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........As the Democrats struggled, Republicans sounded emboldened. The public had grown more patient on Iraq, they argued, after a report last week from Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, showing security improvements, and after Bush's announcement that he would begin to slowly withdraw troops.
"It is inconceivable that we in Congress would end this strategy just as it is beginning to show real results," said Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), a Republican presidential candidate.
GOP Senate offices circulated the results of a Gallup poll released this week that showed 54 percent of those surveyed think Petraeus's plan for removing troops is the right pace, or even too quick. One-third of those surveyed viewed the withdrawal as moving too slowly.
Democrats, meanwhile, have already turned their attention to other legislative vehicles, including the fiscal 2008 defense spending bill and a supplemental war funding request that could reach $200 billion. House Democrats have warned that they may stall action on the supplemental request until early next year. And Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), a staunch war opponent, has already warned that the White House will not receive a blank check on Iraq. .......
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