http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070201/wl_afp/usiraqiranpolitics_070201191718;_ylt=Ag1aBc11ybNIj32kUmW_f4Ng.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw--Lawmakers tout new bill rebuking Bush's Iraq strategy
by Stephanie Griffith 16 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US lawmakers on both sides of the US Senate drummed up support for a compromise bill slamming a hike in US forces in
Iraq, saying it was the best chance of forcing
President George W. Bush to drop his unpopular plan.
After days of hardknuckle bargaining, top congressional Democrats and key Republicans finally agreed late Wednesday on a bill that censures Bush's plan to boost US forces in the war zone with another 21,000 troops.
The breakthrough measure, likely to garner wide support, means the White House could face an embarrassing -- but ultimately symbolic -- vote of no-confidence when the bill hits the Senate floor next week.
"Now we have a real opportunity for the Senate to speak clearly. Every senator will have a chance to vote on whether he or she supports or disagrees with the president's plan to send more troops into the middle of a civil war," said Senator Joe Biden, one of the key authors of the motion.