White House: Senate Iraq vote is positive (*: "Won't Impede His Strategy")

http://www.kget.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=413E0433-D87D-4833-A640-38790F7F2F93

White House: Senate Iraq vote is positive

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House is portraying today's Senate vote on Iraq as an endorsement, not a rebuke.

By an overwhelming margin, senators approved a measure urging President Bush to outline a plan for completing the mission in Iraq -- and seeking regular updates on the war effort.

White House officials note the vote followed rejection of a Democratic version urging a timetable for withdrawal.

Bush adviser Dan Bartlett calls the outcome a "repudiation" of the Democrat's "cut-and-run strategy" -- and an affirmation of President Bush's approach. He says the administration's already consulting with Congress, and is pursuing a strategy of training Iraqi troops so they can take over the fight against insurgents.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=arPRTm8s01xE&refer=japan

Bush Says Senate Vote on Iraq Won't Impede His Strategy

Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said a vote in the U.S. Senate calling for Iraqis to make greater progress toward taking over security in their country won't impede his policies.

Lawmakers voted 79-19 for a measure calls on the administration to make 2006 a year of significant political and military transition in Iraq that will allow a phased reduction of U.S. forces.

The resolution is ``consistent with our strategy,'' Bush said during a joint news conference with Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi today in Kyoto, Japan. The vote is a ``positive development'' because the Senators rejected calls for setting a deadline to withdraw U.S. troops, he said.

Both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate say they want Bush to explain his strategy for ending the war and to make quarterly reports on progress toward getting Iraqis to take over security operations until U.S. troops are withdrawn.