Democrats: Bring Troops Home Next Year

White House Issues Blunt Veto Threat To Legislation Calling For Fall 2008 Deadline

(CBS/AP)  Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Bartlett called it "a political compromise in the Democratic caucus of the House aimed at bringing comity to their internal politics, not reflective of the conditions on the ground in Iraq."

"It would unnecessarily handcuff our generals on the ground, he said. "Obviously, the administration would vehemently oppose and ultimately veto any legislation that looks like what was described today."

A National Security Council spokesman accused the Democrats of using "political calculations" rather than listening to the commanders in Iraq. Spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters the Democrats' plan to set a withdrawal date "runs counter to" the latest national intelligence estimates of the consequences of a U.S. withdrawal, CBS News correspondent Peter Maer reports.

To make the overall measure more attractive politically, Democrats also intend to add $1.2 billion to Mr. Bush's request for military operations in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is expected to mount a spring offensive.

CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports the bill also includes a prohibition of any war against Iran unless Congress approves it first, a bar against torture, and more money for military and veterans' health care than the administration asked for.

As described by Democrats, the legislation will require Mr. Bush to certify by July 1 and again by Oct. 1. whether the Iraqi government is making progress toward providing for the country's security, allocating its oil revenues and creating a fair system for amending its constitution.

They said if Mr. Bush certified the Iraqis were meeting these so-called benchmarks, U.S. combat troops would have to begin withdrawing by March 1, 2008, and complete the redeployment by Sept. 1.

Otherwise, the deadlines would move up.

If Mr. Bush cannot make the required certification by July 1, troops must begin a six-month withdrawal immediately. If he cannot make the second certification, the same six-month timetable would apply.

The legislation also requires the Pentagon to adhere to its existing standards for equipping and training U.S. troops sent overseas and for providing time at home between tours of combat.

Pelosi said the provision was designed to make sure the government would "not be sending our troops into battle without the proper training, the proper equipment."

Yet it also permits Mr. Bush to issue waivers of these standards. Democrats described the waiver provision as an attempt to embarrass the president into adhering to the standards. But they concede the overall effect would be to permit the administration to proceed with plans to deploy five additional combat brigades to the Baghdad area over the next few months.

The measure emerged from days of private talks among Democrats following the collapse of Murtha's original proposal, which would have required the Pentagon to meet readiness and training standards without the possibility of a waiver.

Murtha, chairman of a House Appropriations military subcommittee, said its implementation would have starved the war effort of troops because the Pentagon would not have been able to find enough fully rested, trained and equipped units to meet its needs.

However, several moderate Democrats spoke out against it, and Republicans sharply attacked it as the abandonment of troops already in the war zone.