Republicans rally to defend Bush’s Iraq war policy

REPUBLICANS seeking to defend US President George W Bush’s troop build-up in Iraq tapped military veterans among their own ranks to lead the debate yesterday as Democrats relished likely victory in their fight for a resolution opposing Bush’s policy.

Sam Johnson, a prisoner of war in Vietnam, took the lead among Republican speakers on the third day of debate on a resolution disapproving the addition of 21,500 US troops to the fight. He was joined by other Vietnam War veterans, such as Duncan Hunter, California and John Kline, Minnesota, in saying such opposition from Washington sends a signal of retreat in the war on terrorism.

“This non-binding resolution serves no purpose other than pacifying the Democrats’ political base and lowering morale in our military,” said Geoff Davis, R-Kentucky.

Democratic Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina countered that the victory to be won in Iraq “is not a military conquest”.

“The victory we seek is earned through the restoration of America’s role as peacemaker, not warmonger,” Clyburn said.

It appeared certain that Democrats, who took control of Congress last Autumn partly because of growing public disenchantment with the war, would carry the day in approving the resolution.

The resolution is nonbinding, but Democrats already are turning to the debate next month over Bush’s request for nearly $100 billion more for the war, a request that promises to become a new battleground over his Iraq policy.