Bush threatens to veto time-line for troop withdrawal from Iraq

Washington, Mar 18 (UNI) US President George W Bush has threatened to veto an emergency spending bill for the war in Iraq if Democrats, who enjoy majority in Congress, set a timeline for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

In his weekly radio address, President Bush said imposing an artificial time-table on the war would be disastrous, adding that they also wanted to impose "arbitrary and restrictive" conditions on the use of war funds.

"Congress needs to approve emergency funding for our troops, without strings and without delay. If they send me a bill that does otherwise, I will veto it," he said.

The President said Congressional Democrats wanted to force a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq, just as his new strategy for success was beginning to show "hopeful signs of progress".

The Democrats who won majority in the November elections are against committing American forces to an "open-ended civil war" in Iraq.

The House of Representatives is expected to consider next week a Democratic-sponsored legislation calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq no later than September next year. The move will be part of a spending package that includes more than 95 billion dollars for Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Democratic radio address, Senator Patty Murray responded, saying "it is time for a new direction in Iraq." "Unfortunately, this is a reality President Bush and a majority of Congressional Republicans still refuse to recognize. They want to stay the course. They want to ignore the lessons of the last four years. They want to commit America to an open-ended civil war," she said.

Tuesday marks the fourth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. Senator Murray said the start of the fifth year of US troops in Iraq would be a solemn day.

"In Congress, my fellow Democrats and I believe it is time to bring this war to a close. Our troops, who have served bravely under difficult conditions, have done everything we have asked," she said.

UNI