War-limiting bill passes in the House

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House Democrats yesterday won a hard-fought battle on the first binding resolution on the war in Iraq by passing a bill that would force President Bush to withdraw combat troops by September 2008.

"Proudly, this new Congress voted to bring an end to the war in Iraq and took a giant step in that direction," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the bill passed by a 218-212 vote.

Within two hours of the House bill's passage, Mr. Bush condemned the legislation and said he will veto it. Similar legislation is to be taken up Monday by the Senate, where its passage presents a formidable task for Democrats.

Mrs. Pelosi said the legislation -- a $124 billion emergency war-funding bill that includes a pullout timetable and nearly $10 billion in nonmilitary and pork barrel spending -- sent a message of solidarity to the American people and a message of support to U.S. troops.

"We know [the American people] have lost faith and confidence in the president's conduct of this war," Mrs. Pelosi said, adding that the funding for combat forces and for military health care demonstrated a commitment to the troops.

Rep. John B. Larson of Connecticut, vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said the bill's passage continued the movement begun with last year's elections that swept Democrats into control of Congress for the first time in a dozen years.

"The American people found their voice in November," Mr. Larson said. "The Congress found its voice today, but it couldn't have happened without the leadership of Speaker Pelosi."

At a White House press conference, Mr. Bush, who was accompanied by veterans and family members of U.S. troops, called the House vote an act of "political theater" that he said threatened to delay funds reaching the troops before money starts to run out April 15.

"This bill has too much pork, too many conditions and an artificial timetable for withdrawal," said Mr. Bush, who has repeatedly called on Congress to give his nearly 30,000-troop surge a chance for success.

"Congress needs to send me a clean bill that I can sign without delay. I expect Congress to do its duty and to fund our troops, and so do the American people -- and so do the good men and women standing with me here today."