job, increase the recruits and cut your budget in other area to support it.

The 56 Senators, including Montana’s two Senators, who voted for this amendment made a correct vote.