President George W. Bush on Tuesday vetoed a war-spending bill that calls for the start of a withdrawal of American combat troops from the conflict. "It makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing. All the terrorists would have to do is mark their calendars. ... Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a date for failure, and that would be irresponsible," Bush said in a televised address after the veto. "I recognize that many Democrats saw this bill as an opportunity to make a political statement about their opposition to the war," Bush said. "They've sent their message, and now it is time to put politics behind us and support our troops with the funds they need." The president invited the congressional leadership to the White House on Wednesday to discuss a compromise, CNN reported. After the speech, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said the ball was now in Bush's court. "Now he has an obligation to explain his plan to responsibly end this war," Reid said. "If the president thinks [that] by vetoing this bill he'll stop us from working to change the direction of the war in Iraq, he is mistaken," Reid added. Standing beside Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said: "The president wants a blank check. The Congress is not going to give it to him." Both Democratic leaders said they would discuss a compromise. "We look forward to working with the president to find common ground," Pelosi said. "But there is great distance between us right now."
