Bush threatens to veto emergency spending bill

Washington, Mar 24: US President George W Bush has threatened to veto an emergency spending bill for the war in Iraq, protesting against action of the opposition Democratic Party in attaching a time-table for the withdrawal of American troops from there. The President issued the threat within hours after the Democratic-led House of Representatives yesterday passed by 218 to 212, the measure along with a call for the pull out of US troops from Iraq no later than the end of August 2008.

In close call, the lawmakers voted largely along party lines, making it difficult for Democrats to find a two-thirds majority to override the president's promised veto.

Some 14 Democrats crossed party lines to oppose their leadership, while only two Republicans voted for the bill.

The bill provides 95 billion dollar for US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with a September 2008 deadline for the withdrawal of most American forces in Iraq.

The legislation moves up that timetable if Iraq's government does not meet political, security, and economic benchmarks.

President Bush, in a statement, accused the Democrats of undermining American progress in Iraq. ''I will veto it if it comes to my desk. It is clear that my veto would be sustained.'' He said the Democrats had engaged in "an act of political theatre" and "voted to substitute their judgment for that of our military commanders on the ground in Iraq." The Democrats' move ties funding needed to support US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with requirements to limit the duration of deployments, and force President Bush to certify the readiness of military units.

The beginning of a withdrawal period would be triggered, if the president cannot certify to Congress at two key points this year, that the Iraqi government is satisfactorily reaching political, economic and security benchmarks.

The Senate, which Democrats narrowly control, is likely to begin debate next week on a measure containing about three billion dollar less than the House version, with a non-binding call for a US withdrawal by March 2008.

House Speaker Pelosi declines to say what strategy House Democrats will take in negotiations with the Senate, should a bill pass there, to reconcile differences to avert a veto.

President Bush, however, asserted that the bill stood no chance of becoming law. ''Today's action in the House does only one thing. It delays the delivery of vital resources for our troops,'' he said.

UNI