WASHINGTON – Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged the support of House Democrats Thursday for legislation declaring that President Bush’s decision to send additional troops to Iraq is “not in the national interest of the United States.”
Pelosi’s commitment came as Senate Democrats said they intend to begin advancing a nonbinding measure next week that criticizes the White House’s new strategy.
Democrats sought to bring public pressure to bear on the president’s new policy as Bush and senior administration officials worked to limit Republican defections.
“He said, ‘If you can help us out, I really appreciate your help,’” Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., said after a White House meeting with the commander in chief.
Senate Democrats, backed by two Republicans, unveiled legislation Wednesday that criticized Bush’s decision to increase troop levels by 21,500. “It is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by escalating the United States military force presence in Iraq,” the nonbinding Senate measure states.
Pelosi read those words aloud approvingly, and said, “That resolution will be supported by Democrats in the House.”
At the same time, Pelosi offered no indication that Congress will be able to prevent Bush from carrying out his plan.
She did not directly address the issue when asked, and Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House majority leader, said, “As a practical matter, we know that the president has the constitutional authority … to increase the troops.”
Democratic leaders in both houses have said repeatedly they will not support any attempt to cut off funds for troops who already have been deployed.
That position appears designed in part to blunt political attacks against rank-and-file Democrats from political swing districts.
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