Foreign Fighters in Iraq Raise Stakes for Bush
Sun August 24, 2003 04:12 PM ET

By Randall Mikkelsen
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - A suspected incursion of foreign fighters battling the U.S. occupation of Iraq has raised the political stakes for President Bush as he heads into his re-election campaign.

The foreign element, which Bush on Friday called "al Qaeda-type fighters," threatens to prolong the conflict and fuel U.S. public fears of getting bogged down in Iraq.

U.S. troops are facing near-daily casualties -- 64 have been killed since Bush declared in major fighting over in May. Democrats are sharpening criticisms of the president's handling of Iraq since the ouster of Saddam Hussein.

"Each passing day makes it clear that President Bush didn't adequately prepare for post-war Iraq," said Jano Cabrera, spokesman for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who supported the war.

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