Bush Quells GOP Iraq Revolt — For Now

President Bush's uncompromising defense of his Iraq policy and his claim that progress is being made in the war-torn country have quieted his Republican critics -- for now. But Mr. Bush's performance has only bought him two months.

At a news conference on Thursday, Mr. Bush said U.S. troops were making progress and Iraq and needed more time to implement his "surge" strategy.

"Those of us who believe the battle in Iraq can and must be won see the satisfactory performance on several of the security benchmarks as a cause for optimism," Mr. Bush said.

The president also fired a shot across the bow of his congressional critics -- Republican and Democratic alike.

"I don't think Congress ought to be running the war. I think they ought to be funding the troops," he said.

The report said "the security situation in Iraq remains complex and extremely challenging," the "economic picture is uneven" and political reconciliation is lagging.

Nevertheless, Mr. Bush chided his critics: "When we start drawing down our forces in Iraq, it will (be) because our military commanders say the conditions on the ground are right, not because pollsters say it'll be good politics."

Political observers believe Mr. Bush's firm performance will quiet his GOP congressional critics until Sept. 15, when the president is again required to deliver a report to Congress on the situation in Iraq.

"There is no give at the White House or on the Hill. The Senate doesn't have 60 votes to do anything. So, at least for the foreseeable future, which may be September, the only result is stalemate. That may benefit the president, and if you listen to the Democrats, they think it benefits them," former Ronald Reagan aide Kenneth Duberstein told the Washington Post.

The Democrats, meanwhile, will keep up the pressure with a series of votes aimed at establishing a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces. On Thursday, the House passed a measure by a vote of 223-201 that would remove U.S. troops by next spring. Mr. Bush promised a veto.

In the run up to the 1996 presidential election, congressional Republicans pursued a similar strategy with the welfare reform bill. GOP legislators handled vetoes by President Clinton by reintroducing the legislation. Mr. Clinton finally signed the bill into law in order to take it off the table as a campaign issue.