Bush and Democrats clash over Iraq funding

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush and Democrats in charge of Congress clashed again on Tuesday over funding for the Iraq war with no end likely soon to a defining battle over how long American forces will stay.

At a White House Rose Garden news conference, Bush skewered Democrats for going on a spring recess without approving $100 billion (51 billion pounds) for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a day ahead of leaving on his own Easter vacation in Texas.

He repeated what has been a near-daily vow to veto legislation approved last month by narrow margins in the Senate and the House of Representatives that would impose a troop withdrawal timetable. If he vetoes the legislation, lawmakers would have to begin anew on a funding bill.

"Democrat leaders in Congress seem more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than providing our troops what they need to fight the battles in Iraq," Bush said.

His latest salvo in the weeks-long standoff brought a prompt response from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other Democrats. Reid, who on Monday endorsed legislation to cut off funding for the war within a year, said lawmakers were sending Bush a bill that would keep troops supplied.

"If the president vetoes this bill he will have delayed funding for troops and kept in place his strategy for failure," Reid said.

Both sides believe they have the moral high ground. White House officials believe Americans will side with Bush and see Democrats as jeopardising U.S. troops, while Democrats believe they will be viewed as saving the United States from an even worse outcome in Iraq.

West Virginia Democratic Senator Robert Byrd said Bush was pushing "partisan hogwash" and "tripe."