Bush sees bloody Iraqi summer

By Steve Holland and Richard Cowan Reuters - Friday, May 25 03:11 amWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday predicted a bloody summer in Iraq for U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians as insurgents step up attacks, while a divided U.S. Congress approved funds for the unpopular war.

Bush is expected to promptly sign a $100 billion bill passed on Thursday night by Congress to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure, unlike a bill vetoed by Bush earlier this month, contained no withdrawal deadlines for U.S. troops.

The legislation's passage capped a four-month struggle between the Republican president and the Democrats who control Congress. They pledged to resurrect attempts to force him to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Despite the deployment of tens of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops in a major U.S.-led security crackdown, attacks have continued unabated.

On Thursday, a suicide car bomber killed 27 mourners at a funeral in Falluja, west of Baghdad. In Baghdad, gunmen shot to death all 11 passengers in a minibus in the mainly Shi'ite Husseiniya district.

Bush said he expected "heavy fighting in the weeks and months" ahead. "What they're going to try to do is kill as many innocent people as they can to try to influence the debate here at home," he said.

Asked at a Rose Garden news conference how long he believed he could sustain his strategy without significant progress, Bush noted the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, was to report back on the effects of the new strategy at the end of the summer.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates said later he also anticipated more violence this summer from what he called "a smart, agile, thinking enemy."

"They know what's going on in this country and I think we should be prepared for them to make a very strong effort to increase the level of violence in July and August. My hope is that anticipating it will allow us to thwart it."

The predictions of more bloodshed came at a time when Americans' assessment of the war has never been worse, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll that said 76 percent of Americans believed the war was going somewhat or very badly for the United States.

Only 20 percent said the recent troop increase was making a positive difference, and just 23 percent approved Bush's handling of the war. His overall job approval was 30 percent.

PAYING FOR THE WAR, MORE CASUALTIES

Both chambers of Congress passed the funding bill on Thursday night. House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio, his voice cracking with emotion, praised the bill with no withdrawal deadlines.

"When are we going to stand up and take them on? When are we going to defeat them? If we don't do it now, if we don't have the courage to defeat this enemy, we will long long regret it," he said.

Democrats voted against the war-funding portion of the bill in droves because it did not contain timetables for troop withdrawal. But the bill does for the first time tie Bush's certification on progress in Iraq to U.S. reconstruction aid for the country.

Three Democratic senators running for president -- Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Barack Obama of Illinois and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut -- opposed providing money with no withdrawal deadlines. Joseph Biden of Delaware voted yes.

The total cost of the war since 2001 exceeds half a trillion dollars.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack in Falluja, 30 miles (50 km) west of Baghdad in restive Anbar province. A doctor at a local hospital, Ahmed al-Ani, said 27 were killed and more than 30 wounded. Another hospital source put the death toll at 30.

Police said the suicide car bomber drove into a crowd of mourners as they walked down a Falluja street holding aloft the coffin of Allawi al-Isawi, a local businessman opposed to Sunni Islamist al Qaeda.

Thousands of U.S. troop reinforcements have been sent to Anbar as part of a stepped-up military initiative seen as a late effort to avert all-out civil war.

Tens of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops have been deployed in a major security crackdown focused on Baghdad, the epicentre of sectarian violence between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunnis.

The U.S. military confirmed a body pulled from the Euphrates River south of Baghdad on Wednesday was one of three U.S. soldiers missing since their patrol was ambushed on May 12.

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan in Washington)

My comment: How can anyone 'predict' what is going to happen in war unless you are the instigator of it??

All we can do is pray for our governments, many are being BRIBED.

It's funny to me that all of the Sudden US RUSHES to LEBABNON's aid against the so called terrorists that are confined within the Refugee camps...
This time it's is Alqida.
During the war betweent Israel and Lebanon last year...where was the RUSH TO THEIR AID, by Jordan, US and Arab countries.
I'm angry can't you tell ...after reading the headlines..
AND WHERE WAS THE LEBANON ARMY DEFENDING THEIR OWN PEOPLE AGAINST THE TERRIOSTS CELLS THEN? they didn't REMOVE THEM...they have gotten stronger.
GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED...Please pray for our country and our governments...that they will realize the wrongs they have done and repent to our LORD JESUS.
I'm sick of the policies of our country...they are AIDING the terrorists...they could have allowed Israel to continue to fight against the Hizbbalah last summer...but NO, they where called aggressors and asked to have a ceasefire...
My neighbor told me she worked for a company that makes Jet engine parts...her company SOLD OUT to a company in CHINA...WHY, because they can pay them a mere 10 cents an hour...and yet this company still is a co-owner...Our country the U.S> has been selling us out...using SLAVE LABOR...no surprise there.GOD HAVE MERCY ON US.
And what was all the stalling about when rockets where coming into Israel and Prime Minister Olmert did nothing....and the Gaza fighting...The people in Gaza where told they would get funds last year...which where held on to.
NOW, that Olmert is on the Brink of signing the Peace Plan agreement.and RESTORATION OF JERUSALEM..all of the sudden the FINANCES are being released.
I'm sick of the fact that INNOCENT lives have been lost fighting in Iraq....Innocent lives are being lost in Refugee camps...in many countries around the world...Africa for example...Iraq, Palestine..sure there's more.
I beleive ALL GOVERNMENTS ARE CORRUPT and FULL OF GREED...they keep the poor, poor, and in a DESPERATE STATE OF BEING so that they are forced to rely on REBEL groups when their governmnets turn AGAINST THEIR OWN PEOPLE...to allow them to actually Furfill their purpose...get rid of the needy and poor, so they can prosper...MAKES ME SICK.
The churches are the only ones we can rely on giving aid to those in need....and eventually as sure as the days we are in...still the governments will even USE THEM for their purposes.
THE ONLY THING IS...IT SEEMS SO APPARENT NOW IS THE REBEL GROUPS ARE BACKED BY THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS..

IT's Like a WORLD WIDE MAFIA...IT MAKES ME SICK how many INNOCENT LIVES ARE BEING LOST so the CORRUPT governments can continue on their OWN GREEDY AGENDAS..

Still I pray for our government and yet I HATE THEIR SINS and have every right to..

WOE TO THOSE WHOM CAUSE ANOTHER TO STUMBLE. THE STORMS ARE COMING, look to Jesus the WORLD is deceiving us and WHOM can STAND AGAINST THEM...It's so obvious in RIGHT IN OUR FACE as ha ha what can you do when we raise your gas up to 10.00 a gallon, take away your water...and land.
The only place to stay focussed on is Jesus, he will not abandon us or FORSAKE US...now don't you see his WORD SO CLEARLY...HE SAID I WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU...BUT THE WORLD WILL..
PRAY, pray for our leaders, pastors, and ask for Mercy and Justice...the LORD is coming back soon because he loves HIS PEOPLE.

I strongly beleive that the prohesy of BABYLON is fallen fallen is becoming a Real Reality.

SURMON ON THE MOUNT...A GOOD WORD TO US ALL

OT Post: I got an email inviting me to an Islamic forum, whats up with that? Someone just plugging their new site or what?

You should pray for your enemies...

Think of a children captive to the horrible brain washing of Ethnic cleansing.

I pray for our government and peoples...are we so desperate that we have to turn to the enemy for help instead of CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD?

Why is it you see all these meeting with the all the Arab nations? WHO ARE OUR ALLIES?

The US didn't show up to the celebrations of Israel this week...but guess who did? The leaders of European Union.

And then you see the POPE gathering with the Palestian goverment...

just like I said...Right in your face.

USA is bunch of liars and cheaters. They are the one who is supporting and helping terrorist. Later this lebanon will use USA made weapons against Israelis.

I looked at this a couple days ago and did a lot of praying with each page.

Al Quada torture manual - crude drawings depicting torture methods

It looked same has how roman catholic used to torture. See my sig link to read more.

White Knight...

We all need to pray...Jesus can take what is meant for evil and turn it around for his Good.

It just seems so apparent how we have continually conspired with the enemy..
I mean come on where Osma Bin Laden? you don't even here about him...and there are so many different cells of enemies...it's hard to tell whom is really telling the truth.
There Is protection and it's done by lies to save lives and to destroy lives.
The people caught in the middle, the soldiers whom are fighting for our country...God knows who his are...and God knows that Every KNEE will bow and tongue confess that JESUS IS LORD.
We pray for mercy for all peoples and nations...for we are called to.
We are also called to pray for our enemies.
The people, like you and I and everyone on this site...who pray for our governments, and Pray for God to intervene...HE WILL, his WORD will not come back Void....but it may not be what we understand for his ways are not our ways...We need to pray to stay steadfast focussed on our TRUE KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS...
if we should die, OUR SOUL HE KEEPS, he got us in his hand and isn't going to let us go...Man can kill the body...but our Spirit belongs to Jesus.I pray for our soldiers for a hedge of mighty protection around them...and for the innocent on both sides of this bloody war. I pray FOR OUR CHILDREN, THEIR CHILDREN, that they escape from the enemies hands and LOOK TO JESUS.

My prayer is not that anyone should perish too...that means our government elected officials too. I know that God has a greater plan for us all and walks before us...and has prepared a place for us.
The kingdoms of this Earth are coming down...but GOD IS ABLE and WILL BUILD his KINGDOM in his PERFECT TIMEING...in the mean time...let us all pray for courage...to never deny our LORD and Savior JESUS our KING.

Wernotalone, I want to say I love you as I do all of you.
Wernotalone, you have sent us a mighty powerful message that I believe is sent from
our Lord.

Yes we must pray four our governments and yes I am very tired of all the corruption in
all nations.
We can only put our trust in Jesus.
Daily we are shown to only lean on Him.
I truly believe that those of us who are extremely tired of
all this corruption and evil going on will still always find
energy and strength through our Lord to keep fighting the good fight and
be ever so ready to go home.

Life here is getting stranger by the minute.
We are but strangers here. Heave is our home.
Nothing satisfies! I have only a hunger to be with our Lord one day.

Love you all and I pray we keep looking to Him always.
I just love Jesus with all my heart and soul.
And I know He is the lover of my soul.

Praise Him always with a happy heart in the midst of the chaos and
more chaos to come.

love,
rosie