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Congress Passes New Iraq War Funds

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Reid and the Democrats gave the White House everything it wanted and more.(Photo: Brendan Smialowski / NYT)

    Washington - The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved $161.8 billion in new funds to continue fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the next year, without timetables for withdrawing combat troops.

    The House of Representatives passed an identical bill last week. President George W. Bush is expected to promptly sign the measure into law once he receives it from Congress.

    The Senate's 92-6 vote to pass the war-funding bill marked a victory for Bush, who has vigorously opposed any move by Congress to impose timetables for ending the Iraq war, now in its sixth year.

    Democrats, who are the majority party in Congress, repeatedly had tried to set such dates, most recently with a House vote in May calling for troop withdrawals to be completed by December 31, 2009.

    The new war money could last through mid-2009, well past Bush's departure from office on January 20.

    With this legislation, Democrats can claim victory in winning passage of a significant expansion of veterans' education benefits and domestic unemployment benefits.

    The new money for combat in Iraq and Afghanistan puts the war tab since late 2001 at more than $800 billion, with most of that money going to Iraq.

    Congress did attach two conditions on the funds, related to the war in Iraq. It prohibited the construction of permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq and required Baghdad to match, dollar-for-dollar, U.S. reconstruction aid.

    Now that Congress has passed the final war-funding bill of Bush's presidency, debate of the Iraq war and how to end it moves to the presidential campaigns being waged by Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

    Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans get a huge new benefit with this legislation: A significant expansion of college tuition payments by the government at a cost of about $63 billion over 11 years.

    --------

    (Editing by Eric Walsh)


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Well Senator Reid and

Well Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi sure are doing what they can to elect a Democratic President, or not. It's not as if Obama has other monumental challenges to winning the White House without also having to frame how to end the occupation of Iraq. And all because Reid and Pelosi would not use their own authority to do ANYTHING about ending it themselves. Sorry, suggesting strongly that we should redeploy the troops doesn't count. But nevertheless it's "victory" for the dems on dimestic issues. Free education for the troops, and unemployment benefits as well. Talk about a stupid strategy where the second worst playing reason to spend money (unemployment benefits) is used to defend abdication of responsibility on the worst reason to spend money (war and war profiteering). But one thing I know: it can always get worse.

What a bunch of spineless

What a bunch of spineless lap dogs. THIS is one of many reasons I say that BOTH parties are beholden to the super rich and to corporations. It's time to vote them ALL out of office and start over.

Why did we vote for

Why did we vote for Democratic control of both House and Senate? Where can I send my complaints to Pelosi and Reid? When will they and fellow Democrats get a backbone?

Those treasonous cowards in

Those treasonous cowards in the Senate who voted for this funding. May they rot in hell.

"Congress did attach two

"Congress did attach two conditions on the funds, related to the war in Iraq. It prohibited the construction of permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq and required Baghdad to match, dollar-for-dollar, U.S. reconstruction aid." Anyone want to guess what Bush's inevitable signing statement is going to say about those parts of the bill?

The spineless Dems cave yet

The spineless Dems cave yet again. Surprising no one. The RepublCrat Party is again the winner, protecting their mutual corporate, MIC and other lobbying interests.

The most destructive

The most destructive administration in the history of the United States of America is being aided in its continuation of failed policies by the most frightened, inept, insecure and incapable Democratic house and senate . Pelosi has shown nothing but gross ineptitude as the house majority leader and reid is getting stumpded by the republicans every time he opens his mouth. This despite being the majority party in both houses of congress. They did not have the guts and probably lacked the ability to prevent the investigation and impeachment of Clinton, as stupid as he was, and gthey do not have the guts, backbone, smarts and resolve to stop this administration from continuing to screw the American people. Now they claim a victory by giving Bush whatever he wants knowing full well that this terrible president will simply refuse to acknowledge any part of this bill he does not want. The Democrats will not do anything about that because they have shown that they are not capable of doing such...and these are the people whom we want to replace Bush and his horde? If there is a god he or she must be laughing at us right now and shaking his or head in amazement.

...and you think an Obama

...and you think an Obama presidency is going to change this? HA! Vote Green, Vote Independent, vote for anything that isn't remotely close to the one/two punch in American guts call (R) and (D)!

What I'm surprised about is

What I'm surprised about is that any one else is surprised the vote went the way it did. We are not leaving Iraq, least wise until all the oil is gone. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197 Wake up. You do not own your goverment and your politican is no more than a way to let you think you have a voice.

Fill in the blank: The "Do

Fill in the blank: The "Do Nothing ______ Congress/Senate" ________. Prior to last week's FISA gift to the telecom industry, and now the continued funding of this illegal war, I used to offer half-hearted arguments to Republicans about how the Democrats didn't have enough votes to avoid a veto, blah, blah, blah. How many times do Pelosi & Reid have to lead a vote before I join the chorus of Republicans in calling them do-nothings?! They ARE do nothings for us, the citizens. For whatever political or financial reasons they influence voting in the house and senate, the votes they cast show how deep in the pockets of the military-industrial complex they are. Eisenhower warned us against this decades ago. We have arrived.

What exactly are the

What exactly are the democrats afraid of? It makes so sense for them to take this cowardly stance. They could at least learn how to stall for time but not going with the status quo.

I have to wonder, if my boss

I have to wonder, if my boss (Bush) had a private Army (mercenaries) that were paid for by our taxes, that he can call upon anytime for any reason...if I wouldn't wait it out and try and see the bigger picture. I don't like anything that's coming down-or- how Pelosi and Reid are constantly capitulating (cowering)....toward him. Actually, since I' not in any power or control and connot count on my elected allies, I have at this time no option except to just wait it out! I hate it but absolute anaracy is our olny option and with no gas, no jobs, little food and children to raise, etc...(BlackWater and others will wipe us out if we try-I fear they would also wipe out our ligitmate militaries) and then WHAT? Pandemonium! ....It is not as bad as it can get! And maybe by being patient, we can after all put Bush and the other traitors before a world tribunal and eventually "hold them accountable!" . They have looted the world , shown greed and killed/murdered millions and all for the sake of money and power. That in itself will not sustain them! We still have time and it is on our side!

Senator Obama is really

Senator Obama is really getting the shaft by fellow Democrats in Congress (as well as the Republicans) when they choose to help pass the $162 billion funding for the war? Why aren't they helping Obama by assigning these funds to domestic concerns instead of approving more killing, torturing, losing more allies?weren't our Congressmen paying any attention to our 2006 vote to increase democrats in Congress to stop the war? Haven't they taken note of all the war protesting? aren't they aware that our country is bankrupt and we now owe China and Japan and Mexico (how many more countries) into the trillions of dollars? Aren't they outraged at the killing, torturing? Don't they realize they are stealing our tax dollars? and give us no say in how our taxes are being used? This IS all about oil, it is clear. Are my fellow Democrats also profiting from the war? Where are Pelosi and Reid coming from? We need answers. We need to help Obama win this election and make badly needed changes; what kind of a legacy we are leaving him? I am so outraged that our elected officials are not representing us as they swear they will.

It would have been good if

It would have been good if the article included which 6 Senators voted against the funding bill, and why. As others have posted, the Democrats have no backbone. What a disgusting bunch. I guess the Democrats thought the reason they were voted in as a majority during the last election, was to continue funding the war and give Bush more than he asked for as often as possible. Can anyone understand why we need a third party?

...And who, pray tell, were

...And who, pray tell, were the heroes of that moment ? Please tell the world !!

What is wrong with those

What is wrong with those people ? You would think that they would learn from past experience with Bush and Cheney ? They should listen to Feingold and Kuscinich!

Sellout Democrats are not

Sellout Democrats are not democratic, apparently, because they don't support or defend democracy. Sellout Republicans are not Republican because they won't support or defend the Republic. Topsy-turvy, what they support is a lawless State, a dictatorial politburo, a warmongering kleptocracy, destroying itself by undoing its just laws to substantiate unimaginable torture, murder and graft. Government agencies whether the Bush Administration, Democrats, or Republicans, express themselves more as a disease than a government.

WHO VOTED FOR THE

WHO VOTED FOR THE FUNDING? How they voted: Senate roll call on war bill By The Associated Press – 2 days ago The 92-6 roll call by which the Senate on Thursday passed a bill to pay for war operations, boost college aid for troops, extend unemployment benefits and provide emergency flood relief. On this vote, a "yes" vote was pass the bill and a "no" vote was a vote to reject it. Voting "yes" were 48 Democrats, 42 Republicans and 2 independents. Voting "no" were 0 Democrats and 6 Republicans. Please note all the Obama-lovers who think he has any plans to end the war: Voting "no" were 0 Democrats. Clinton and Obama are Democrats. Or did AP make all this up??????

We can always vote out of

We can always vote out of office those 92 legislators that funded an illegal, immoral and unnecessary war. I wish we would. That vote was unconscionable. Whenever you hear "the surge is working", your response should be: "the war is illegal!"

democrats are spineless and

democrats are spineless and without ethics which is a shame for those of us who hold the values the democrats only hold in theory but not in action and voting. it is a crime to be spending the billions we do in Iraq and at the same time continue to diminish the importance of financing good education for all.

Arrggh! Nothing more than

Arrggh! Nothing more than pirates, the lot of them! I say make them all walk the plank! Starting with Bush an Cheney!

Welcome to the Fascist

Welcome to the Fascist States of America. This vote and the House vote show us Congress' true colors. The "Republicrat" party of the Power Elite may or may not give the electorate a prettier face in Mr. Obama this time around, but nothing will change. All the while we will hear a lot of mousing around rhetoric about how democracy works, the system works, make your vote count, etc, etc. The only candidates who provided a real choice and elucidated a real position by the people for the people, were Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. They were cut off at the pass, laughed off the stage and marginalized. And Joe Sixpack never even noticed. Bush and Co continue to get every last dollar they ask for from Congress to hand to their friends through the Bank of Pentagon and other government vehicles designed to steal your tax money. Hail (Heil?) Bush & Co. The National Socialist Party of America continues its rise. It will only get worse for you and me. This country will go the way of all empires.

Here is the roll call vote

Here is the roll call vote for the bill H.R. 2642: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00162 NAYs ---6 Allard (R-CO) Coburn (R-OK) Craig (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Kyl (R-AZ) Voinovich (R-OH) Not Voting - 2 Kennedy (D-MA) McCain (R-AZ)

Appalled but not surprised:

Appalled but not surprised: I am sad to agree with a previous comment that we should not be surprised at the outcome of this vote. In one of his moves, Michael Moore bring up the fact that the Black Caucus in the House of Representatives could not get one single senator to sign onto their petition to bring about an investigation of the allegations that black voters had been deprived of their votes - and all that was needed for the investigation to go forward was one single senator's signature. No senator was *liberal* enough to sign on - not Kennedy, not Boxer...etc. At that point, it occurred to me, that Washington is like a family at Thanksgiving - they may be related to one person or another, and they may have different political views, but THEY ARE ALL EATING THE SAME TURKEY! (and it is us!)

As Gore Vidal says, "If it

As Gore Vidal says, "If it is so easily overthrown, I guess it wasn't much of a republic to begin with."

These did not vote for the

These did not vote for the amendment -- copy and paste from the Senate voting record: NAYs ---6 Allard (R-CO) Coburn (R-OK) Craig (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Kyl (R-AZ) Voinovich (R-OH) Not Voting - 2 Kennedy (D-MA) McCain (R-AZ) I am puzzled by the seven republicans. I am sure there are seven stories here. Does anyone have any insight??

Yep! Anyone who thinks that

Yep! Anyone who thinks that Obama is going to change things and is not a lackey for the corporate globalists needs to look at his support for the FISA bill giving telecoms amnesty for violating our Constitutional rights and his advocacy of continuing in Iraq and expanding the war in Afghanistan. Bush-lite. The Mainstream Media has guided the selection of candidates in this election cycle as never before, continually marginalizing and denigrating candidates with who advocate liberty and sanity and promoting those who would sacrifice our wealth, our liberty, and our lives on the altar of Empire. These people are arrogantly secure in their immunity from independent challenge, given the resources at stake and at their disposal.

Democrats Traitors.

Democrats Traitors.

The only choice left for

The only choice left for true defenders of The Constitution , for the patriots of this nation , for real progressives lies not with the democratic party but , instead , is The Green Party . Go to runcynthiarun.org and listen to the Dali Lama's take on it . The democrats , Obama included , are a farce . Wake up Amerika !

I agree that the Democrats

I agree that the Democrats are spineless and have said so for years. I am a democrat, in case one wonders. All of the above contributors are just as spineless. Not one left a legitimate name or an e-mail address. How do you expect to get anything done if you're all anonymous. To stand up for your beliefs, you must be identified and not afraid to commit yourselves. The above comments are all worthless. They demonstrate that not only our senators and our representatives are spineless, but so are the people who criticize them. I've sent many signed e-mails and some letters to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi telling them exactly what I think of them and written open letters (signed and with my e-mail address) to George W. Bush on my former website. Try signing your names to what you write. It's good for the soul. Otherwise your words are being wasted. Take note, Mark Ash. This site illustrates precisely what is wrong with our democracy. People are not willing to admit to their views. At least the "spineless Democrats" have their names affixed to their votes. So who's really spineless? Bernard J. Fine

Regarding Mr. Bernard Fine's

Regarding Mr. Bernard Fine's comment on anonymous comments: I agree in spirit but feel to equate such anonymousness with the contributions to the political problems that the spineless inactions of democrats make poorly articulates a valid concern. -Perhaps by oversimplification. Perhaps by almost necessary oversimplification. Indeed, I'd say it warrants an article all of it's own. I saw no email address for Mr. Fine and cannot contact myself directly. I have entered my own in the slot offered and will restate it here: johnhartfarwell@gmail.com Thanks to spam there is reason why many would not wish their email address publicized. With that said, I agree it is important now people speak up, disclose their views frankly and have their frank identities standing behind them. For evil to triumph, all that is required of good people is to do nothing. Is that how that old saying goes? It's quite true however it's put. Mr. Fine continues to correctly target this site in particular in this regard of anonymous commenting. I agree with Mr. Fine in spirit but hasten to add that perhaps the practical question has simply never been raised here before... I don't know what other sites are similar to this one. Often registration is required via email. On others, simply proving you're a human is all that is required. Others use Live ID or wordpress ID or Blogger ID or such. And so on. This one is indeed somewhat unusual, to me at least. While I wouldn't call other commenters spineless and simply would commend Mr. Fine on identifying himself, as I make a habit of doing as well, it might ill serve his valid concern by going over the top simplistically by castigating commenters as spineless, especially to the degree of equating such with the failures of the democrat politicians. With all this said, I thank Mr. Fine for raising all this and urge all to strongly consider the significance, import, and strength of identifying yourself when standing up and speaking out for what's right, for us all, for America and the world. Zuma (John Farwell of OKC, OK) http://zuma.vip.warped.com

I thank Mr. Farwell

I thank Mr. Farwell (preceding comments) for his comments and agree that I should have given my e-mail address. An oversight for which I apologize. If anyone is interested in what one can do to protest what goes on in government, one can go to my former website (now inactive, but maintained as an archive of a certain period in our history and one person's attempt to cope with it) at www.fiatlux.info. Some of the information therein is no longer available unfortunately because in order to save space in my computer, I simply referenced many articles instead of storing them. The website was "abandoned" for health reasons; sitting for days on end in front of a computer took its toll.

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