Bush: Democrats ‘irresponsible’ for proposals to pull troops out of Iraq

WASHINGTON – President Bush on Tuesday called Democrats in Congress irresponsible for approving war bills that order U.S. troops to leave Iraq by certain dates. He said such efforts will backfire, keeping some troops in battle even longer.\n“In a time of war, it’s irresponsible for the Democratic leadership in Congress to delay for months on end while our troops in combat are waiting for the funds,” Bush said in a Rose Garden news conference.\n“The bottom line is this: Congress’ failure to fund our troops on the front lines will mean that some of our military families could wait longer for their loved ones to return from the front lines,” Bush said. “Others could see their loved ones heading back to the war sooner than they need to.”\nAccording to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, Bush and Congress have about three months to resolve their standoff before a lack of funds would begin to adversely affect operations in Iraq.\nThe CRS concluded in a recent analysis that money for the war runs out in mid-April. After that, Pentagon accountants would move money around in the department’s more than half-trillion-dollar budget to make sure operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are not disrupted.\nBush’s comments underscored his standoff with Congress. Democrats won power in November, largely fueled by national anti-war sentiment. They intend to use their power over money to force Iraq to take more responsibility and prod Bush to wind down the war.\nThe president renewed veto threats on both a Senate-passed bill calling for most U.S. combat troops to be out of Iraq by March 31, 2008, and an even stronger House-passed bill demanding a September 2008 withdrawal. He said both bills “undercut the troops.”\nBush bluntly said that Congress could not override such a veto.\nThe president’s remarks come one day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced he would try to eliminate money for the war if Bush rejects Congress’ proposal to set a deadline to end combat.\n“It’s interesting that Harry Reid, leader Reid, spoke out with a different option,” Bush said. “Whatever option they choose, we hope they get home, get a bill, and get it to my desk,” Bush said. “And if it has artificial timetables for withdrawal, or cuts off funding for our troops, or tells our generals how to run a war, I’ll veto it.”\nThe Senate is in recess this week; the House is on break for two weeks.\nThe House and Senate are preparing to send Bush a bill by the end of the month that would approve of some $96 billion in new money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also set an end date to combat in Iraq.\nThe House wants to order troops out by September 2008, whereas the Senate wants troops to begin leaving right away and set a nonbinding goal of ending combat operations on March 31, 2008.