President Bush Indicates Willingness To Work With Democrats On Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush said Monday he wants to work with Democrats on compromise legislation to fund the Iraq war even though he'll veto a funding bill that also sets a timetable for a U.S.

Monday, April 30th 2007, 1:19 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush said Monday he wants to work with Democrats on compromise legislation to fund the Iraq war even though he'll veto a funding bill that also sets a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

``There are a lot of Democrats who understand we need to get the money to the troops,'' Bush said.

The president said he had sent a clear signal that he would veto the measure, which calls for troops to begin being pulled out in October.

The legislation ``imposes the judgments of people here in Washington on military commanders and diplomats,'' he said. ``So I will veto the bill.''

Bush said he opposed the bill sent to him by the Democratic-run Congress because it sets ``artificial timetables for withdrawal,'' seeks to second guess commanders on the ground, and contains billions of dollars in wasteful spending not related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On another subject, Bush said that he wanted Paul Wolfowitz to remain as president of the World Bank.

``He ought to stay,'' Bush said. Wolfowitz is being investigated for helping to arrange a contract to give a big salary increase to his female companion.

Bush cited Wolfowitz's work in championing programs to end poverty throughout the world.

On another matter, Bush said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice might meet with Iranian diplomats later this week on the sidelines of a meeting in Egypt on Iraq.

``Should the foreign minister of Iran bump into Condi Rice, she will not be rude. She is not a rude person,'' Bush said.

He called Iran ``a significant threat to world peace today and in the future'' because of its nuclear program.

He said that the United States and the European Union are ``united in sending this very clear message'' to Iran. He said the U.S. and European leaders were together in backing enforcement of U.N. resolutions on Iran to allow inspections of nuclear facilities.

Bush spoke at a Rose Garden news conference after meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel , the president of the European Union.