US democrats likely to prevail in anti-war vote

A vote to criticise US President George Bush for his decision to send more troops to Iraq is expected to pass in a rare admonishment of a wartime commander-in-chief.

Democrats who wrote the non-binding measure and back it with near unanimity were clear that it would set the stage for more decisive steps to constrain Bush’s warmaking powers. They proposed ideas to put legislative strings on future funding in Iraq and prevent any pre-emptive invasion of Iran.

“The time has passed for accepting this administration’s assurances at face value. The human cost of its repeated assurances is too great,” Rep. Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois Democrat, said today at the opening of the fourth and final day of debate.

The anxiously awaited vote was expected by late afternoon local time. The Senate is meeting tomorrow for a test vote on the same resolution.

During the first three days of debate, more than 300 politicians spoke on the resolution supporting the troops but disapproving of Bush’s plans to augment their numbers by 21,500.

Democrats supported the resolution, while all but about a dozen Republicans opposed it, warning that it would hurt the morale of the troops and encourage the terrorists.

Democrats say the votes are the first step toward forcing Bush to change course in a war that has killed more than 3,100 US troops and lost favour with voters.

“This country needs a dramatic change of course in Iraq and it is the responsibility of this Congress to consummate that change,” said Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who chairs the House panel that oversees military spending.

Mr Murtha is preparing legislation that would set strict conditions on combat deployments, including a year rest between combat tours; ultimately, the congressman says, his measure would make it impossible for Mr Bush to maintain his planned deployment of a total of about 160,000 troops for months on end.

Mr Murtha’s proposal also might block the funding of military operations inside Iran – a measure intended to send a signal to Mr Bush that he will need Congress’ blessing if he is planning another war.