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WASHINGTON - Back from a week-long Texas holiday, President George W. Bush wrestles with a decision on a new strategy for Iraq in the face of hostile Democrats and signs of growing unhappiness among some military personnel.
A day after the United States death toll in Iraq passed 3000, the President arrived back in Washington from his Crawford, Texas, ranch. And overtures of a storm to come over a strategy shift on Iraq already were present in a poll published by Military Times, a private newspaper. A questionnaire mailed to subscribers found just 35 per cent of active-duty personnel approved of how Bush is handling Iraq and 42 per cent disapproved.
Although it is not affiliated with the military, the newspaper has a following among the armed services and the poll was widely cited.
At his ranch, Bush and top Administration advisers mulled how to cope with the war, including whether escalating US troop strength there might help quell the violence. Exactly when Bush may announce his new strategy, possibly in a national address, remains unclear. Some commentators speculate it could be within days - before the January 23 State of the Union address - and potentially include an increase of 15,000 to 30,000 troops to try to end sectarian fighting and stop Baghdad death squads.
If so, it will trigger a fight in Congress where Democrats, who on Friday take control of both the House of Representatives and Senate after November's congressional elections, want a phased withdrawal of US troops - not an increase.
But wary of being tagged as wanting withdrawal regardless of consequences, the Democratic tactic more likely will be to lay out their case in high-profile hearings for shrinking US forces in Iraq by highlighting the costs of the conflict in dollars and lives.
Even within Bush's own Republican Party, some oppose amending Iraq strategy by introducing a "surge" or temporary increase in troop levels. A column by Robert Novak in yesterday's Washington Post quoted Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska describing any such proposal as "Alice in Wonderland".
"I'm absolutely opposed to sending any more troops to Iraq," Hagel said. "It's folly."
- REUTERS
