Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he is interested in drafting a resolution that would establish benchmarks by which the US could measure the effectiveness of the troop increase.

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Republican leaders, however, were unlikely to try to corral members behind a single position. Also, any agreement probably would look unfavorable for the White House because so many members have grown tired of the nearly four-year war.

David Satterfield, the department's senior adviser on Iraq, told a Senate panel Thursday that the increased security afforded by extra troops will make it easier to oversee rebuilding efforts in Iraq.

"We know there are no silver bullets, no guarantees regarding the question of Iraq. ... But the situation now in Iraq, and the stakes for the United States, the region and the international community, are extraordinary," Satterfield said.

Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee responded that they were wary of pouring more money into rebuilding without a political settlement and improved security.

"I want you to know that I am not inclined to support any additional funding in this area without strong assurances that this sort of mismanagement has been alleviated," said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.

White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten said in an interview Thursday with National Public Radio that the administration does not expect Congress to cut the purse strings for the war. But he said the administration has some concern that the ill will that US policy in Iraq has generated on Capitol Hill could hamper the ability for lawmakers to work with the White House on other issues.

"To some degree there will inevitably be some hangover of that issue into other areas, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do the people's business," Bolten said.

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