C-SPAN Alert: Senate debating Iraq

UPDATE: Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is speaking about the Iraq war on the floor NOW.

The U.S. Senate has just started debating a resolution condemning the Iraq war. If you tune in to C-SPAN now, you listen to what they have to say.

Earlier today, the Senate broke a parliamentary roadblock that allowed it to begin its first formal debate on the Iraq war since Democrats took control of the Senate. Last month, Republicans used a procedural maneuver to prevent debate on an Iraq resolution. This time, the vote was 89-9 to let the debate begin.

Ohio Sens. George Voinovich, a Republican, and Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, both voted to allow the debate. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, also voted in favor of the debate. However, Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning, also a Republican, voted against it.

The measure would call on President Bush to begin withdrawing troops in four months with all forces out of Iraq by the end of March 2008.

Despite being able to debate the measure, however, the bill is still expected to fall short of the 60 votes it needs to pass. And even if it were to pass the Democratic-controlled body, the White House has said it would veto the measure.