REPUBLICAN SENATORS BACKED PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH'S IRAQ POLICIES ON THURSDAY, REJECTING DEMOCRATIC PLANS TO START PULLING OUT TROOPS AFTER A DEBATE THAT FORCED IRAQ TO THE HEART OF CAMPAIGNING FOR NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, REUTERS REPORTED. FIVE U.S. TROOPS WERE KILLED IN THE PREVIOUS TWO DAYS, THE MILITARY SAID -- FOUR MARINES IN TWO ATTACKS IN WESTERN IRAQ AND A SOLDIER IN A ROADSIDE BOMBING SOUTH OF BAGHDAD, BRINGING THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS TO DIE IN THREE YEARS IN IRAQ TO 2,511. SOME OF BUSH'S FELLOW REPUBLICANS FEAR LOW POLL RATINGS OVER THE WAR COULD HURT THEM IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS. BUT SENATORS RALLIED TO ACCUSE DEMOCRATS OF "CUTTING AND RUNNING" WHILE THEIR OPPONENTS SAID REPUBLICANS WERE UNITING ON FAILED POLICIES. THE VOTES CAME AS THE U.S. COMMANDER IN IRAQ, GENERAL GEORGE CASEY, MET DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD FOR TALKS ON FUTURE FORCE LEVELS. THE PENTAGON IS CONSIDERING A REDUCTION OF A FEW THOUSAND TROOPS FROM THE PRESENT 127,000 IN THE COMING MONTHS.
