U.S. House sets Iraq troop pullout goal for end-2009

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives defied President George W. Bush by passing legislation on Thursday that would set the end of 2009 as the goal for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

By a vote of 227-196, the Democrat-controlled House approved the measure that would start the pullout of U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 30 days of enactment.

The legislation, likely to be blocked by Republicans in the Senate, has drawn a veto threat from the White House.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by John O'Callaghan)