The U.S. House of Representatives is in the midst of a strong debate over the non-binding resolution seeking to oppose President Bush’s plan to send more than 20-thousand more troops to Iraq. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton has told lawmakers the mission of Congress is to "change our course." Skelton, one of the authors of the resolution, says the resolution supports U.S. troops, but opposes the President’s efforts to apply stale tactics for solving the problem in Iraq.

Skelton says the U.S. needs a strategic change of course, instead of a tactical shift likely to leave the U.S. with the same status quo.  He says the troop increase is too much risk because he says the U.S. military is already over-committed, ill-equipped and ill-positioned in Iraq.  He adds that the President’s plan will only "embroil more troops even more deeply in a sectarian conflict."

He says Bush’s plan has already been tried, and has failed. Skelton says he predicted the "jagged ending to the conflict in Iraq," which he says the nation is currently facing.  Skelton says the President’s troop increase was a plan that was put together hastily and is a plan insufficient in the needs for preparation and training.

AUDIO: Laura McNamara reports (:58 MP3)

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