A battle over withdrawal of troops in Iraq appears set to end with a White House veto, but the political maneuvering is likely to continue through the 2008 presidential election.

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5) voted against a spending bill that set timetables for troop withdrawals based on certain events. Foxx called the bill “reckless” and said not only was it politically motivated and took decision-making authority away from military leaders, it also contained billions in spending that weren’t related to the war.

The supplemental war funding bill passed the House by a 218-208 margin after emerging from a Senate conference. The bill earmarks $124 billion in spending, with more than $90 million going to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The legislation would require troop withdrawal beginning July 1, unless President Bush can certify the Iraqi government is making progress against militia forces, sectarian violence, and political lack of support. The bill also sets an advisory date of next April for a comprehensive withdrawal of troops, though suggests troops could remain to protect U.S. interests and counter terrorism.

Bush has pledged to veto the bill and asked for a new piece of legislation that doesn’t set a timetable. It’s unlikely Democrats in Congress could rally enough votes to override the veto, creating the probability of a subsequent bill this summer.

North Carolina senators Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole voted against the Senate version of the bill, which passed 51-48, with 67 votes needed to override a veto.

Foxx said the government’s main role was providing defense and she questioned the motives of those supporting the bill. “Setting deadlines for troop withdrawal is making Gen. Pelosi out of Speaker Pelosi,” Foxx said, referring to Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

“She’s not the commander-in-chief and she’s not a general. We should leave it to our generals and commander-in-chief to make military decisions.”

Foxx also objected to the supplemental spending in the bill that had nothing to do with the war. She said the funding includes some federal pay raises for non-military personnel, agriculture, and drought assistance, among other categories, and was an attempt to make the Democrats look better in the annual federal budget.

“It’s full of pork-barrel money,” Foxx said. “The Democrats are being hypocritical about the budget. They take $24 million out of the budget by putting it in supplemental funding.”

Foxx said the Democrats could try to force a troop withdrawal by cutting military spending, but said they want to maintain the claim that they support the troops but don’t support the war.

“They’ve forgotten how much these people are bent on destroying the United States,” Foxx said. “The federal government was formed for the defense of this nation. I want us to maintain our freedom and want other countries to become free.”

Foxx said Republicans had already supported applying more pressure to the Iraqi government to take on more responsibility against militants and terrorists. She said even though the bulk of troops would be withdrawn sooner or later, she pointed out that U.S. troops were still in countries that were the sites of wars 50 and 60 years ago.

Foxx said it was difficult to predict the future course of the war and any possible withdrawals, adding that such decisions should be made by generals involved in planning.

“Has there ever been another war where we said, ‘If we haven’t won by such-and-such a date, we’ll pull out?’”

Foxx said despite the mounting casualties, generals deserved to make decisions based on the current situation and not be bound by politicized decisions.

“I grieve for each and every person who dies,” Foxx said. “We’re fortunate to have an all-volunteer army. Every soldier there has volunteered.”

Democratic presidential candidates have been using public opinion against the war to criticize Bush and the Republicans, saying the country has lost the respect of other nations.

Foxx said, “Something lost in all this is this is a war for our freedom. Terrorism is only one aspect of this. The Democrats have never taken it seriously. They’ve forgotten 9/11.”