Democrats divided on anti-war strategy

WASHINGTON – Rank-and-file Democrats expressed dismay on Friday over their party’s latest anti-war strategy, with some members reluctant to vote around Veterans Day to bring troops home.

The House was on track to consider legislation next week that would give President Bush $50 billion for operations for Iraq and Afghanistan, but insist that he begin withdrawing troops.

The measure identifies a goal of ending combat by December 2008, leaving only enough soldiers and Marines behind to fight terrorists, train Iraqi security forces and protect U.S. assets.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed off plans for a Friday vote after caucus members told her late Thursday they weren’t sure they would support it. Liberal Democrats said the proposal was too soft, while conservative members told Pelosi they thought it went too far.

“I think the message in the next week ought to be that a heck of a lot of people have been harmed (in combat) and we ought to take care of them,” said Rep. Gene Taylor, a conservative Mississippi Democrat.

Rep. John Murtha, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said the vote was delayed because leadership was not satisfied it would pass. The proposal – which also includes a provision that would effectively ban waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques and restrict troop deployments – might be tweaked to address member concerns, he said.

Pelosi told reporters on Friday that she was confident the measure would pass. But one guarantee, Murtha said, is that Bush will have to accept some timetable on troop withdrawals if he wants the money.

“I don’t think you’ll see the House pass anything without restrictions,” said Murtha, D-Pa.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Thursday that Bush would again veto any legislation that sets an “artificial timeline” for troop withdrawals.

“We should be supporting our troops as they are succeeding, not finding ways to undercut their mission,” he said.