McClatchy: Bush stays course on Iraq, rebuffs demand for change

[babylonsister]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/17732.html

Bush stays course on Iraq, rebuffs demand for change
By Ron Hutcheson and Renee Schoof | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — President Bush dug in Monday against demands for change in his Iraq policy, despite eroding support within his party and growing doubts that his troop increase will make a significant difference.

Through his spokesman Bush urged patience at the start of what's likely to be a rough week for his policy. Members of Congress returned to Washington from their July Fourth break feeling heat from voters to come up with a plan to bring the troops home.

"There is no intensifying discussion about reducing troops," said White House spokesman Tony Snow, rejecting reports that internal administration discussions were doing precisely that. "You are talking about a surge that literally just got completed, in terms of troop complements, two weeks ago. . . . Don't expect us to lift a veil and have a whole different strategy."

The Senate got back to work Monday by debating the first in a series of proposals intended to wind down or pull out of Iraq. Senate votes later in the week could test Republican loyalty to Bush.

Three senior Republican senators have questioned Bush's war strategy recently, although it's not clear that any of them are ready to break with the president when voting on legislation.

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[spanone]

1. bu$h* will be calling for surge 2 before September......he is one defiant mo fo

[aquart]

4. Frankly, I think he wants us all dead.

That would show us.

[tularetom]

2. I don't care if it's an iceberg it'll have to move - we're the Titanic!!1!

[aquart]

3. So Iraq is on auto pilot, and the driver has bailed.