Bush frustrated with Democrat 'battles'

US President George Bush today expressed frustration with the US congressional debate on Iraq war spending and accused majority-party Democrats of being “more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than providing our troops what they need.”

Bush, speaking with reporters at of the White House, renewed his veto threats on both a House and Senate spending bills. He noted it had been 57 days since he requested more than £50 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan.

“They left for spring break without finishing their work,” Bush said.

The president’s remarks come one day after Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced he would try to eliminate money for the war if Bush rejects Congress’ proposal to set a deadline to end combat.

Bush renewed veto threats on both a Senate-passed bill calling for most US combat troops to be out of Iraq by March 31, 2008, and an even stronger House-passed bill demanding a September 2008 withdrawal. He said both bills “undercut the troops.”

Bush bluntly said that such a veto could not be overridden in Congress, given thin Democratic majorities. He said if Congress was, in fact, going to send him a bill that he would surely veto, they should do it quickly.

“If Democratic leaders in Congress are bound on making a political statement, then they need to send me this unacceptable bill as quickly as possible when they come back. I’ll veto it, and then Congress can get down to business of funding our troops without strings and without delay.”