TEHRAN - Charles A. Kupchan, the former director for European affairs at the National Security Council under U.S. President Bill Clinton, says the Bush administration’s “political power will be substantially reduced” if the Democrats win the November 7 elections and regain control of both houses of Congress.

Kupachan is currently an associate professor at Georgetown University and author of The End of the American Era: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Geopolitics of the 21st Century. Kupchan told the Mehr News Agency on October 18 that the U.S. public has lost confidence in Bush's plan to bring stability to Iraq. Following is the text of the MNA interview with Kupchan:

Q: The latest opinion polls show that the Democrats are likely to overturn the Republican majority in the U.S. Congress in the midterm election on November 7. How did this turnaround in the Democrats' fortunes come about?

A: The Republicans are suffering from Bush's unpopularity stemming principally from the Iraq war. In addition, his poor handling of the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, numerous scandals, and stagnant wages have hurt the Republicans.

Q: What do you foresee if the Republicans lose control of the House? How would it affect the Republicans' prospects in the 2008 presidential election?

A: I would expect there to be increasing pressure for a draw-down of troops in Iraq. The public is losing confidence in Bush's plan to bring stability to the country. Furthermore, if the Democrats achieve a majority in the House, there is likely to be a confrontation with the White House over policy as well as numerous inquiries into Iraq and other issues. However, a Democratic victory in the midterm elections by no means indicates a Democratic victory in the 2008 presidential election. The presidential race is still wide open.

Q: How will this affect the Bush administration's Middle East policy during the remainder of his term in office?

A: If the Republicans no longer hold Congress, Bush's political power will be substantially reduced, especially on matters of domestic policy. The president generally has more room for maneuver on foreign policy, but the situation in Iraq and the erosion of public confidence in Bush's foreign policy will constrain Bush's options in the Middle East. Overall, I foresee little change in U.S. policy in the region during the rest of Bush's term. He will leave getting out of Iraq to the next president. And confrontation over Iran's nuclear program is likely to continue, depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations.