In a direct challenge to President George W Bush, House Democrats are advancing legislation requiring the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq by the fall of next year. Democratic officials who described the measure said the timetable would be accelerated — to the end of 2007—if the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki does not meet goals for providing Iraq’s security.The conditions, described as tentative until presented to the Democratic rank and file on Thursday, would be added to legislation providing nearly $100 billion the Bush administration has requested for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The officials stressed the provisions were tentative until then.Underscoring the debate among Democrats, several opponents of the war issued a statement late Wednesday saying they “have had a constructive dialogue with members of our party’s leadership. . However, at this time, we have not reached any final agreement.”The statement was issued in the name of Representatives Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee and Diane Watson ; Rep Jerry Nadler; Rep Lloyd Doggett and Rep Keith Ellison.Even so, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office announced plans for a news conference to unveil the measure, providing no details. The announcement said she would be joined by Rep John Murtha and other key lawmakers. Murtha is chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Pentagon’s budget and is among the House’s most outspoken opponents of the war.Pelosi and the leadership have struggled in recent days to come up with an approach on the war that would satisfy liberals reluctant to vote for continued funding without driving away more moderate Democrats unwilling to be seen as tying the hands of military commanders.
