Senate turns attention to terrorist bill

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate, after another heated debate on troop withdrawal from Iraq, is considering a plan for a new strategy against terrorism.

Both bills were introduced by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and the Washington Post said because of the complicated rules set up for congressional debate, it is all but certain neither bill would be approved and perhaps not even approach a final vote.

The debate in the past two days centered on Feingold's bill to begin troop withdrawals within 120 days of its passage. The second bill would require the Bush administration to draw up a new strategy on the battle against al-Qaida and to present it to Congress within 60 days.

Republicans are reported relishing the opportunity to joust over war policy, confident in their political standing since Bush's troop buildup had shown security gains in Iraq.

Democrats, on the other hand, said the debate offers them a new chance to highlight GOP support for a still unpopular war.This sets the stage for a general-election campaign against Bush's policies in Iraq.