Donald Rumsfeld

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has strongly denied that Iraq is in a quagmire, telling U.S. lawmakers that setting a deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops would only embolden the insurgency.

Mr. Rumsfeld testified to a joint hearing of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees Thursday, saying assertions that insurgents are winning the war in Iraq are "wrong."

But the top American military commander in the Gulf, General John Abizaid, testified that he believes the insurgency is basically undiminished from six months ago.

His comments come after recent remarks by Vice President Dick Cheney that the insurgency was in "its last throes."

General Abizaid says more foreign fighters seem to be pouring into Iraq.

The testimony comes as many U.S. lawmakers call for a revision of the Bush administration's policy in Iraq.

Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy said today there have been "gross errors" made in Iraq. He also asked Mr. Rumsfeld, "isn't it time to resign?"