The Bush administration has begun a new offensive to stave off more Republican defections on the Iraq War. On Tuesday, several Bush administration officials including Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged lawmakers to hold off on any votes on Iraq until September. At least four Republicans have broken with the White House in recent weeks. The move came as the Senate opened debate on a series of measures including a new timetable for withdrawal. Speaking in Ohio, President Bush urged lawmakers for more time.

President Bush: “I welcome a good, honest debate about the consequences of failure, the consequences of success and this war. But I believe it is in this nation’s interest to give the commander a chance to fully implement his operations, and I believe Congress ought to wait for General Petraeus to come back and give his assessment of the strategy that he is putting in place before they make any decisions.”