STILL ONLY ONE BATTALION

Lawmakers fear lack of progress on Iraq
By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press Writer
Feb 7, 6:46 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration is falling short in its efforts to rebuild Iraq, increase oil production and spawn a new government that is representative of all factions there, lawmakers of both parties said Tuesday.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld heard from critics including panel Chairman John Warner, R-Va. The comments marked a continuation of bipartisan criticism the administration has received in recent months from members of Congress over its Iraq policies.

Warner said that without an effective Iraqi government that has leaders with "strong backbones, not subject to secular pulls," it was unclear whether U.S. troops would be able to return home even if Iraq's military and security forces are competent.

Gen. Pace said only one Iraqi army battalion is capable of fighting without U.S. help. That is the same number as in September, when U.S. commanders disclosed that the number of such highly trained battalions had dropped from three to one, prompting criticism from lawmakers.

On the economic front, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said "the news is not so good" given that Iraqi oil revenues are lower than before the U.S.-led invasion nearly three years ago. "If that isn't fixed we're in significant difficulty. And we all recognize that's a matter of security," McCain said.