McCain casts doubt on Gen Casey as US Army head

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) Republican US Sen John McCain said he might vote against Gen. George W Casey's nomination as Army chief of staff, saying he had ''serious concerns'' about the man who has overseen the Iraq war since 2004.

''I have very serious concerns about General Casey's nomination,'' McCain said on NBC's ''Meet the Press.'' ''I'm concerned about failed leadership, the message that sends to the rest of the military,'' he added.

McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and 2008 presidential hopeful, is a major advocate of President George W Bush's plan to send more US troops to Iraq to try to quell the sectarian violence there, an idea that had been resisted by Casey.

Bush named Lt Gen David Petraeus to take over in Iraq and nominated Casey to become Army chief of staff.

The Armed Services Committee is expected to hold a hearing on Petraeus this week. Petraeus enjoys strong congressional support and McCain said he fully backs him.

Sen Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, told CNN's ''Late Edition'' that he thought Casey would be confirmed by the Senate, but Sen Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Casey will face tough scrutiny.

''General Casey will be held to account for the advice he's given in the past, for the strategy he proposed in the past.

And we'll have to make a decision as a Congress what's the best thing for General Petraeus and this new strategy,'' Graham said on CNN.

The White House today praised Casey and said officials would work with senators to address their concerns.

''General Casey is an outstanding general who deserves the support of the Senate and a swift confirmation,'' said White House spokeswoman Nicole Guillemard.

CUT IN FUNDS FOR IRAQ? Meanwhile Democrats continued to voice strong opposition to Bush's plan and accused Bush of ignoring advice from his generals, lawmakers and Americans who increasingly oppose the war.

Sen Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts told NBC's ''Meet the Press'' that Congress at some point may have to consider voting to cut off funds for Iraq.

''If we have a president that is going to effectively defy the American people, defy the generals, defy the majority of the Congress of the United States and Republicans and Democrats, then I think we have a responsibility to end the funding for the war,'' Kennedy said.

Democrats, who won control of Congress in the 2006 elections, are pushing for a phased withdrawal of US troops and this week senators could vote on a bipartisan, nonbinding resolution opposing the troop increase. The resolution also calls for additional diplomacy and the quick transfer of military responsibilities to Iraqi forces.

Republican opponents argue this would send the wrong message to US troops and US enemies in Iraq and that Bush's plan should be given a chance to work.

Democratic Sen Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who opened her 2008 presidential bid yesterday, told CNN she had little confidence that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki can restore security in Iraq. She has recommended a cap on the number of US troops in Iraq and a phased withdrawal.

''I don't have any faith. Whether there's a gap between his intentions and his will and capacity is the real problem, or whether he's doing what he intends to do to sort of mark time and further the dominance of his sectarian supporters, it's hard to tell,'' she said.

Iraq's US ambassador said on CNN that Maliki ''was not dealt a very good hand,' with his security forces not well equipped. ''When he's got the tools, I'm sure he's going to use them and use them in the right way,'' Samir Sumaidaie said.

REUTERS MQA BST0225