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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US House rejects Bush Iraq plan | US House rejects Bush Iraq plan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The US House of Representatives has voted in favour of a resolution criticising President George W Bush's decision to send extra troops to Iraq. | The US House of Representatives has voted in favour of a resolution criticising President George W Bush's decision to send extra troops to Iraq. |
| More than a dozen of his Republican Party joined the Democrats in passing the non-binding motion 246 to 182. | |
| The vote follows days of fierce debate, during which the Democrats have made it clear that more decisive steps to limit Mr Bush's war policy could follow. | The vote follows days of fierce debate, during which the Democrats have made it clear that more decisive steps to limit Mr Bush's war policy could follow. |
| The Senate is due to vote on the troop plan in an unusual Saturday session. | The Senate is due to vote on the troop plan in an unusual Saturday session. |
| This country needs a dramatic change of course in Iraq and it is the responsibility of this Congress to consummate that change Democrat John Murtha class="" href="/narrowband/avconsole/news/world/newsid_3634000/3634161.stm">Debate in quotes Previous Senate attempts to debate the anti-troop surge resolution have been met with delaying tactics from Republican members. | |
| If Saturday's Senate vote goes ahead, Mr Bush faces the possibility that both chambers of Congress will repudiate his Iraq policy within two days, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. | If Saturday's Senate vote goes ahead, Mr Bush faces the possibility that both chambers of Congress will repudiate his Iraq policy within two days, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. |
| Although both the Congressional resolutions are non-binding, the president needs the legislators to support his $93bn (£48bn) emergency troop funding measure. | Although both the Congressional resolutions are non-binding, the president needs the legislators to support his $93bn (£48bn) emergency troop funding measure. |
| Responsibility | Responsibility |
| The House vote brought to a close the first full debate there since the Democrats took control of Congress in November. | The House vote brought to a close the first full debate there since the Democrats took control of Congress in November. |
| Nancy Pelosi says Congress will write no more blank cheques for war | Nancy Pelosi says Congress will write no more blank cheques for war |
| Written by the Democrats, the resolution states that the House "will continue to support and protect" US soldiers in Iraq but that it "disapproves" of the 21,500-strong troop increase. | Written by the Democrats, the resolution states that the House "will continue to support and protect" US soldiers in Iraq but that it "disapproves" of the 21,500-strong troop increase. |
| About 400 of 434 representatives in the House spoke during four days of debate. | |
| Mr Bush, who hopes the "surge" will restore stability in Iraq, said on Thursday that he expected Congress to live up to its promise to support the nation's troops. | Mr Bush, who hopes the "surge" will restore stability in Iraq, said on Thursday that he expected Congress to live up to its promise to support the nation's troops. |
| "Our men and women in uniform are counting on their elected leaders to provide them with the support they need to accomplish their mission," he said. | "Our men and women in uniform are counting on their elected leaders to provide them with the support they need to accomplish their mission," he said. |
| "Republicans and Democrats have a responsibility to give our troops the resources they need." | "Republicans and Democrats have a responsibility to give our troops the resources they need." |
| After speaking to Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki on Friday, Mr Bush told reporters that the Iraqi government was making progress towards its targets. | |
| He has not commented on the vote in the House, which his spokesman said he was too busy to watch. | |
| Rhetoric warning | Rhetoric warning |
| Speaking during the debate, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there should be "no more blank cheques". | Speaking during the debate, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there should be "no more blank cheques". |
| Mr Boehner accuses the Democrats of trying to derail Iraq war policyShe also warned Mr Bush that he did not have the authority to go to war with Iran without the backing of Congress. | |
| There has been concern recently over the president's rhetoric on Iranian activity in Iraq. | There has been concern recently over the president's rhetoric on Iranian activity in Iraq. |
| Her message was echoed by fellow Democrat John Murtha, who told the House: "This country needs a dramatic change of course in Iraq and it is the responsibility of this Congress to consummate that change." | Her message was echoed by fellow Democrat John Murtha, who told the House: "This country needs a dramatic change of course in Iraq and it is the responsibility of this Congress to consummate that change." |
| Mr Murtha, who heads a House panel that oversees military spending, is drawing up legislation that would set strict conditions on training and rest periods for troops, making it almost impossible for Mr Bush to deploy the number of troops he wants to. | Mr Murtha, who heads a House panel that oversees military spending, is drawing up legislation that would set strict conditions on training and rest periods for troops, making it almost impossible for Mr Bush to deploy the number of troops he wants to. |
| Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner criticised the Democrats' attempts to derail Mr Bush's plans. | |
| "While American troops are fighting radical Islamic terrorists thousands of miles away, it is unthinkable that the United States Congress would move to discredit their mission, cut off their reinforcements and deny them the resources they need to succeed and return home safely," he said. | "While American troops are fighting radical Islamic terrorists thousands of miles away, it is unthinkable that the United States Congress would move to discredit their mission, cut off their reinforcements and deny them the resources they need to succeed and return home safely," he said. |