Iraq resolution is against troop increase, for internationalism.

The media have widely reported that Congress is considering a non-binding resolution opposing the president's plan to send an additional 21,500 American soldiers to Iraq. In the words of the resolution, as reported to the Senate by the Foreign Relations Committee on January 24: "It is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by increasing the United States military force presence in Iraq."

However, the media have largely ignored the fact that the same resolution--Senate Concurrent Resolution 2--calls for greater regional and international involvement in Iraq. According to the resolution, "greater concerted regional and international support would assist the Iraqis in achieving a political solution and national reconciliation," and "the United States should engage nations in the Middle East to develop a regional, internationally sponsored peace and reconciliation process for Iraq."

This language suggests that the resolution's supporters are not so much against intervening in Iraq as they are against unilateral intervention. This is not surprising since liberal Democrats, like neoconservative Republicans, are neither anti-war nor anti-foreign intervention. In fact, they want a world policeman--so long as the United States and other countries do the policing under the dictates of the United Nations.

The resolution, sponsored by Democrat Joseph Biden (Del.), had 17 cosponsors in the Senate as of January 25, including Republican Chuck Hagel (Neb.).