President Vetoes Iraq Withdrawal Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Bush vetoed legislation to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq Tuesday night in a historic showdown with Congress over whether the unpopular and costly war should end or escalate.

Last week, Congress passed a bill that funds the wars in Iraq but sets a timetable for withdrawal of American forces in Iraq.

“After more than four years of a failed policy it is time for Iraq to take control of its own future,” stated Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).

Following his veto of the bill, Bush stated,”members of the House and the Senate passed a bill that substitutes the opinions of politicians for the judgment of our military commanders.”

The President did state that he is willing to work with Congressional leaders to reach an agreement on war funding. He will host a bipartisan meeting with leaders from both houses at the White House Wednesday.

According to Bush, a date of withdrawal would let insurgents know they could wait out the U.S. presence in Iraq, set impossible and unrealistic conditions for military commanders in Iraq and the bill is full of non-emergency funding that is not related to the war in Iraq.

“Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a date for failure, and that would be irresponsible,” he stated.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)