June 26 (Bloomberg) -- White House officials today rejected Republican Senator Richard Lugar's call for an immediate change of course in Iraq war policy, saying Congress should give the troop increase a chance to succeed.
Lawmakers should ``give the Baghdad security plan an opportunity to unfold'' before a September assessment due to Congress, White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters today.
Army General David Petraeus is scheduled to report in September on whether President George W. Bush's policy, including sending 21,500 more combat troops into Iraq, is succeeding in reducing sectarian violence.
Lugar, 75, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said yesterday that the troop increase strategy isn't working and the U.S. should alter its approach. While Democrats and some Republicans have opposed Bush's Iraq policy, Lugar hasn't previously called for a course change in Iraq.
``In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved,'' said Lugar, of Indiana. ``Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term.''
Lugar's comments are ``really not new,'' Snow said today. ``We've known that he's had reservations about the policy for some time.''
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said that Lugar's remarks are a ``turning point'' in the debate and will aid Democrats' call for reduced U.S. troop levels.
``I look forward to working with Senator Lugar, and I hope and believe a growing number of Republicans, to put his words into action by delivering the responsible end to the war that the American people demand and deserve,'' Reid said.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said today that debate on Iraq will resume in the House next month when the chamber debates the annual defense spending legislation.
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