Bush vetoes bill on withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President George W Bush has vetoed a Congressional bill that would have linked war funding to a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Speaking in Washington after signing the veto, Mr Bush said setting a deadline for withdrawal would be "setting a date for failure" in Iraq.



He said the funding was needed to give time for the new strategy of a surge of reinforcements in Baghdad to succeed.



Mr Bush said he would seek a compromise with Congressional leaders.



It is only the second time since taking office that Mr Bush has used the presidential veto.



Earlier on Tuesday, leaders of the Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress signed the controversial bill agreeing to $100bn (£50bn) in further funding on condition US combat troops begin to withdraw this year.



The president wants a blank cheque; the Congress is not going to give it to him



The Senate last week voted 51 to 46 in favor of the legislation, which said the pull-out must start by 1 October and sets a target of completion by 31 March 2008.



Mr Bush will now meet congressional leaders on Wednesday to try to reach a compromise on a revised funding bill for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, BBC reports.