September 04, 2007
Congress Braces For A Contentious September
Legislators slip back inside the Beltway today, ready to take up domestic spending and the war in Iraq. After spending the August recess listening to angry constituents, Democrats might get a little more aggressive than usual and be more willing to engage in vociferous debate.
Although members of Congress are planning new resolutions on the warrantless wiretapping program and other high-profile issues, Iraq is likely to keep its spotlight in the new session.
For his part, President Bush spent Labor Day girding up with a visit to Iraq's Anbar province. The unannounced trip, with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, aimed to highlight security improvements in a region that was once considered one of the bloodiest conflict zones in the country.
Bush hinted yesterday that troop reductions are a possibility if security improvements can spread from one province to another. But he also took a jab at his colleagues back in Washington, saying that decisions on a drawdown would be "based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground -- not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media." That comment was greeted with cheers from U.S. troops assembled at the Al-Asad Airbase.
The visit was undertaken as part of a lead-up to a much-anticipated report from Gen. David Petraeus, which will be delivered to Congress on Sept. 15 and serve as a guidepost for Washington's way forward.
