WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Once wary of criticizing a popular wartime president’s handling of Iraq, members of Congress are shedding their inhibitions.

Returning to Washington this week after a summer break, some are questioning whether President Bush could do more to get help from other countries to secure and rebuild Iraq, whether he has enough U.S. troops there, and how much the war will cost in U.S. lives and taxpayer dollars.

Iraq will be among the top items on a busy congressional agenda that also will include efforts to work out a prescription drug benefit for the elderly, a national energy bill and 13 appropriations bills to fund 2004 federal programs.

Frustrations about Iraq have increased in Washington and around the nation as the American death toll has risen. Congressional Republicans and Democrats alike also have been concerned about the speed of setting up an Iraqi government and restoring basic services such as electricity.

“I’m not discouraged, but I’m disappointed,” said Rep. Henry Hyde, the House International Relations Committee chairman. “I think there was less thought given to the postwar, or the postcombat, aspect of the war than should have been.

“I think it is too great a burden to expect us to single-handedly reconstruct Afghanistan, Iraq, face the other problems in the world — North Korea, Liberia and other troubled spots,” Hyde said. “I think we need to look for reasonable compromises.”

The Senate Armed Services Committee will air concerns about Iraq as it calls Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Gen. Richard Myers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, for a hearing Tuesday on U.S. military commitments.