Bush vetoes war spending bill

By Richard Cowan and Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would force him to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq this year as a condition of funding the war, angering Democrats who vowed to fight on.

"Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a deadline for failure, and that would be irresponsible," Bush said in a nationally televised speech shortly after issuing only the second veto of his presidency.

Bush's rejection of the legislation came on the four-year anniversary of his 2003 speech announcing the end of major combat operations in Iraq beneath a "Mission Accomplished" banner, an event roundly condemned by war critics.

"Stop the war now," shouted a handful of protesters outside the White House gate.

In vetoing a $124 billion bill to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush said he was stopping legislation that "substitutes the opinions of politicians for the judgment of our military commanders."

Under the legislation, which won the support of only four Republicans in Congress, American troop withdrawals would begin as early as July 1 and no later than October 1, with the nonbinding goal of removing all combat troops by March 31.

Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives planned to hold a veto override vote on Wednesday, and while they did not have the votes to override his veto, they vowed to keep fighting for a change in course.

"The president wants a blank check. The Congress is not going to give it to him," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.