The US Congress has united behind the war to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, despite misgivings among many Democrats that the conflict is premature or unnecessary.
Republicans and Democrats issued statements supporting US forces, who launched a ground assault into Iraq today after the launch of the air war as the day dawned in Baghdad.
"Many Americans, including many of us in Congress, opposed this war. But today and throughout this conflict, we are united in support of the men and women of our armed forces," said Senator Edward Kennedy, who was a leading opponent of Bush's push to disarm Iraq by force.
"May God's wisdom guide our president and protect him in the days that lie ahead," he said on the Senate floor.
The Republican-led Senate unanimously passed a resolution expressing gratitude to the 225,000 troops assembled for the assault and to those who died in the 1991 Gulf War, support for Mr Bush as commander in chief, praise for British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a staunch ally, and thanks to Britain and other nations backing the US effort.
"This is a moment we hoped to avoid. We prayed for peace ... but the Iraqi regime chose a different destiny," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Republican of Tennessee.
As they came together on the Iraq resolution, Republicans and Democrats in the narrowly divided Senate bickered over Congress' federal budget plan for fiscal 2004, which Republicans intend to use to lay the groundwork for $726 billion in new tax cuts over the next decade.
Amid projections for spiralling federal deficits, Democrats accused Republicans of rushing to pass the budget before the White House discloses the war's likely costs.
Congressional and administration sources said the White House could seek between $80 billion and $100 billion in additional funding for the conflict. Billions more would be needed later to help rebuild Iraq, they said.