Democrats to release plan for leaving Iraq

Associated Press

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1040508.html

WASHINGTON - In a direct challenge to President Bush, House Democrats
are advancing legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat
troops from Iraq by the fall of next year.

Democratic officials who described the measure said the timetable
would be accelerated, to the end of 2007, if the government of Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki does not meet goals for providing Iraq's
security.

The conditions, described as tentative until presented to the
Democratic rank and file Thursday, would be added to legislation
providing nearly $100 billion the Bush administration has requested
for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The officials who described the measure did so on condition of
anonymity, saying they were not authorized to speak until after it was
presented to the Democratic caucus. They also stressed the provisions
were tentative until then.