Critics of troop rise must offer alternative

WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) President George W Bush made clear he would not back off his plan to send more troops to Iraq despite bipartisan hostility to the idea and he accused his critics of failing to offer an alternative.

Bush's announcement this week that he would add 21,500 troops in Iraq to try to quell sectarian violence was greeted by scathing criticism on Capitol Hill. The United States has about 130,000 troops in Iraq now. The extra troops would go to Baghdad and the volatile Anbar province.

Democrats in Congress and even some Republicans, said they doubted the plan would work, given that past force increases failed to halt the bloodshed and that it relied heavily on the Iraqi government to come through on commitments it previously had not met.

Congressional Democrats swept to power in November elections widely seen as a referendum on the unpopular war.

''We recognize that many members of Congress are skeptical,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address. ''Members of Congress have a right to express their views, and express them forcefully.'' ''But those who refuse to give this plan a chance to work have an obligation to offer an alternative that has a better chance for success. To oppose everything while proposing nothing is irresponsible,'' he said.

Many Democrats want to see a phased withdrawal of U.S.

troops beginning within a few months.

Bush insisted that as part of his strategy, he would hold the Iraqi government to benchmarks it has set, including taking responsibility for security in all provinces by November.

Democratic congressional leaders are pushing for a resolution opposing a troop increase and hope to garner enough Republican support to leave Bush politically isolated. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid intends to bring a vote on the resolution to the Senate floor next week.

FIRST BRIGADES ARRIVING SOON Many in Congress acknowledge they have few options for halting Bush's strategy short of cutting off funds. Many lawmakers appear reluctant to take that step and the White House is already moving ahead with the increase, with the first of five additional brigades to Baghdad scheduled to arrive within days. Other brigades are to be sent in waves over the next few months.

Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who heads a House panel overseeing defense spending, said he would try to attach restrictions to a 100 billion dollars request for new war money Bush will send to Congress in February. The proposal might prohibit the use of the money for more troops or tie the funding to the closure of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Bush said a cutoff in funding should not even be considered because such a debate would undercut soldiers. ''Our brave troops should not have to wonder if their leaders in Washington will give them what they need,'' he said yesterday.

In an interview with CBS this week, Bush vowed to press ahead with the troop increase, regardless of whether Congress tried to block it.

''I fully understand (Congress) could try to stop me from doing it,'' Bush said. ''But I made my decision -- we're going forward.'' Reuters AD VP0428