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WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush today predicted a bloody summer in Iraq for US troops and Iraqi civilians as insurgents step up attacks, while a divided US Congress approved funds for the unpopular war.
Bush is expected to promptly sign a US$100 billion ($140 billion) bill passed on today by Congress, by a vote of 280-142, to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure, unlike a bill vetoed by Bush earlier this month, contained no withdrawal deadlines for US troops.
The legislation's passage capped a four-month struggle between the Republican president and the Democrats who control Congress. They pledged to resurrect attempts to force him to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.
"I hope the bill is in a position where we can fund the troops without a lot of animosity at this stage," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
"People can make whatever statements they want in regard to the war, and I'm sure that will happen. But I think that we need to get to this as quickly as we can."
Bush used a Rose Garden news conference to urge passage of the legislation in order to support the troops he said face a difficult summer of heavy fighting and more casualties.
He predicted Iraqi insurgents and al Qaeda will attempt to influence the US debate on the war by launching spectacular attacks in advance of the US military's assessment of the war's progress in September.
"It could be a bloody -- it could be a very difficult August," Bush said.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates said later he also anticipated more violence this summer from what he called "a smart, agile, thinking enemy."
"They know what's going on in this country and I think we should be prepared for them to make a very strong effort to increase the level of violence in July and August. My hope is that anticipating it will allow us to thwart it."
The predictions of more bloodshed came at a time when Americans' assessment of the war has never been worse, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll that said 76 per cent of Americans believed the war was going somewhat or very badly for the United States.
Only 20 per cent said the recent troop increase was making a positive difference, and just 23 per cent approved Bush's handling of the war. His overall job approval was 30 per cent.
Lawmakers were racing against a deadline to give Bush the funding, just before a congressional recess and as combat money was running out.
In a strange turn, Democrats were shepherding an Iraq bill through Congress that many of them do not support. Many in their party were outraged.
"We understand that there have to be some continuing operations in Iraq, but it has to be coupled with a plan and funding being used to redeploy the troops. And that is missing from this bill. So, it's a failure," Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold told CNN.
Bush held back from crowing about his apparent victory on the funding bill, instead trying to convince sceptical Americans of the need to stay in Iraq and avoid the catastrophic chaos that would ensue if US troops withdrew.
Faced with demands to make progress in Iraq by September from many lawmakers, Bush pleaded for patience but made clear September will be an important period, when the US commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, will report on the impact of the troop buildup and make a recommendation on how to proceed.
Bush was peppered with questions about Iraq and clung to his belief that the United States must stay in Iraq to quell an al Qaeda that wants to strike America again.
"I can assure you, al Qaeda, who would like to attack us again, have got plenty of patience and persistence. And the question is, will we?" said Bush.
- REUTERS
