Capitol Hill (AP) Democrats are again trying to persuade President Bush to change course in Iraq and not to hand the war off to the next president.

In a letter to the president, democratic leaders say the current strategy has “no discernible end in sight” and requires the country to neglect other areas like education and health care.

Congressional Democrats lack a veto-proof majority, and have repeatedly failed this year in forcing Bush to withdraw troops.

The letter was sent as advance rebuttal to next week's testimony by general David Petraeus and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker. They are expected to say the recent build-up in troops has succeeded in improving security but that more time is needed before more U.S. forces can be withdrawn in significant numbers.