Bush promotes new Iraq plan as Democrats remain sceptical (Roundup)

By Mike McCarthy Jan 11, 2007, 23:08 GMT

Washington - US President George W Bush's new plan for Iraq came under heavy fire Thursday by Democrats and even some Republicans who believe the troop increases will not achieve US goals and could worsen the conflict.

Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives held hearings to grill Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who helped Bush formulate the new plan he outlined in a major speech Wednesday night.

'I fear that what the president has proposed is more likely to make things worse,' said Democratic Senator Joseph Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Several Republicans have also questioned the surge of 21,500 soldiers. Senator Chuck Hagel, who has criticized the policy in the past, offered some of the harshest words yet from Bush's rank and file.

'This speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam - if it's carried out,' Hagel said. 'I will resist it.'

Bush promoted his plan Thursday in remarks to a group of soldiers from Fort Benning, Georgia, who will soon be sent to Iraq as part of the buildup.

The 'long struggle' against Islamic extremists and terrorists 'will require the full resolve not only of this government, but of future governments,' Bush said.

Setting a modest goal compared to lofty rhetoric of the past, he said the aim of the plan he outlined Wednesday night is to create 'a society that is somewhat more peaceful' in Iraq.

'I laid out a plan that is our best chance for success,' Bush told soldiers at Fort Benning, of whom some 4,000 are to deploy to Iraq in the next few months. 'There is no doubt in my mind we will prevail.'

Meanwhile, the new Defence Secretary Gates said the surge of troops would likely last for several months but provided no specific timeframe.

'It's really hard to say at this point. It's viewed as a temporary surge, but I think no one has a really clear idea of how long that might be,' Gates said at a press conference with Rice before the hearings.

Gates and Rice discussed Bush's new strategy that includes placing pressure on the Iraqi government to meet obligations to halt the sectarian violence and take steps toward national reconciliation.

'It is the Iraqis who are responsible for what kind of country Iraq will be,' Rice said. 'It is they who must decide whether Iraq will be characterized by national unity or sectarian conflict.'

The new approach relies heavily on the Iraqi government taking steps like streamlining its command structure in Baghdad, where most of the violence is taking place, and ensuring its security forces act independently of sectarian politics.

'We're going to know pretty early on whether the Iraqis are meeting their military commitments, in terms of being able to go into all neighbourhoods,' Gates said.

Bush also announced plans to boost the reconstruction effort, pour more money into Iraq and to appoint a coordinator in Baghdad to oversee the rebuilding effort with the Iraqi government.

Rice said that post will be filled by Tim Carney, the former US ambassador to Haiti who has 'enormous experience in post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction and development.'

Democratic plans to introduce resolutions in the House and Senate rejecting the troop increases were heading toward a showdown with Senate Republicans who have vowed to block a vote on the measure.

Rice rebuffed Democrat calls for the United States to engage Iran and Syria, two countries Bush accused Wednesday of stirring up violence and supporting attacks against US troops.

Rice warned that Iran will likely want the United States to compromise on its nuclear activities and Syria will want Washington to turn a blind eye to its meddling in Lebanon in exchange for any help in Iraq.

'If, on the other hand, they intend to offer a stabilizing role because they believe that in our current situation in Iraq, we are willing to pay a price, that's not diplomacy - that's extortion,' Rice said.