The US House of Representatives approved a war funding bill that includes a timetable for pulling US troops out of Iraq.
The 218-208 vote by the Democratic-majority House links release of 124 billion dollars in military spending for Iraq and Afghanistan to a schedule for the pullout of American troops, beginning as early as October.
The bill will go to the Senate for voting, where it is expected to pass. The way-out left for Bush is to veto the bill. This is going to be a tricky affair as the presidential veto will also affect full funding for US troops as the legislation covers both the timetable for withdrawal and funding for the troops in Iraq.
The bill provides 124.2 billion dollars – even more than the administration sought – to bankroll operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the rider that US troops should start withdrawal from Iraq in October and complete the pullout by March end.