The Iraq war is entering its fifth year with US President George W. Bush pleading for patience to let his revised battle plan work and Congress' new Democratic leaders retorting that the country's patience has run out.
"The new strategy will need more time to take effect," Bush said in remarks televised from the White House on Monday to mark the four years since he ordered the invasion to overthrow late Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
He challenged Congress to send him a bill to pay for continuing the war "without strings and without delay." He got a swift response from Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives.
"The American people have lost confidence in President Bush's plan for a war without end in Iraq," Pelosi said. "That failed approach has been rejected by the voters in our nation, and it will be rejected by the Congress."
Four years in, the war has claimed the lives of more than 3,200 members of the US military and tens of thousands of Iraqis. Original predictions of the cost and length of the war have been far surpassed. The public overwhelmingly opposes the war, and Bush's approval rating stands near its all-time low. Trying to stop spiraling sectarian bloodshed, Bush has ordered almost 30,000 more combat and support troops to Iraq, mostly to stabilize Baghdad.
"Until Baghdad's citizens feel secure in their own homes and neighborhoods," Bush said, "it will be difficult for Iraqis to make further progress toward political reconciliation or economic rebuilding, steps necessary for Iraq to build a democratic society."
From Congress, the House's Democratic vote-counter, Representative James Clyburn, said Democrats were intent on "ending the blank check for the president's war and setting a timeline for the phased redeployment of our US military."
The House will vote this week on legislation that would effectively require withdrawal of US troops from Iraq by next year, while continuing to provide this year's money for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"By August 2008 at the latest, US combat troops will be redeployed from Iraq," Clyburn said.
A new poll in Baghdad reflected the stress and hopelessness that are the result of the unrelenting violence and uncertain political situation.
The poll, conducted by ABC News, USA Today, the BBC and ARD German TV, found only 18 percent of Iraqis have confidence in US and coalition troops, 86 percent were concerned that someone in their households would be a victim of violence, and 51 percent said violence against US forces was acceptable.
There were modest anti-war demonstrations in cities from coast to coast to mark Monday's anniversary. Protesters tried to block the New York Stock Exchange and several were detained.
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