Bush’s announcement comes despite record levels of opposition to escalating the war. A Gallup poll this week found 61 percent percent of Americans oppose sending more troops to Iraq. And a record low of 26 percent approve of the president’s handling of the Iraq War. Recent polls in Iraq also showed seven out of 10 Iraqis want U.S. troops to withdraw within the next year. At least one Republican senator joined calls rejecting the president’s plan. Kansas Republican Sam Brownback said he opposes the troop increase because Iraq requires a political rather than a military solution.