President George W. Bush and Democrats in charge of Congress clashed again today over funding for the Iraq war with no end likely soon to a defining battle over how long American forces will stay.
At a White House Rose Garden news conference, Mr Bush skewered Democrats for going on a spring recess without approving $100 billion for US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a day ahead of leaving on his own Easter vacation in Texas.
He repeated what has been a near-daily vow to veto legislation approved last month by narrow margins in the Senate and the House of Representatives that would impose a troop withdrawal timetable.
If he vetoes the legislation, lawmakers would have to begin anew on a funding bill.
"Democrat leaders in Congress seem more interested in fighting political battles in Washington than providing our troops what they need to fight the battles in Iraq," Mr Bush said.
Both sides believe they have the moral high ground. White House officials believe Americans will side with Mr Bush and see Democrats as jeopardizing US troops, while Democrats believe they will be viewed as saving the United States from an even worse outcome in Iraq.
Mr Bush has the difficult task of trying to convince Americans to stick with him yet again in a four-year-old war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,200 US troops.
Democrats were elected to control of Congress last November based on their opposition to the Iraq war, and public opinion polls back their position.