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Congress. work 'emboldens the enemy,' Gates says

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 27, 2007

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday an effort in Congress to pass a resolution opposing President Bush's troop buildup undercuts U.S. commanders in Iraq and "emboldens the enemy." He also said the Pentagon is hoping to speed the deployment of five additional Army brigades to Baghdad to bolster security in the capital. They had been scheduled to arrive at the rate of one brigade per month through May, each made up of about 3,500 troops. Meanwhile, President Bush challenged lawmakers not to prematurely condemn his buildup, saying "I'm the decisionmaker."

House speaker visits Iraqi capital

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Murtha, both critics of the war, were in the Iraqi capital Friday at the head of a delegation of House members on a fact-finding mission. The delegation visited the heavily fortified Green Zone, site of the U.S. Embassy, and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "We come out of the meeting with a greater understanding of the others' point of view," Pelosi said. She said the delegation also came "to convey to our troops the appreciation of the American people for what they're doing, to applaud their patriotism."

Troops to take part in antiwar rally

A small number of active military troops will take part in today's rally in Washington against the Iraq war, co-founders of a protest group say. One of the founders of Appeal for Redress, Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto, said he planned to speak at the protest on the National Mall. United For Peace and Justice, an antiwar coalition of 1,400 organizations, said the protest could draw tens of thousands of demonstrators. Cynthia O. Smith, a Defense Department spokeswoman, said members of the Armed Forces can speak out, though not in uniform.

[Last modified January 27, 2007, 00:37:10]