It will be Congressional showdown later this week as a strong anti-war bill has emerged from House and Senate negotiations.  The negotiations centered upon the emergency funding for the Iraq war and other matters.  Assuming the House and Senate both vote to pass the legislation, it almost absolutely be vetoed by President Bush.

Instead of passing compromise legislation that would create “advisory” troop withdrawal, the negotiators led by the Democrats decided to go for broke knowing that the President has warned he would veto the legislation anyway.

There is a certain risk that once the bill reaches a vote, either the House or more likely the Senate would not approve the legislation which would pre-empt a veto..

The legislation calls upon bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq starting as early as this July.  It also creates a “goal of ending U.S. combat operations” no later than March of next year.

However, it is uncertain what would occur should the goal not be realized. 

The bill also provides more than 100 billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today at the White House, President George W. Bush delivered a statement on the War in Iraq during a visit Monday, by Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of the Multinational Force-Iraq,. Bush said  "I will strongly reject an artificial timetable withdrawal and/or Washington politicians trying to tell those who wear the uniform how to do their job."

In the meeting with Bush were Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, left, and Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Also, today, Harry Reid, Democratic Senate Majority Leader from Nevada criticized the Bush position and said, “We are at a critical point in the Iraq war and in the Iraq debate here at home. I am proud of the role the Senate and the House are playing in this historic debate. It is a constructive - and long overdue - effort to put some spine in our policy.

Reid also edged up the rhetoric saying, “And yet the President on Friday used the word "progress" no fewer than ten times when he gave his Iraq update.

He said that while there were still horrific attacks in Baghdad - and I quote - "The direction of the fight is beginning to shift." In describing his escalation of American troops - what he calls a surge - he said, "so far the operation is meeting expectations."

The White House transcript says the President made those remarks in the State of Michigan. I believe he made them in the state of denial.”

Now the focus, however, is on the full House and Senate.  The legislation creates benchmarks for the Iraqi government, reduction in violence, oil sharing and gives President Bush the right to determine if the benchmarks are being kept.

If Bush were to determine the benchmarks are in fact being kept, then the goal would be fulfilling the troop pullout by April 1, 2008.

Reid also urged President Bush to present an alternative plan if he does the legislation.