Dems Cut Provision on Iran From Bill

WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders are stripping from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq a requirement that President Bush gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed to remove the requirement concerning Iran after conservative Democrats as well as other lawmakers worried about its possible impact on Israel, officials said.

The overall bill — which requires that the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by Sept. 1, 2008, if not earlier — remained on schedule for an initial test vote Thursday in the House Appropriations Committee.

The measure provides nearly $100 billion to pay for two wars and includes more money than Bush had requested for operations in Afghanistan and what Democrats called training and equipment shortages. Still, House Republicans said they wouldn’t support it and the White House threatened a veto.

“Republicans will continue to stand united in this debate, and will oppose efforts by Democrats to undermine the ability of General (David) Petraeus and our troops to achieve victory in the Global War on Terror,” Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement.

Vice President Dick Cheney criticized supporters of the bill’s withdrawal provisions, declaring in a speech Monday that they “are telling the enemy simply to watch the clock and wait us out.”

Pelosi issued a written statement that said the vice president’s remarks prove that “the administration’s answer to continuing violence in Iraq is more troops and more treasure from the American people.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said America was less safe today because of the war. The president “must change course, and it’s time for the Senate to demand he do it,” he said.

The Iran-related proposal stemmed from a desire to make sure Bush did not launch an attack without going to Congress for approval.

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