Democrats release resolution against Bush

Democratic leaders in the US House of Representatives circulated non-binding legislation today disapproving of the US President’s decision to deploy more than 20,000 additional combat troops to Iraq.

The measure, expected to come to a vote by Friday, also says that “Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States armed forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honourably in Iraq.”

Debate on the resolution is scheduled to begin tomorrow, with each of the 435 House members allotted five minutes to speak.

It will mark the first debate in Congress on the war since Democrats won control of the House and Senate in last November’s elections. Opposition to the war figured heavily in the outcome of the election.

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have vowed to force an end to US participation in the war and made debate over non-binding resolution a symbolic first step.

The House measure was drafted in simple, unadorned terms, an attempt by Democrats to maximise the number of Republicans who would vote for it. Republican leaders have said they expect at least a few dozen defections when the vote is taken later in the week.

House Republican leader John Boehner has said his party will have an alternative, but it is not clear that majority Democrats will allow them to offer it on the House floor.