As a result of growing American criticism over US President Bush's policies in Iraq, the US Senate on Tuesday urged Bush to outline a plan for the completion of his Iraq mission. A measure was accepted overwhelmingly by both Democrats and Republicans and adopted 98-0 restricting the interrogation techniques used on prisoners, banning their inhuman treatment, and requiring quarterly reports on the status of operations in Iraq.
The measure shows to what extent US politicians are currently willing to defy the president in spite of threats to veto bills including such measures.
Despite the consensus, the Senate, controlled by President Bush's Republican Party, defeated a call from US Democrats for a timeline which would specify concrete dates for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, which have been stationed there since the US-led invasion into the country in 2003.
Bush said he would be happy to keep Congress informed of his plan to bring democracy to Iraq, according to the AP. "The Senate did ask that we report on progress being made in Iraq, which we're more than willing to do," Bush said. "That's to be expected. That's what the Congress expects. They expect us to keep them abreast of a plan that is going to work."
While on a visit to Japan, Bush told reporters that "It is important that we succeed in Iraq ... and we're going to." He added, "The only way that we won't succeed is if we lose our nerve and the terrorists are able to drive us out of Iraq by killing innocent lives."
US polls show that a growing number of Americans disapprove of Bush's policy on Iraq, which has left more than 2,000 American soldiers dead.
The Senate's political statement was clear, especially since the vote was held with Bush abroad in Asia, a move that Congress often tries to avoid.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
