If the Senate Democrats want to send a message to President Bush criticizing the mess he created in Iraq why don't they resurrect the Webb "dwell time" amendment or call a daily or weekly vote for a definite timeline for withdrawing our troops.  Endorsing the decentralization of Iraq into semi-autonomous regions is not the way to do it. 

Democrats in the Senate must have had another senior moment.  Bush, they should recall, chose to pre-emptively invade Iraq and some of them bear the responsibility for that since they voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.

This non-binding measure,sponsored by Senator Joe Biden, passed 75-23. Members of the United States Senate seem to be dictating to Iraq what their internal policies should be.  That is the responsibility of the Iraqi parliament. Voting for this measure certainly smacks of colonialism.

Juan Cole hits the nail on the head:

"The US Senate voted for a soft partition of Iraq on Thursday. First they messed up Iraq by authorizing Terrible George to blow it up, now they want to further mess it up by dividing it. It makes no sense to me; the US Senate doesn't even have the authority to divide Iraq. Wouldn't that be for the Iraqi parliament?"

Bush imperial elephant dung seems to have rubbed off on the Senate Democratic donkey.