Iraq:Democrats have condemned a decision to extend combat tours for US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan by three months as further evidence that President George Bush's war policy has failed.
The Pentagon announced this week that, instead of serving for a year in Iraq before spending a year back in the US, soldiers would now serve for 15 months.
Defence secretary Robert Gates said the extension was necessary to maintain a surge of 30,000 extra troops in Iraq for a year. "Without this action we would have had to deploy five army active duty brigades sooner than the 12-month at home goal. I believe it is fairer to all soldiers that all share the burden equally."
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said the announcement underscored the fact that the burden of the war had fallen on soldiers and their families, who have already paid a heavy price.
"The Bush administration has failed to create a plan to fully equip and train our troops, bring them home safely and soon, and provide our veterans with the quality care they deserve."
The three-month extension of combat tours comes as the US army faces growing difficulties in recruiting and retaining soldiers.
The army paid more than $1 billion (€742 million) in bonuses last year to attract and keep soldiers in service and Republican senator John Warner warned that the latest tour extension could pose a threat to the all-volunteer policy of the US army. "I feel strongly that we must carefully monitor the possible risks to that system that these extensions may generate," he said.
Democrats in Congress are engaged in a stand-off with Mr Bush over funding the Iraq war, and are seeking to make extra funding conditional on a plan to withdraw most troops next year. Mr Bush has said he will veto any legislation with such conditions.
Democrats plan to send Mr Bush a war funding Bill by the end of this month, but they must first bridge the gap between liberals who support a deadline for withdrawing troops in 2008, and moderates who prefer a non-binding goal for withdrawal.