LATimes: Congress' Vote On Iraq Only A Prelude (Waiting Until SEPTEMBER; 'don't quote me by name')

[Hissyspit]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-assess30apr30,1,3673808.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-news-politics-national&ctrack=1&cset=true

NEWS ANALYSIS
Congress' vote on Iraq war is only a prelude
A September progress report on the troop buildup could make things a lot harder for Bush and Republicans.
By Doyle McManus, Times Staff Writer
April 30, 2007

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Democratic and Republican members of Congress already are focusing on September as their next major decision point on the war — planning hearings to debate Petraeus' findings and, in the Democrats' case, promising new attempts to force Bush to withdraw troops.

By September, the troop buildup will have been underway for more than six months. Unless there is dramatic improvement in Iraq, public support for the war will probably have eroded further. And by September, skittish Republicans will be four months closer to starting their reelection campaigns.

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Several moderate Republicans have warned that they are preparing to switch sides unless the troop "surge" shows results. "If the president's new strategy does not demonstrate significant results by August, then Congress should consider all options — including a redefinition of our mission and a gradual but significant withdrawal of our troops next year," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who last week voted against the withdrawal bill.

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But Rep. Jo Ann Emerson — a Republican from a southeastern Missouri district that voted nearly 2 to 1 for Bush in 2004 — voted "present" rather than oppose the plan. "There is a lot of frustration with the administration on the Republican side," said one GOP House member who has voted against every Democratic measure on Iraq but asked not to be quoted by name to avoid angering the White House.

In the aftermath of the troop withdrawal votes, Democratic leaders tried to keep the focus on the White House, challenging the president to accede to public opinion and sign their bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who has become the administration's leading antagonist in the war debate, threw down the gauntlet again after his chamber's vote Thursday.

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[acmavm]

1. How many Iraqis and Americans can be killed between now and

September I wonder. Just so that it can be said that they gave the 'surge' a try.