Democratic Senator Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader,
tabled a controversial proposal on Monday to choke off funds for
Iraq war should President Bush reject a proposal towards
withdrawing US troops from Iraq.
Reid warned that should Bush veto legislation creating a pullout
deadline, he would join Senator Russ Feingold (D.-Wisconsin) in
calling for an end to the war by holding back funding
therefore.
"Congress has a responsibility to end a war that is opposed by
the American people and is undermining our national security," said
Feingold.
Both the House and the Senate passed emergency funding
legislation that, despite providing extra funding for the conflict,
contains precise timetables for removing American forces from the
Middle-Eastern nation. Bush has warned he would veto any bill
carrying a deadline.
The bill that passed the Senate last week states that Bush must
start withdrawing troops 120 days after it is signed into law, and
that all combat forces must leave by March 31, 2008. The House has
passed a similar measure, although with an August 31, 2008 deadline
for a complete pull-out.
The House and Senate are now working on a final joint proposal
which Congress will then send to the White House for a presidential
signing or veto.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)
