Democrats would make troop-pullout timetable 'advisory'

WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democratic leaders are moving to make their proposed timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq "advisory" as they seek to reconcile two versions of war-spending legislation into a single bill they plan to pass next week, according to several House members.

The compromise language would keep the deadlines included in the original House bill but make them nonbinding, as the Senate version did, and would allow President Bush to waive troop-readiness standards, lawmakers said.

Bush has vowed to veto legislation with timetables in it, calling it a schedule of surrender, but Democrats hope to show that they are being flexible, and the president rigid, by softening the terms. The compromises may cost Democrats votes among antiwar liberals, but they hope to pick up some Republicans.

The haggling between congressional Democrats was occurring as their leaders met at the White House with Bush to try to hash out their dispute. Both sides termed it a polite, productive meeting in which they restated their positions but emerged without an agreement. The Democrats promised to send Bush their bill next week for his vowed veto.

"We believe he must search his soul, his conscience, and decide what is best for the American people," Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada and the Senate majority leader, told reporters on the White House driveway. "I believe signing the bill is that."

Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman, said later that Bush has not changed his mind. But she expressed optimism that after a veto, Democrats will pass legislation without conditions providing $100 billion to continue operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It was clear that ultimately there will be a bill that can fund the troops, that the troops will get the funds they need," Perino said.

Others were less certain.

Asked whether the meeting changed anything, John Boehner, Republican of Ohio and the House minority leader, said flatly, "No."

Most of the talk appeared aimed at positioning for the next phase of the fight after the veto. One House Democrat said Congress might pass a 60-day spending bill without conditions for Bush to sign to keep troops funded while the debate continues. Representative John P. Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said Democrats are treating June 1 as the final deadline for the passage of a war-funding bill that would not be vetoed.

Much of Wednesday's one-hour meeting in the Cabinet Room centered on benchmarks for the Iraqis to meet, such as passing legislation that divides up oil revenue and tamping down sectarian violence. Bush assured the congressional leaders that he believes in benchmarks and has been pressing Iraqi leaders to meet them. Democrats want to make the benchmarks binding.

Democrats cited the words of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who told reporters traveling with him in the Middle East that congressional demands for withdrawal have been constructive. "The strong feelings expressed in the Congress about the timetable probably has had a positive impact . . . in terms of communicating to the Iraqis that this is not an open-ended commitment," Gates said.

Democrats will face a new test of party unity today when the House names the negotiators who will work out the final version of the war-spending bill. House Republicans will call for a vote to instruct negotiators to strip out language imposing or suggesting timelines for withdrawing troops. The vote would be advisory only, but even Democratic leadership aides say passage would weaken their hand in the showdown.