Iraq: White House, Democrats in war of words

Washington, Feb 22: A war of words erupted between Vice President Dick Cheney and the top Democrat in Congress after Cheney said lawmakers opposing a US troop buildup in Iraq ''validate the al Qaeda strategy.'' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, fired back that Cheney's comments were ''beneath'' his office and said President George W. Bush should repudiate the remarks.

On a visit to Tokyo, Cheney hailed British Prime Minister Tony Blair's announcement of a timetable for withdrawing forces from Iraq, calling it a sign of progress.

He said yesterday efforts by Democrats in control of Congress to halt the US troop increase and withdraw forces was the wrong course of action and would hurt the broader fight against terrorism.

''I think in fact if we were to do what Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Murtha are suggesting, all we'll do is validate the al Qaeda strategy, the al Qaeda strategy is to break the will of the American people,'' Cheney told ABC News.

''I think that is exactly the wrong course to go on,'' Cheney said. ''I think that is the course of action that Speaker Pelosi and Jack Murtha support. I think it would be a mistake for the country.'' Rep John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat and leading opponent of the war in Iraq, plans to advance legislation next month attaching conditions to new combat funds that would effectively block a troop buildup.

''Vice President Cheney continues to question the patriotism of those of us in Congress who challenge the Bush administration's misguided policies in Iraq, but his latest attack is beneath the office of the vice president, especially at a time of war,'' Pelosi said in a statement.

''I hope the president will repudiate and distance himself from the vice president's remarks.'' Pelosi said Cheney's comments would not dissuade Congress from pursuing a strategy to bring US troops home soon.

The House of Representatives last week passed a symbolic resolution opposing more US soldiers in Iraq.

Blair, a staunch Bush supporter, said 1,600 of Britain's 7,100 troops would return home in the coming months just as the United States is sending 21,500 more troops to try to quell violence in Baghdad and Anbar province.

Opinion polls have shown that most Americans oppose sending more troops to Iraq. There are now about 139,000 US soldiers in Iraq.

Democrats pounced on Blair's announcement as support for their position that a political solution is needed rather than sending more troops into the four-year battle, which has killed 3,148 American soldiers.

''There can be no purely military solution in Iraq,'' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

''At a time when President Bush is asking our troops to shoulder a larger and unsustainable burden policing a civil war, his failed policies have left us increasingly isolated in Iraq and less secure here at home,'' the Nevada Democrat said.

Denmark also announced it would pull its ground troops from Iraq by August, replacing it with a small unit operating four helicopters. Australia, another Bush backer, said it had no plans to cut its 1,400-strong force in Iraq.

REUTERS

Related Stories