March 29, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1428

WASHINGTON, March 28: US President George W. Bush warned the opposition Democrats on Wednesday that setting a deadline for withdrawing troops from Iraq could lead to America’s defeat and they would be responsible if this happens.

The warning came hours after the US Senate endorsed a call for a complete pullout from Iraq by March 31. The condition is attached to a $122 billion Iraq war-spending bill.

On March 23, the House of Representatives also imposed a Sept 1, 2008, deadline for withdrawing all combat troops from Iraq while voting on a $124 billion emergency spending package.

“Some of them believe that by delaying funding for our troops, they can force me to accept restrictions … that I believe would make withdrawal and defeat more likely. That’s not going to happen,” said Mr Bush while commenting on the congressional votes.

“The clock is ticking for our troops in the field. If Congress fails to pass a bill to fund our troops on the front lines, the American people will know who to hold responsible,” he said.

Money for US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan begins running out in mid-April. While both chambers of the US legislature have agreed to give the money Mr Bush needs to continue the war, they defied him by linking the funds to a timetable for withdrawal.

Mr Bush, however, reiterated his vow to veto all such moves. “I have made it clear for weeks, if either version comes to my desk, I'm going to veto it, “he said. “It is also clear from the strong opposition in both houses that my veto would be sustained.”

This is the first time that the Senate has favoured a withdrawal date, delivering a forceful rebuke to President Bush's war policy.

By a vote of 50 to 48, the Senate rejected a Republican effort to strip from the military spending bill any mention of a withdrawal date. Since the Democrats have only a one vote majority in the Senate, it is obvious that some Republicans also voted in favour of the Democratic position.

The legislation will now move forward containing language that sets a nonbinding goal of beginning a gradual withdrawal of US troops from Iraq within 120 days of the enactment of the measure, with a complete pullout by March 31, 2008.

If Congress sets a deadline, “terrorists would simply have to mark their calendars,” Mr Bush said. “It makes no sense for politicians in Washington to be dictating timelines” to commanders in a war zone 6,000 miles away, he said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, urged Mr Bush to “calm down with the threats” and said that Democrats will no longer provide the administration with “more blank checks” to pursue his strategy.

“The American people have lost faith in the president's conduct of the war,” she said at the Capitol. “Let's see how we can work together.”

Senators still must vote on the overall legislation this week, and then their bill must be reconciled with the House measure passed on Friday.

The outcome of the Senate vote took both parties by surprise.

Republicans were particularly stung by the defection of Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who is his party's most outspoken critic in Congress of the war.

“There will not be a military solution to Iraq,” Hagel declared. “Iraq belongs to the 25 million Iraqis who live there. It doesn't belong to the United States. Iraq is not a prize to be won or lost.”

Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, who voted against a withdrawal date just two weeks ago, also changed his position. “People want our troops home,” Mr Nelson said.

The two other senators who crossed party lines were Gordon Smith, a Republican, who supported the withdrawal date, and Mark Pryor, Democrat of Arkansas, who opposed the plan. Senator Joseph Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, voted with the Republicans.

Vice President Dick Cheney, who also serves as president of the Senate, arrived in the Capitol a few minutes before 5pm to be on hand in the event of a tie.

The Republican strongly opposed the suggested legislation. “This bill should be named the Date Certain for Surrender Act,” said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona.

“A second-year cadet at West Point could tell you that if you announce when the end will be, it's a recipe for defeat.”