Impeachment is on the table, Hagel says

Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and a frequent critic of the war, stopped short of calling for Bush's impeachment.

But he made clear that some lawmakers viewed that as an option should Bush choose to push ahead despite public sentiment against the war.

"Any president who says 'I don't care' or 'I will not respond to what the people of this country are saying about Iraq or anything else' or 'I don't care what the Congress does, I am going to proceed' -- if a president really believes that, then there are

The White House had no immediate reaction to Hagel's comments.

Hagel, who is considering a presidential run, said he was bothered by Bush's apparent disregard of congressional sentiment on Iraq, such as his decision to send additional troops.

The senator said that lawmakers now were ready to stand up to the president when necessary.

In the April edition of Esquire magazine, Hagel described Bush as someone who didn't believe he was accountable to anyone.

"You can impeach him, and before this is over, you might see calls for his impeachment," Hagel told the magazine.