WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- A bipartisan group of U.S. House of Representatives members is urging President George W. Bush to begin plans for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
The group includes the Republican congressman who pushed for "french fries" to be renamed "freedom fries," Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, who said it was time for Congress to start talking about bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq.
"After 1,700 deaths, over 12,000 wounded and $200 billion spent, we believe it is time to have this debate and this discussion on this resolution," said Jones, a House Armed Services Committee member.
The proposed House resolution calls on Bush to announce by year's end a plan for a withdrawal from Iraq that would begin by Oct. 1, 2006, CNN reported Friday.
A White House spokesman emphasized the need to complete the mission and said Bush intends to "sharpen his focus" in his public appearances to counter a sag in public support for the war. The White House has also said that setting a withdrawal deadline would encourage insurgents in Iraq.
