Day: February 12, 2007

By SUSAN CORNWELL

U.S. House of Representatives Democrats unveiled a resolution on Monday opposing a troop buildup in Iraq, setting up a confrontation this week over President George W. Bush’s war strategy.

Seizing the initiative from a deadlocked Senate, the House is expected to vote on Friday on Bush’s decision to send another 21,500 troops to fight the unpopular war after each of its 435 members is given the chance to speak for five minutes.

The simple, two-sentence resolution also pledges support for U.S. troops.

By TOM RAUM

Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald rested his case against Cheney’s former chief of staff on Thursday in a trial that has so far lasted 11 days. The defense planned to begin its presentation Monday.

The drama being played out in a Washington courtroom goes back in time to the early summer of 2003. The Bush administration was struggling to overcome growing evidence the mission in Iraq was anything but accomplished.

The Dixie Chicks completed a defiant comeback on Sunday night, capturing five Grammy awards after being shunned by the country music establishment over the group’s anti-Bush comments leading up to the Iraq invasion.

The Texas trio won all the biggest categories, including record and song of the year for the no-regrets anthem Not Ready to Make Nice. They also won best country album, which was especially ironic considering they don’t consider themselves country artists anymore.