The Washington Times reports "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, is courting Republican support for compromise war-funding legislation to follow Mr. Bush's promised veto this week of a $124 billion bill that would start a pullout as soon as July. Senior Democratic aides say that although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not similarly talking to Republicans about a post-veto agreement, she privately acknowledges that eventually the "money will get to the troops without timetables.""

World Affairs Brief reports "Democratic House and Senate conferees watered down the fixed withdrawal timetable which is part of the Iraq spending bill to avoid a promised veto. Actually, the bill is a total sellout. There are fine-print exceptions listed in the bill's withdrawal language which actually allow the Pentagon to increase troops if they will be used to fight al-qaeda, protect American troops, protect American civilians (contractors) or train Iraqi soldiers. That's a recipe for expansion under almost any pretext! The administration has a habit of resurrecting the threat of al-Qaeda whenever convenient."