IRAQ: A suspected incursion of foreign fighters battling the US occupation of Iraq has raised the political stakes for President George W. Bush as he heads into his re-election campaign.
The foreign element threatens to prolong the conflict and increase US public fears of getting bogged down in Iraq. Troops are facing near-daily casualties; 64 have been killed since Mr Bush declared major fighting over in May.
Democrats are sharpening criticisms of the President's handling of Iraq since the removal of Saddam Hussein. "Each passing day makes it clear that President Bush didn't adequately prepare for post-war Iraq," said Mr Jano Cabrera, spokesman for the Democratic presidential candidate Senator Joseph Lieberman, who supported the war.
A former Vermont governor, Mr Howard Dean, also a Democratic candidate, said:"If there is really a collapse of the occupation . . . or a chaotic situation in which al-Qaeda can really move freely around Iraq takes place, then we're in a much worse situation in terms of our national defence than we were when Saddam was in power."
Republican sources say Mr Bush needs to dampen Americans' expectations of an early departure and portray the occupation as part of the war against global terrorism.
"As long as they understand his goals and we are doing a reasonable job of meeting them, then I think we'll do OK," said Mr Charlie Black, a Republican political consultant with close ties to the White House.
A Newsweek magazine poll completed on Friday showed that 69 per cent of Americans were concerned the US involvement in Iraq could last many years. By a 49 to 44 per cent margin, registered voters said Mr Bush should not be re-elected.
Last week's bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad, which killed 24 people, raised speculation that foreign fighters were becoming a significant force against the occupation.
Mr Paul Bremer, the US civilian administrator in Iraq, said yesterday that international terrorists had become an important threat in Iraq.
President Bush seemed to be guarding against expectations of an early withdrawal from Iraq, Mr Black said. But the presence of militant groups could make it easier for Mr Bush to explain why US forces were still in Iraq.
"People have a clear understanding of al-Qaeda and who they are and how to go get them," he said.
President Bush wants more foreign troops to help relieve US forces, but he is so far unwilling to cede more authority to the United Nations over the occupation, a condition set by France, Germany and Russia.
Another risk for Mr Bush is losing the political support of US troops. But with discontent rising over conditions for soldiers in Iraq and extended deployments, he may not be able to count on a repeat of that support. - (Reuters)