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U.S. Congress approves Iraq war withdrawal plan
By Richard Cowan
04/26/07 - -- - WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters)
- In an unprecedented slap at President George W. Bush's war
policy, the U.S. Congress on Thursday approved legislation that
links withdrawal of combat troops to paying for the war,
ensuring a certain veto.
Nonetheless, by a vote of 51-46, the Senate joined the House of
Representatives in backing the hotly contested bill that would
provide about $100 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
this year while setting a deadline to withdraw U.S. forces over
the next 11 months.
It was the first time the Congress, controlled by Democrats
since January, defied the president in more than four years
since the conflict began.
Bush has repeatedly warned he will not accept "surrender" dates
for the war and there is little doubt he will reject the bill
when it is sent to him next week.
"The troops had the courage and the strength to win the war, but
the president has not had the wisdom to win the peace," said
Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who called for a
"new direction in Iraq."
Democrats, however, are unlikely to see the effort to defy Bush
succeed because they do not think they have two-thirds support
in Congress to overturn a presidential veto.
If there is a veto and it is not overturned, leaders would have
to craft a new bill giving money to the troops in Iraq, possibly
with some watered-down conditions Bush could accept, and leave
the fight over withdrawing troops for future legislation.
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