Sens Richard Lugar of Indiana and John Warner of Virginia plan to push their measure next week in the thick of a debate over the future of the Iraq war.
Lugar’s floor speech next week, a text of which was distributed to reporters, says the Bush administration should “immediately initiate planning for post-September contingencies, including a drawdown or redeployment of forces.”
The US has said that withdrawal of troops from Iraq before ensuring stable conditions there will have profound ramifications and far reaching consequences in different parts of the world, including in India.
White House Press Secretary Tony Snow has said that such a move would result in a terror base in Iraq.
“Because what would happen is that you would have a terror base in Iraq. You would have a strengthened Iran. You would have a rejuvenated al-Qaeda,” Mr Snow said in response to a question.
Increased instability
The situation may lead to increased instability in Afghanistan and that will bleed over into Pakistan. It will have ramifications in India, Mr Snow said.
“It’s certainly going to have impacts on Europe. So the President (Bush) understands that actions have consequences and far-reaching consequences,” he added.
Strategy survival
Meanwhile, President George W Bush highlighted the rebuilding efforts in Iraq on Saturday as he fought to buy time for his unpopular strategy after a grim progress report and renewed attacks from the US Congress.
Bush held a videoconference on Saturday with top military aides in Baghdad and Washington to hammer home his point that the war can, and must, be won.
“What happens in Iraq matters to the US. A violent, chaotic Iraq will affect our security at home,” he said as he heaped praise on the US teams working to provide basic services in the strife-torn country.