WASHINGTON, March 25: US Vice President Dick Cheney has vowed that the administration would not allow an early withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, despite efforts by Congress to impose a deadline on US combat operations there.

Late on Saturday, Cheney defied a historic vote in the House of Representatives, which called for a pullout of US combat troops from Iraq by Aug 31, 2008 -- regardless of whether Iraqi security forces are ready to take over from them.

“A sudden withdrawal of our coalition would dissipate much of the effort that has gone into fighting the global war on terror, and result in chaos and mounting danger,” the vice president declared. “And for the sake of our own security, we will not stand by and let it happen.” President George W. Bush has vowed to veto the measure. But the deadline, which was approved in the House on Friday, is attached to the 124 billion in emergency funding he is seeking for the war, raising questions about whether a veto could shut down military operations.

Lacking line-item veto power, Bush can reject bills only in their entirety.

In light of this circumstance, the president acknowledged earlier on Saturday that if the bill that finances the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is not passed by April 15, the military “will face significant disruptions.” On Sunday, Republican Senator Chuck Hagel vowed to team up with a Democratic colleague to introduce binding legislation that imposes conditions on Iraq's stability and ratchet up pressure on the White House.

“Senator Jim Webb and I are going to introduce some legislation that will in fact have the force of law in the future involvement of our military and our country, and what conditions that future will be,” said Hagel.

“It will be binding legislation, and it will be focused on deployment, redeployment, training, equipment.” Cheney, for his part, used his appearance before the Republican Jewish Coalition in Manalaplan, Florida, to reassure allies that the current political struggle will not result in a precipitous US withdrawal from Iraq.

He did not explain what steps the administration could take if the supplemental bill dies in partisan bickering. But he expressed confidence in the final outcome, stating “We will complete the mission, and we will prevail.” Quoting extensively from Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the vice president reiterated his conviction that an early withdrawal from Iraq would be “a complete validation of the Al Qaeda strategy.” And he painted a dire picture of the Muslim world descending into chaos and tyranny, if radical Islamists were allowed to prevail.

“Having tasted victory in Iraq, jihadists would look for new missions,” he predicted. “Many would head for Afghanistan and fight alongside the Taliban.

Others would set out for capitals across the Middle East, spreading more sorrow and discord as they eliminate dissenters and work to undermine moderate governments.” The speech marked a ratcheting up of the tense standoff between the White House and Democratic-controlled Congress, which is under heavy pressure from constituents to find a way to wrap up the war, now in its fifth year, that most Americans now believe was a mistake.

But the Democrats made clear they have no intention of backing down. In a radio address on Saturday, Representative Paul Hodes said the era of blank checks issued by Congress to the president was over and urged Bush to respond “by listening to the American people.” Meanwhile, a leading US foreign policy expert, former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, argued that the administration was promoting “a culture of fear” for political and financial gain.

He noted that in 2003, Congress identified 160 sites as potential terrorism targets that should be fortified at the government's expense. By 2005, the list had grown to 77,769.

Now, he said, the database lists some 300,000 possible targets, which include not only the Sears Tower in Chicago, but also the Illinois Apple and Pork Festival.—AFP