“If the President vetoes the supplemental appropriations bill and continues to resist changing course in Iraq, I will work to ensure this legislation receives a vote in the Senate in the next work period,” Reid stated.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), one of the war’s most vocal critics, introduced the legislation, which would cut funding for the war but would still permit money appropriated for “targeted” and “limited” campaigns against al Qaeda, protecting U.S. workers and training Iraqi forces.

“I am delighted to be working with the majority leader to bring our involvement in the Iraq war to an end,” Feingold said. “Congress has a responsibility to end a war that is opposed by the American people and is undermining our national security. By ending funding for the president’s failed Iraq policy, our bill requires the president to safely redeploy our troops from Iraq.”

The White House responded that those supporting such legislation “clearly do not understand” the effects of mandating a withdrawal from Iraq.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the Democrats in Congress are “shifting sands” on their stances on Iraq “so fast it’s like a sandstorm.”

“Just yesterday, a Democratic leader described the debate in Congress as a political dance, while another said the goal was not great legislation, but rounding up votes and sending an anti-war message,” Perino said.

Last week, the Senate passed an emergency supplemental bill requiring the president to begin withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq within 120 days of the measure’s enactment. President Bush said he would veto the bill, or any other that attaches strings to the funding of the war.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said an arbitrary withdrawal date emboldens terrorists who “have already marked it on their calendars.”

“Announcing a surrender date to al Qaeda is a dangerous military policy, cedes the initiative to the enemy, and directly contradicts the 96 senators who just last month voted against funding cuts for troops in the field,” McConnell said.