US Congress challenges Bush to veto Iraq pullout

Washington, Apr 27: In an unprecedented slap at President George W Bush's war policy, the US Congress approved legislation that links withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq to paying for the war, ensuring a veto.

By a vote of 51-46, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in backing the bill that would provide about 100 billion dollar for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year while setting a deadline to withdraw US forces from Iraq over the next 11 months.

It was the first time that the entire Congress, controlled by Democrats since January, has defied the president. Bush has repeatedly said he will not accept ''surrender'' dates.

''The president will veto this legislation,'' White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. ''The president is determined to win in Iraq. The bill they sent us today is mission defeated.'' Democrats might arrange to deliver their bill to the White House on Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of Bush declaring aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln: ''Major combat operations in Iraq have ended.'' The aircraft carrier was decorated with a large ''mission accomplished'' banner.

Calling for a ''new direction in Iraq,'' Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, said US troops ''had the courage and the strength to win the war, but the president has not had the wisdom to win the peace.'' Democrats, however, doubt they have two-thirds support in Congress to overturn a presidential veto. The House passed the bill on Wednesday 218-208 on a mostly partisan vote.

If there is a veto and it is not overturned, lawmakers would likely craft another bill next month giving money to the troops in Iraq, possibly with some watered-down conditions that Bush could accept, and leave the fight over withdrawal for the future.

Tough Conditions:

Opponents of the bill passed by the House and Senate said it would make a difficult situation in Iraq worse. Sen Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, a Democrat-turned-independent, said removing combat troops ''makes no military or strategic sense.'' With this legislation, Democrats are asserting Congress' oversight of the 4-year-old war that has killed more than 3,300 US troops.

The Democrats' bill, which attracted the support of only four Republicans in the 535-member Congress, presents Bush with several tough conditions he has resisted.

The Pentagon would have to begin withdrawing combat troops from Iraq by October 1 at the latest, with the aim of finishing the redeployment in six months. The March 31 deadline is nonbinding, though, leaving it up to Bush and his generals.

With the US military now stretched thin, the bill tries to ensure troops are not sent into combat without proper rest, training and equipment. Bush could waive the mandate, which could be politically embarrassing.

Like the House, the Senate engaged in an emotional debate on the war.

Byrd, a staunch opponent of the Iraq war, accused Bush of trying to ''scare the pants off the public by suggesting that our bill could result in death and destruction in America. What utter nonsense. What hogwash.'' Bush has said that setting exit dates would undermine troops and allow enemies to make Iraq a base from which to attack the United States.

Senate Armed Services panel Chairman Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, countered that the bill required ''the beginning of a partial reduction of US troops, leaving time for Iraqis to make the political compromises they promised to make months ago.'' After the House passed the bill, Democratic Rep John Murtha of Pennsylvania sketched out the way forward on this dispute.

He said House Democrats are preparing at least two post-veto options: One is a two-month war funding bill and the other would provide combat funds through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.

As now written, neither calls for withdrawing troops by specific dates. But both would set benchmarks for gauging progress in stabilizing Iraq.

Murtha acknowledged the absence of withdrawal dates could make it difficult to win Democratic support.

But he said the debate over the war will finally be decided when Congress, within a few months, debates next year's defense funding bill.

Reuters

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