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| New US Iraq policy faces scrutiny | New US Iraq policy faces scrutiny |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is appearing before a key Senate committee amid growing criticism of President Bush's move to increase troops in Iraq. | |
| Along with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Peter Pace, Mr Gates is expected to face tough questioning on the planned troop deployment. | Along with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Peter Pace, Mr Gates is expected to face tough questioning on the planned troop deployment. |
| Mr Bush plans to send at least 20,000 more troops, saying it will help bring security to Baghdad's streets. | Mr Bush plans to send at least 20,000 more troops, saying it will help bring security to Baghdad's streets. |
| But Democrats and some Republicans have spoken out strongly against the move. | But Democrats and some Republicans have spoken out strongly against the move. |
| Mr Bush and his top officials have been working to convince sceptical lawmakers of the merits of the new strategy. | Mr Bush and his top officials have been working to convince sceptical lawmakers of the merits of the new strategy. |
| The new strategy is not going to yield immediate results... over time, we can expect to see positive results President George W Bush Can new way forward work? UK 'faces big decision' Press savages Bush plan | The new strategy is not going to yield immediate results... over time, we can expect to see positive results President George W Bush Can new way forward work? UK 'faces big decision' Press savages Bush plan |
| Mr Gates, who on Thursday appeared before the House Armed Services Committee, is now facing the Senate Armed Services Committee. | |
| He and Gen Pace will be pressed hard on the wisdom of sending extra troops to Baghdad, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. | He and Gen Pace will be pressed hard on the wisdom of sending extra troops to Baghdad, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. |
| Gen Pace is likely to be asked why he appears to have changed his mind about a policy he did not back in the past, our correspondent says. | Gen Pace is likely to be asked why he appears to have changed his mind about a policy he did not back in the past, our correspondent says. |
| 'Positive results' | 'Positive results' |
| Mr Bush made his announcement of a "surge" force of troops in a televised speech on Wednesday. | Mr Bush made his announcement of a "surge" force of troops in a televised speech on Wednesday. |
| I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam if it's carried out Chuck HagelRepublican senator Bush speech at a glance Reaction to Bush speech | I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam if it's carried out Chuck HagelRepublican senator Bush speech at a glance Reaction to Bush speech |
| He said the new troops would help secure neighbourhoods in the capital from insurgents, and that this time troop levels would be sufficient to hold areas that had been cleared. | He said the new troops would help secure neighbourhoods in the capital from insurgents, and that this time troop levels would be sufficient to hold areas that had been cleared. |
| On Thursday, he said the plan was "our best chance for success", but he warned that it could take a while to see progress. | On Thursday, he said the plan was "our best chance for success", but he warned that it could take a while to see progress. |
| "Over time, we can expect to see positive results," he said. | "Over time, we can expect to see positive results," he said. |
| Alongside criticism from Democrats - who now control both houses of Congress - several Republicans have publicly expressed their disappointment with the move, which runs counter to recommendations by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. | Alongside criticism from Democrats - who now control both houses of Congress - several Republicans have publicly expressed their disappointment with the move, which runs counter to recommendations by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. |
| Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said Mr Bush had made a mistake. | Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said Mr Bush had made a mistake. |
| "I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam if it's carried out," he said. | "I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam if it's carried out," he said. |
| The Democrats have promised a non-binding vote in both houses of Congress on the strategy. | The Democrats have promised a non-binding vote in both houses of Congress on the strategy. |