WASHINGTON — A day after President Bush implored the nation to support his new Iraq strategy, his top aides met a storm of criticism Thursday from congressional Democrats and Republicans, who questioned whether an American troop escalation could win the war and demanded to know when U.S. forces would finally be able to withdraw.
In tense exchanges during three congressional hearings, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other officials confronted crumbling support for the administration's policy and a growing risk that lawmakers might try to impose limits or conditions on the unpopular mission.
"I've gone along with the president on this, and I've bought into his dream, and at this stage of the game I just don't think it's going to happen," said Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio).
But reflecting the deepening anxiety among lawmakers, Senate centrists also were wary of an expected resolution condemning the new policy, which they said would merely embarrass the president without preventing the buildup.
With overnight polling showing 70% of Americans oppose the plan announced Wednesday in a national presidential address, many lawmakers expressed doubt that America's Iraqi allies would carry out their lead role in the new security plan. And they worried the White House would not hold the Iraqis to account if the Iraqis failed.
Others questioned whether the plan, which will add as many as 21,500 additional troops to the 132,000 already there, was large enough to suppress sectarian violence in a city of about 6 million. Some predicted a growing confrontation in the next several months if the added U.S. and Iraqi troops did not stem the violence.
In a conspicuous sign of congressional unhappiness with the plan, only one member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, freshman Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), expressed approval of the new approach during Rice's appearance. Others voiced skepticism that sometimes edged toward hostility.
"I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out," Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) told Rice.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), in an emotional confrontation, recalled Rice's erroneous prediction to the committee in fall 2005 that the Iraqi army's increasing capabilities would soon permit a drawdown of U.S. troops.
