New York: US President George W Bush is expected to seek more than $1 billion to buttress Iraqi economy and create jobs as a part of his new strategy, which would add around 20,000 troops by the month end to the 132,000 already in the strife-torn country.
Bush, who starts his last two years in office with plummeting popularity because of the unpopular war, hopes that the increased strength would allow to clear insurgents and militants from Baghdad which would give time to Iraqis, caught in sectarian violence, to reconcile.
The aim behind this strategy is to remove people's dependence on the militants groups, which, the administration expects, would end the sectarian violence.
But several analysts express doubt that it would work. Bush, who is scheduled to announce the new strategy tonight in a televised prime time broadcast, has discussed it with more than 100 lawmakers and has informed his closest allies, including Britain, about its elements.
But media reports say that he had failed to convince Democrats.
Democrats plan to hold votes in the House and Senate to oppose Bush's plan to send more troops. But the votes on what are expected to be non-binding resolutions would be symbolic and aimed at isolating Bush politically.
But votes, which will compel Republicans to take sides, would mark first clash of the Congress with the Bush administration on the Iraq war and might set the tone for future confrontations with the While House as the country moves toward Presidential elections in less than two years.
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