WASHINGTON — The fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq finds Congress no more unified on strategy and mission.

Tennessee and Georgia Republican lawmakers, like their party at large, said they remain supportive of President Bush’s commitment and course in Iraq, saying American troops are having success in stabilizing the country and keeping terrorists out.

“I believe we’re finally on a path that seems likely to lead to a successful conclusion of the war in Iraq,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who has visited Iraq twice and Kuwait three times since the war began. “More troops are coming out than going in. I think there’s clear progress.”

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who most recently visited Iraq in January, said American forces increasingly are successful at training Iraqi forces to take the lead in stamping out sectarian violence. He said calls for an immediate withdrawal would undermine the progress being made.

“We all mourn the (U.S. military deaths), and we’ve made some mistakes, but the biggest would to preemptively withdraw,” he said.

Democrats, however, say the White House has no clearly outlined exit strategy and has not effectively pursued diplomatic solutions.

“I don’t think anybody five years ago thought we’d still be the way we are today, as an occupying army and a conquering army,” said Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., who has visited Iraq six times. “The American people have been saying, ‘Do something about this.’ Staying the course is not an option.”

Despite their frustrations, Democrats in Congress have failed time and time again this past year to force a change in Iraq policy.

Democrats hope November’s elections will reflect discontent with the course in Iraq and give them greater majorities or a friendlier White House to pursue changes.

A USA Today/Gallup poll released Wednesday found 60 percent of Americans calling the invasion “a mistake” and wanting to set a timetable to withdraw American troops, while 40 percent say they want to stay the course.

“America still has not heard from this administration — or from their Republican allies — a winning plan for achieving the political solution we need in Iraq and hastening the day when our troops can redeploy home,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. “Instead, we hear reckless statements about staying in Iraq for 100 years.”

Bruce Oppenheimer, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University who studies elections, said the faltering economy has pushed the Iraq war to a secondary concern among voters at the moment, but milestones like Wednesday’s five-year anniversary are reminders.

“The economy probably dominates, but it doesn’t mean the war isn’t important,” he said. “What’ll make it a bigger issue or not depends on whether there are any real strides in the Iraqi government and if casualty rates remain low.”

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, framed the war as just one part of a much bigger war on terrorism.

Announcing his re-election campaign at the state Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, he said Republicans will get a “boost” over Democrats in November because of their support of policies in fighting terrorism.

In the presidential race, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican nominee, has indicated his support for the current strategy in Iraq. But Democratic contenders Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., have said they intend to bring the war to a quicker end.

Staff writer Lori Yount contributed to this story.

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