Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday he will recommend a veto should a bill sponsored by Sen. Webb of Virginia pass the Senate.

The proposal, sponsored by Sen. James H. Webb Jr., Virginia Democrat, that would require that troops be given equal time off to match tours of duty, was dismissed by Mr. Gates as “a backdoor way to try and force the president to accelerate the drawdown.”

“Trying to manage to this kind of legislation is extremely difficult,” Mr. Gates said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” adding that the military has a difficult enough time managing current policy, which gives troops 12 months off for 15 months of combat duty.

Asked in a separate interview by “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace whether he would recommend a veto of the bill, Mr. Gates said, “Yes, I would.” …

…Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, defended the administration’s strategy during a “Meet the Press” appearance, saying U.S. troop reductions should be tied to military and political progress on the ground.

Mr. McCain, a decorated Vietnam veteran who is seeking his party’s 2008 presidential nomination, said that along with military progress, Iraqis have made significant progress toward political reconciliation on the local level.

He warned, however, that an early withdrawal would force the country’s various political factions to form alliances with Iran and al Qaeda.

“I am convinced that the … government [of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki], if they are told we are leaving, they have to stay in the neighborhood, and they will adjust to conditions in the neighborhood. That’s dealing — making deals with al Qaeda and others,” he said.

Sen. Carl Levin has offered his own redeployment proposal. His bill would limit the mission of U.S. forces to training Iraqi forces and combating al Qaeda, something the administration says already is reflected in their long-term goals.

Mr. Gates rejected claims from Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, that the Bush war policy would leave more than 100,000 troops in the country for the next decade.

“I think that no one believes right now that that’s going to prove necessary,” he said.

They’ve been beaten on this issue so many times their brains must feel like mush, but onward they march, trying for a new result.

If the 57 votes projected turns into 60 votes I predict they will never be able to muster the extra votes to override a veto.

Let the generals run the war and inform the president and congress of the best way to do it.

Just when victory is within reach the Democrats keep trying to snatch defeat from its jaws. Of course they would because it’s a campaign issue for them.

Right now our current strategy could also backfire and they can still claim credit, but give our troops and commanders a chance to see through the surge and show us the positive results we are reading from the milbloggers and heard from Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker last week.

Sure there are political problems in Iraq. I imagine there were lots of political problems in our country when it was a baby too.