US Congress Criticizes President
// for his policy on Iraq
The House of Representatives of the US Congress yesterday ratified the resolution which reproves the intention of President George Bush to send extra 21,500 servicemen to Iraq. Although the resolution is only advisory, it might be followed by the Congress’s refusal to approve the funding for continuing Iraq campaign, which will automatically put the kibosh on sending new troops there. However, Bush seems to have found a way to put pressure on the legislators.
The resolution, ratified by the House of Representatives yesterday, will be discussed in the Senate today. The document does not have obligatory force. However, ratifying an anti-president resolution became the first open attempt of Democrats, who came to power in the Congress with anti-war slogans, to force President Bush to take into account the opinion of most Americans.
Meanwhile, the president himself decided to strike a counter-blow, switching the public’s attention to another hot spot, Afghanistan. The president said that he had already given orders to send extra 3,200 US servicemen there (to the 27,000 who are already in Afghanistan), and criticized Washington’s allies in the NATO for their reluctance to follow US example.
Bush spoke of Iraq as well, warning his opponents against taking measures which might aggravate the situation for US soldiers in Iraq, implying the Congress’s intention to block the allocation of over $90 billion for continuing the military campaign.
However, the president seems to have found a way to put pressure on the disobedient legislators. He maintained that the refusal to allocate new funds for carrying on Iraq mission will automatically aggravate the position of the 141,000 US soldiers who are already in Iraq. “Our servicemen expect that the leaders they have elected will provide them with everything necessary for completing the mission. Republicans and Democrats are responsible for providing our troops with all resources which they need,” reminded George Bush.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 17, 2007
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