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Bush set to reveal Iraq strategy Bush set to reveal Iraq strategy
(9 minutes later)
US President George W Bush is preparing to unveil his long-awaited strategy for the future of US involvement in Iraq.US President George W Bush is preparing to unveil his long-awaited strategy for the future of US involvement in Iraq.
The president is expected to bolster the US presence in the country by sending at least 20,000 extra troops to Baghdad and the restive Anbar province.The president is expected to bolster the US presence in the country by sending at least 20,000 extra troops to Baghdad and the restive Anbar province.
But Democrats, who now control both houses of Congress, have made it clear they plan to oppose what they see as an "escalation" of the war in Iraq.But Democrats, who now control both houses of Congress, have made it clear they plan to oppose what they see as an "escalation" of the war in Iraq.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has pledged to hold a vote on any increase.Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has pledged to hold a vote on any increase.
Symbolic voteSymbolic vote
Veteran Democratic Party senator Edward Kennedy said sending more soldiers would be "an immense new mistake".Veteran Democratic Party senator Edward Kennedy said sending more soldiers would be "an immense new mistake".
An escalation, whether it is called a surge or any other name, is still an escalation, and I believe it would be an immense new mistake Sen Edward Kennedy href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6245851.stm" class="">Taking the Vietnam out of Iraq He has suggested new legislation requiring congressional approval for any such move.
Senate Democratic majority leader Harry Reid said that he hoped for a bi-partisan measure to block the move. An escalation, whether it is called a surge or any other name, is still an escalation, and I believe it would be an immense new mistake Sen Edward Kennedy href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6245851.stm" class="">Taking Vietnam out of Iraq
Senate Democratic majority leader Harry Reid said he hoped for a bi-partisan measure to block the deployments.
"The president's going to have to take note of that. I think that's the beginning of the end, as far as I'm concerned," he said."The president's going to have to take note of that. I think that's the beginning of the end, as far as I'm concerned," he said.
But the BBC's Justin Webb, in Washington, says the Democratic Party is likely to settle on symbolic votes of disapproval. But the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says many Democrats feel queasy about interfering in military matters - particularly if newly appointed US commanders in Iraq say they need the reinforcements.
But such a move would still be the biggest reconsideration of congressional support for the war since it began, he says. Moreover the president could use his right of veto against the bill.
Live address The Democrats are likely to settle on symbolic votes of disapproval, our correspondent says.
Mr Bush, whose address will be carried live on all US television networks, is due to speak in Washington at 2100 local time on Wednesday (0200 GMT Thursday). However such a move would still be the biggest reconsideration of congressional support for the war since it began, he adds.
Mr Bush, whose address will be carried live on all US television networks, is due to speak in Washington at 2100 local time (0200 GMT Thursday).
He will address the nation from the White House library rather than the usual setting of the Oval Office.He will address the nation from the White House library rather than the usual setting of the Oval Office.
The US president is expected to announce an additional $1bn (770m euro, £0.5bn) in funds to strengthen Iraq's battered economy and create jobs, according to an anonymous source quoted by the Associated Press. No benchmarks
The president is expected to announce five additional brigades for Baghdad - where Iraqi and US troops have launched a fresh offensive against militants - to be deployed over the coming month
Another brigade will be sent to Anbar province.
Analysts say Mr Bush will not tie the reinforcements to security benchmarks to be reached by the Iraqi government.
One of his expected policy recommendations will be the transfer of responsibility for security to the Iraqis for all of the country's 18 provinces, news reports say.One of his expected policy recommendations will be the transfer of responsibility for security to the Iraqis for all of the country's 18 provinces, news reports say.
Only three of the country's 18 provinces are currently under Iraqi control.Only three of the country's 18 provinces are currently under Iraqi control.
The bulk of the additional troops are expected to be sent to the capital, Baghdad, where the Iraqi government said an estimated 50 insurgents were killed in clashes on Tuesday. Mr Bush is also expected to announce an additional $1bn (770m euro, £0.5bn) in funds to strengthen Iraq's battered economy, according to an anonymous source quoted by the Associated Press.
In the UK, Prime Minister Tony Blair declined to say whether he would follow the US lead in increasing troop numbers in Iraq.
Britain has 7,200 troops in southern Iraq, mostly in the Basra area.