WASHINGTON—President Bush pledged Friday to veto legislation that includes a timetable for pulling U.S. troops from Iraq but Democrats urged him to "heed the call of the American people" and sign it.
"I'm sorry it's come to this," Bush told reporters. "I'm sorry that ... the issue evolved the way it has. But nevertheless, it is what it is, and it will be vetoed."
The Democratic-controlled Congress this week approved a $124 billion war spending measure that would require U.S. troops to begin leaving Iraq by Oct. 1 at the latest.
Senate Democrats, discussing legislative priorities at a New York retreat, urged Bush to consider the measure carefully.
"The president has a choice: Heed the call of the American people, a bipartisan majority of Congress and military experts to change course or keep our troops committed to an open-ended civil war," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
The renewed veto threat put the two sides on a collision course with no compromise in sight yet.
At a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Camp David, Bush said the Democrats' bill would tie the hands of U.S. generals and said he would veto a second bill if it were to include a pullout timetable.
"So if they want to try again that which I have said was unacceptable, then of course I'll veto it. But I hope it doesn't come to that. I believe we can work a way forward. And I think we can come to our senses and make sure that we get the money to the troops in a timely fashion," he said.
He said he would invite congressional leaders to the White House after he vetoes the legislation to discuss a way forward. Democrats promised to get him the bill early next week.
The eight Democratic contenders to succeed Bush in the November 2008 election agreed at their first debate Thursday on the need to quickly pull U.S. troops out of Iraq.
"This war is a disaster. We must end this war," said one Democratic candidate, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
But in the Republican field, Arizona Sen. John McCain is arguing that Bush's troop buildup needs time to bring enough stability to Baghdad to allow Iraqi political leaders to try to work out their differences.
On Thursday in South Carolina, he called the pullout timetable "a date certain for surrender."
Feeds