Bush seeks to pressure Democrats over war funds

By Caren Bohan and Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday stepped up pressure on lawmakers to pass his Iraq war funding request, while a senior Democrat said a deal might be possible.

During a visit to the Pentagon, Bush said delays in approving his $196 billion request for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars during the fiscal year that began October 1 would force cuts in military base operations across the United States.

He said Defense Secretary Robert Gates has directed the Army and Marine Corps to make plans to lay off civilian employees, end contracts and "prepare our military bases across the country for reduced operations."

But the Democratic chairman of the House defense spending panel, Rep. John Murtha, said he thought a compromise was possible after a telephone conversation with Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, the White House point person in charge of Iraq policy.

"I told him we need to make a deal," Murtha said. "In listening to him, I'm more optimistic that there is a possibility" of agreement.

The Pennsylvania lawmaker, who is close to House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said the Democratic leadership "might be willing to compromise" on a troop pullout timeline proposed by congressional Democrats.

The Democrats have offered to pass $50 billion of the $196 billion Bush requested, but with a requirement that most U.S. troops leave Iraq by December 2008.

Although Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, they lack enough votes in the Senate to keep Republicans from blocking a bill with a troop pullout plan.