Bush Plans Massive Escalation In Iraq

President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to 20,000 soldiers, according to sources familiar with the administration's internal deliberations.

Although the panel's (the Iraq Study Group) work is not complete, its recommendations are expected to be built around a four-point "victory strategy" developed by Pentagon officials advising the group. The strategy, along with other related proposals, is being circulated in draft form and has been discussed in separate closed sessions with Mr Baker and the vice-president Dick Cheney, an Iraq war hawk.

But Gen Abizaid argued against extra troops, saying US divisional commanders believed more pressure needed to be put on the Iraqi army to do its part.

If this story from The Guardian is indeed true, then this is the moment of truth for the new Democratic congressional majority. Will they stand up and try to stop George Bush, or will their election rhetoric turn out to be just more empty verbiage? I suspect it will be the latter.