Democrats keep heat on Bush, Republicans over Iraq

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) President George W Bush today tried to shore up support among fellow Republicans for increasing US troops in Iraq but Democrats kept the heat on by pushing ahead with a resolution opposing his plan.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Republican lawmakers would meet Bush for a ''candid exchange of views'' about the new strategy.

He would not give names nor say now many were invited for the afternoon meeting, but said ''probably everybody there is at least skeptical'' of Bush's plan to send about 21,500 more US troops to Iraq to try to stabilize Baghdad and Anbar province.

''They will make their concerns known,'' Snow said.

Bush has said he will not be swayed by Congress or public criticism. ''I made my decision and we're going forward,'' Bush told CBS' ''60 Minutes'' in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Both the newly Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and Senate are planning symbolic, but politically important, resolutions rejecting Bush's plans.

With polls showing most Americans disapprove of the troop increase, the non-binding resolutions would force Republicans to reveal publicly where they stand on Bush's strategy and could further isolate the White House.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden of Delaware and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin of Michigan, both Democrats, are involved in the drafting, as is Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a long-time war critic, Senate aides said.

The resolution likely would be ''very straightforward and simple: a single sentence or so about disapproval,'' said Democratic Sen.

John Kerry of Massachusetts.

The goal was to introduce it this week, but it was unclear how soon a vote would take place, aides said.

House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer, of Maryland, said the House would probably pass a resolution by a significant bipartisan majority expressing disapproval of the troop increase, but was waiting for the Senate to go first.

The timing could be an embarrassment to Bush, who is set to deliver his annual State of the Union address to Congress yesterday.

Bush will try to persuade Republicans to stick with him. The White House says a resolution could send a signal to the world that America is divided on the war. A poll released this week by the Pew Research Center said 61 percent of Americans opposed Bush's plan, while 31 percent favored it.

Snow said Bush's message to lawmakers considering a non-binding resolution is that ''whatever you do, make sure you support the troops.'' ''It is a question that those who are talking about these resolutions will have to answer to themselves and to the public,'' Snow said.

Bush also faced more pressure to open a dialogue with Iran and Syria.

''The purpose of talk is not to change our posture towards those countries, nor should we compromise vital interests ...'' Indiana Republican Sen. Richard Lugar told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. ''The regional dialogue I am suggesting does not have to occur in a formal conference setting, but it needs to occur.'' Potential presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton said the United States should cut funds for protecting Iraq's government leaders and training and equipping its military if the country's Shi'ite leaders fail to give the minority Sunnis a greater role in government.

The New York Democrat also said she opposed sending more troops to Iraq, in part because it would siphon off US military strength in Afghanistan, where Taliban attacks have intensified. She visited Baghdad and Afghanistan last week.

Reuters AB DB2234