The US Senate has been debating the Bush administration's planned military budget for Iraq.
Yesterday, US President George W Bush rejected calls to start withdrawing US troops from the country, saying commanders must be given the chance to implement fully the military surge in Baghdad.
In last night's debate, Republican Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain said he believed the troop surge was slowly starting to produce results.
Once the presumed Republican front-runner, Mr McCain, a Vietnam veteran, is now short of cash and alienated from many key conservative voters.
He has tied his White House bid to President Bush's unpopular Iraq troop surge strategy, warning against an early withdrawal.
However Democrats, including Senator Barbara Boxer have called for the troops to be brought home.
Senators are expected to start voting next week on amendments to the proposals.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in an interview released today that the US faces a higher risk of a terrorist attack over the summer months.
