Senior California Democratic lawmakers moved quickly today to offer support to President Bush and U.S. troops following the start of military action in Iraq.

The House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, had been an opponent of war in Iraq and criticized Bush for not persisting in seeking a diplomatic resolution. But she had only kind words for the president today.

Pelosi learned of the attack yesterday evening in a telephone call from Bush´s national security adviser. At a Washington news conference, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Republican Duncan Hunter of Alpine (in San Diego County), said: “Saddam Hussein was given 12 years to disarm as a condition of ending the first Gulf War. He chose another path. Our armed forces will meet him at the end of this path.”