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.