House Republicans agreed tonight to a brief delay in impeachment proceedings against President Clinton because of airstrikes in Iraq, even though many questioned whether the attacks were politically motivated.

Republican lawmakers said they expected a delay of a few days at most, possibly until Monday, in the historic debate that had been set to begin Thursday.

Incoming speaker Rep. Bob Livingston, R-La., said the House will instead meet Thursday to consider a bipartisan resolution "in support of our troops." As for impeachment, Livingston said, "the issue is important and will be brought up in the coming days."

In his speech announcing the strikes on Iraq tonight, Clinton addressed impeachment only by saying that domestic troubles had not weakened the national resolve.

"Saddam Hussein and the other enemies of peace may have thought that the serious debate currently before the House of Representatives would distract Americans or weaken our resolve to face him down," Clinton said.

"But once more, the United States has proven that although we are never eager to use force, when we must act in America's vital interests, we will do so."

As for the timing, Clinton said that his military advisors recommended a swift response to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's latest defiance of U.N. weapons inspectors, and that he wanted to avoid an attack during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins this weekend.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott was the most senior Republican to challenge the administration's decision-making. He said he had been assured by the administration there was no connection with the impeachment proceedings. But, he said, "Both the timing and the policy are subject to question."

In his statement, Lott said he could support a future military operation "with clearly defined objectives." He said the objectives should include removal of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power and an end to Iraq's ability to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction.

Lott said he doubted what he called a "cursory air strike" would accomplish the goals. "If, however, military action is taken, all Americans will fully support our troops in battle," Lott added.

Livingston declined to echo Lott's statement. "We're not commenting on the motivation of the president," he said.

Clinton's chances of avoiding impeachment dimmed further during the day when several wavering Republicans announced they would vote to send the issue to the Senate for trial.

Four moderate Republicans whom the White House had hoped would break party ranks instead came out for impeachment: Reps. Sherwood Boehlert of New York, Jim Leach of Iowa, Bob Ney of Ohio and Brian Bilbray of California.

"He has shattered the trust of the American people by committing perjury, obstructing justice and corroding the rule of law," Ney said. And Boehlert concluded: "I am convinced that in this case, we do need impeachment as a shield to protect the integrity of our institutions."

Rep. John Porter, R-Ill., who earlier had expressed opposition to impeachment, also reversed course. "I get the impression that the president considers himself above the law," he said.

And a retiring Democrat signaled he was near deciding to vote for impeachment as well. "The last thing I want to do is leave public life by voting for the impeachment of the president of my own party but the principles in which I so strongly believe ... may require me to cast that vote," said Rep. Paul McHale, D-Pa.

The GOP-led Judiciary Committee said in its final report that Clinton had disgraced his office and should be ousted and barred from holding federal office again. Dissenting Democrats said Clinton's transgressions were not impeachable.

The president was ready to make his case, meeting at the White House today with two Republicans he hopes will vote against impeachment, Reps. Christopher Shays of Connecticut and Amo Houghton of New York.

Houghton took with him to the White House a proposal for censure of Clinton that would call for a $500,000 presidential donation to the Treasury. Houghton planned to offer as an alternative to impeachment, although the House is not expected to allow a censure vote.

Vice President Al Gore canceled a trip to New Hampshire to stay in Washington, trying to rally support and stop Clinton from becoming only the second chief executive to be impeached.

"I believe on Capitol Hill there is still time for Democrats and Republicans to come together and embrace a bipartisan compromise to seek a resolution that is both quick and fair and try to turn away from the bitter partisanship that we have seen so far," Gore said at the White House.

The White House did get a few pieces of good news:

Departing Republican Rep. Jay Kim of California, who pleaded guilty to accepting illegal donations in 1997, said he was leaning toward opposing impeachment. A Senate trial "is going to be an international embarrassment," Kim told the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in Ontario, Calif.

Rep. Chris John, a Louisiana Democrat who is a leader of the conservative "Blue Dog" faction of the party, also came out against impeachment.

Nonetheless, the prospects for Clinton avoiding impeachment in the House continued to worsen as more undecided Republicans declared their intention to vote to remove the president.

Others to come out for impeachment today included: Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo.; outgoing Rep. Bill Redmond, R-N.M.; Rep. Michael Pappas, R-N.J.; Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.; Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif.; and Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio.

Americans flooded lawmakers' phones with their opinions and debated the issue on street corners.

Judiciary Committee chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., had raised the idea of postponing the impeachment vote earlier in the day. "I think it would be awkward to have an impeachment vote during a bombing in Iraq," he said.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., opposed such a delay, saying: "The country's agonized enough. We need to get this over with."

Rep. Gerald Solomon, R-N.Y., a former Marine and the outgoing chairman of the House Rules Committee, said he believed an attack on Iraq was planned solely to delay an impeachment vote against Clinton.

"For him to do this at this unbelievable time is just outrageous," Solomon said. "I know he is not a military man, and he doesn't understand this. But those of us who been in the military do."

White House press secretary Joe Lockhart bristled: "The president of the United States makes national security decisions based on the recommendations of his national security advisers and on the best interests of the people of the United States."

An Associated Press telephone survey of House members found 171 lawmakers said they would support impeachment, 182 said they would oppose it, 58 remained undecided, and 24 wouldn't answer or didn't return phone calls. The totals include members who said they were leaning toward a position. The undecided and those not responding included 27 Democrats and 55 Republicans.