Bush vetoes Iraq withdrawal bill
US president says setting a timetable would turn Iraq into “a cauldron of chaos”.
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The bill “substitutes the opinions of politicians for the judgment of our military commanders”, he said.
Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives planned to hold a veto override vote on Wednesday, and while they do not have the votes to override his veto, they vow to keep fighting for a change in course.
The veto comes on the fourth anniversary of Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech [AP] |
Nancy Pelosi, the house speaker, said: “The president wants a blank check. The congress is not going to give it to him.”
Bush invited congressional leaders to the White House to reconcile differences.
Pelosi promised to work with Bush to find common ground, but said “there is a great distance between us right now”.
Reid said after the veto: “If the president thinks that by vetoing this bill, he will stop us from working to change the direction of this war, he is mistaken.”