Democrats may promote a new revised bill authorizing the use of force in Iraq - to replace the 2002 bill that allowed the Bush administration to proceed with the war, CNN reported yesterday.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the ranking number-two Democrat in the House behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said that’s an avenue the party might pursue to change conditions in Iraq.

“Frankly, it is time for the president to accept that we are no longer involved in a nation-building exercise. We are involved in conflict resolution,” Hoyer said during a speech at the Brookings Institution.

After a series of congressional hearings on the war, the Dems will explore appropriate ways to affect the policy and strategy in Iraq.

Some ways include spending bills for military and diplomatic activities in Iraq and, possibly, a revised authorization for the use of military force in Iraq that more accurately reflects the mission of the troops.

Democrats want not only to hold accountable the Bush administration, but start shifting responsibility to Iraqis, begin phased redeployment of U.S. forces within six months, and implement a new and aggressive diplomatic strategy.

Among the ways to affect the policy and strategy being pursued in Iraq are spending bills for military and diplomatic activities in Iraq.

Next week, the U.S. Senate is expected to pass a bipartisan, non-binding resolution opposing President Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq, and the House will likely follow suit.

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