Iraq: questions asked, answers wanted

Last Modified: 11 Sep 2007
By: Sarah Smith

America's military commander in Iraq faces questions from less-than-convinced politicians on Washington's Capitol Hill.

"The President said, 'let's buy time.' Buy time for what?' That was the charge from one leading Republican.

And a top Democrat senator declared, "The American people will not support an infinite war..."

Question time

This came as the two top US officials in Iraq, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, faced a barrage of questions in Congress.

Both insisted "measurable achievements" had been made in Iraq despite serious setbacks.

However, critics ranging from Republican senator Richard Lugar to Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama demanded to know how quickly troops could be brought home.