Iraq War Criticism Stalks Bush Overseas
guardian.co.uk
<<...An AP-Ipsos poll earlier this month found a significant drop in the share of Americans saying Bush is honest. Also, with the U.S. death toll now above 2,080 in Iraq, nearly two-thirds of the country disapproves of Bush's conduct of the war.
Underscoring those worries, unwelcome news poured out of Iraq Friday. Suicide bombers detonated explosives at two Shiite mosques in Khanaqin, near the Iranian border, killing at least 74 worshippers during noon prayers. In Baghdad, a pair of car bombs targeted a hotel housing Western journalists and killed several Iraqis nearby.
Some Republicans on Capitol Hill have become willing to question Bush on Iraq - albeit carefully - amid fears that the public's concerns will affect next year's midterm congressional elections.
Earlier this week, the GOP-controlled Senate voted down a Democratic push for Bush to outline a withdrawal timetable, but supported telling the president to outline a strategy for ``the successful completion of the mission'' in Iraq.
Washington's weeklong clash over Iraq policy continued Friday, fueled by the call from prominent defense hawk and decorated Vietnam war veteran, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., for the nearly 160,000 troops to be brought home.
Murtha introduced a resolution saying troops should be withdrawn "at the earliest practicable date.'' House Republican leaders countered with an alternative that, in calling for an immediate withdrawal, was designed to be soundly defeated. An overwhelming vote of 403-3 did just that in late-night session but only after an acrimonious, personal debate over the war...>> |
