Blow to Bush as top US commander warns of worse to come in Iraq
Pastor Dale Morgan
Blow to Bush as top US commander warns of worse to come in Iraq*
· Democrat resolve stiffened in battle over funding
· Senate backs plans for early troop withdrawal
Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Friday April 27, 2007
The Guardian
The top US commander in Iraq admitted yesterday that the conflict would
"get harder before it gets easier", providing further ammunition for
Democrats determined to face down George Bush in their constitutional
clash over the Iraq war.
Hours before the Senate passed legislation ordering troops to start
leaving Iraq by October, General David Petraeus said the conflict was
"the most complex and challenging I have ever seen". Gen Petraeus, who
was put in charge of the Baghdad troop "surge" to pacify the Iraqi
capital, warned of the enormous commitment and sacrifice facing the US
in Iraq.
His downbeat assessment, in contrast with Mr Bush's optimistic
statements, stiffened the resolve of Democrats in Congress pushing for
an early withdrawal of US troops. Yesterday the Senate followed the
House of Representatives in backing legislation that calls for most US
troops to be out by spring 2008.
The bill is expected to land on Mr Bush's table on Tuesday, the fourth
anniversary of the speech in which he prematurely declared an end to
hostilities. Under the legislation billions of dollars of military
funding will be withheld unless Mr Bush sets in motion the withdrawal
timetable.
The White House, which has described the bill as a timetable for
surrender, reiterated yesterday that Mr Bush would veto it. As the
Democrats do not have the two-thirds majority needed to overturn the
veto, a stand-off is inevitable.
Democratic members of Congress claim the "surge" is doomed to failure, a
scepticism shared by some Republicans.
Gen Petraeus returned to Washington this week to brief the president and
members of Congress. Although he agreed with Mr Bush that there had been
some improvements in the two months since the arrival of US
reinforcements, he also stressed that the achievements "have not come
without sacrifice". He noted the increasing use of car bombs and suicide
attacks has "led to greater US losses" and Iraqi military casualties.
Suicide bombers claimed the lives of nine US paratroopers this week,
while last week witnessed the deadliest single suicide bombing in
Baghdad, when 140 died in a market attack.
Asked how long the US would have to remain in Iraq, he said he could not
anticipate what the level "might be some years down the road".
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House speaker, said: "The sacrifices borne
by our troops and their families demand more than the blank cheques the
president is asking for, for a war without end."
In reality, the Democrats will not choke off funds to US troops in the
field. But they will try to force Mr Bush to compromise. One route being
discussed by Democrats would be to set benchmarks for the Iraqi
government to tackle sectarian violence; failure to act fast enough
would trigger withdrawal. One step the Democrats are insisting upon
would be for the Shia-led Iraqi government to agree a fair formula for
sharing oil revenues with other groups.