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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives denounced President George W. Bush's Iraq troop buildup on Friday in a symbolic but politically potent challenge to his unpopular war strategy.
The Democratic-controlled House voted 246-182 for a resolution which voices support for U.S. troops but opposes the Republican president's decision to send an additional 21,500 troops to bolster security in Baghdad and violent Anbar province.
In Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi forces sweeping through the city encountered little resistance to their offensive. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, under heavy U.S. pressure to show progress, told Bush the effort has been a "brilliant success" so far, while Bush said U.S. patience was not unlimited.
The House measure would not force Bush to act, but supporters hope to pressure him to reverse course and start bringing U.S. forces home from the conflict, which has killed more than 3,100 American troops.
"What we are saying today to the president is that 'we need a new direction,'" U.S. House Of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said after the vote.
The resolution passed with support of virtually all the House's 233 Democrats and 17 of its 201 Republicans, many worried about their political fate should they stick with Bush. Polls say most Americans oppose adding troops in Iraq.
Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri said defections in his party were fewer than some expected.
Opponents of the resolution said it would leave Iraq open to "radical Islamic terrorists" such as in neighbouring Iran. They also portrayed it as an attempt "to settle scores" with Bush, as Rep. Adam Putnam, a Florida Republican, said.
FUNDING BATTLE
The White House, which had been resigned to losing the vote, said beforehand the House was "gambling on failure" in Iraq, but sought afterward to shift attention to a coming battle with Congress over funding for the conflict.
The vote put the House on record for the first time as rejecting Bush's conduct of the nearly four-year war, which Congress authorised in October 2002. The vote followed three days of debate, with hundreds of lawmakers speaking.
"Our troops have done a magnificent job (but) they cannot afford to continue to be policemen in a civil war. It's not fair. It makes no sense," said Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, a Republican cosponsor of the measure.
Democratic leaders say they will not cut money for troops abroad but will try to attach conditions on war funding that would force Bush to halt the buildup.
Said White House spokesman Tony Snow, "The resolution is nonbinding. Soon, Congress will have the opportunity to show its support for the troops in Iraq by funding the (spending) request the president has submitted, and which our men and women in combat are counting on."
Maliki, under pressure to ease sectarian violence threatening to plunge Iraq into all-out civil war, renewed a pledge to Bush during a video conference that troops would hunt down militants regardless of their sect.
Bush afterward praised Maliki for making progress, but said the Iraqi government must follow through. "Our patience is not, is not, unlimited," Bush said.
Baghdad violence has declined as thousands of U.S. and Iraqi forces flow into the city, but the dip is likely temporary while insurgents assess the situation, said Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, commander of Multi-National Division Baghdad.
"We do expect there are going to be some very rough, difficult days ahead," Fil said in a videoconference with reporters.
Public discontent over the war helped Democrats capture Congress in November, and Democratic lawmakers have become louder in opposing Bush's handling of the conflict.
But opponents of the resolution said it was unprecedented for Congress to try to interfere with a president's war conduct, and accused Democrats of planning funding cuts.
"You cannot support the troops if you are undermining their mission and challenging their commander in the field," said New York Republican Rep. Peter King.
The Senate usually acts first in such crucial foreign policy matters, but it has deadlocked on procedural issues surrounding the Iraq debate. Senate Democrats will try to break the impasse again on Saturday with a vote on whether to consider the House Iraq resolution.
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