Bush open to setting benchmarks for Iraqis

WASHINGTON – President Bush signaled Thursday that he is open to legislation imposing consequences on the Iraqi government if it does not meet certain benchmarks for progress and expressed confidence that he can reach agreement soon with congressional Democrats on a war spending bill.

In response to reporters’ questions, Bush twice declined to rule out penalizing the Iraqis for failing to achieve goals aimed at economic and political reconciliation, a concept advanced on Capitol Hill not just by Democrats, but by many Republicans too. White House aides privately have said such accountability measures are on the table in their negotiations with Congress.

“I accept and respect the members’ desire to have benchmarks,” Bush said. “After all, I’m the person who laid them out initially. We will work through something we can all live with and enable us to get the job done.”

At three points during his remarks, Bush predicted he and Democratic leaders would be able to forge a settlement, and he praised House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, of California, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, of Nevada, for vowing to cancel a Memorial Day recess if necessary. “I’m confident we can get the job done,” he said.

The president’s comments came during a Rose Garden news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.