US President Bush warned Congress Friday that he will continue vetoing war spending bills as long as they contain a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. Speaking a day after the Democratic-controlled Congress approved legislation that requires that a troop drawdown start by Oct. 1, Bush said he will veto it because of that demand.
He made clear that if Democrats insist on including timetables again, he will not hesitate to bring out his veto pen. "If they want to try again that which I've said is unacceptable, of course I won't accept it," the president said during a news conference here with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "I hope it won't come to that."
According to the AP, Senate leaders said Friday that the bill should go to Bush early next week. The White House has not said whether Bush plans a quiet veto, or a public ceremony. "I invited the leaders of the House and the Senate to come down soon after my veto so we can discuss a way forward," the president said. "I'm optimistic we can get a bill, a good bill and a bill that satisfies all our objectives."
