U.S. Senate bill touts 'surge' in Iraq

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A bill before the U.S. Senate Tuesday would flaunt the strategic gains of the counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq and its effects on the so-called war on terror.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., put forth a non-binding resolution that would "recognize the success of the troop surge … in particular, as a strategic victory in a central front on the war on terrorism."

The bill, backed by several Republicans in Senate, is a rival measure to a Democratic resolution backed by Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Jack Reed of Rhode Island that offers more subtle praise for the success of the counter-terrorism campaign launched in 2007.

The Lieberman provision states it is "imperative" to avoid making any premature assessment "that jeopardizes those gains or dishonors the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States armed forces who made those gains possible," an apparent reference to Democratic demands to set a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal, Congressional Quarterly said.

The rival bills emerge as the U.S. presidential race heats up, with Lieberman campaigning alongside Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who supported the surge. His Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, opposed the surge, though he has admitted it brought some gains to the situation in Iraq.