House Leaders Reach Iraq War Funding Deal Without Deadline For Withdrawal

New York Times:

House leaders struck a bipartisan deal on Wednesday night on a major spending measure that would provide money for the war in Iraq through the end of the Bush administration, establish a significant new education benefit for veterans, and meet Democratic demands for added unemployment benefits.

The bill, which could be voted on as early as Thursday in the House, would effectively bring to a close the two-year battle between President Bush and Congressional Democrats over war financing by allocating about $163 billion for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year without imposing conditions like a withdrawal deadline.

White House officials took part in the talks that produced the agreement, suggesting the president was willing to sign the emerging legislation.

"I think we have an agreement," said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, who worked out the final deal in talks with Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader, as well as senior members of both parties from the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[eahce]

Obama is no different, you will see, time will tell. Ralph Nader was right, there is no two party system. Eisenhower did warn us of the milatary industrial complex, they are the ones who call the shots.

[WorkingClass]

"The bill, would effectively bring to a close the two-year battle between President Bush and Congressional Democrats over war financing"­..........­..

Bush says "I need forty bazillion dollars to continue my war on freedom"
The Democrats say "Ok".
You call that a battle?

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Sell-outs and traitors to OUR Constitution, on BOTH sides of the isle, still accepting lobbyists bribes to 'do the WRONG thing'. The fact they don't even question the fascist no-bid Iraqi oil contracts, and continue funding this CRIME, proves how many in CONgress have sold their soul to energy consortiums and the preznutz' occupation / mass murder for oil.

History throughout the world, and even here, WILL remember this as one of the most criminal and shameful things ANY country has ever done.

[wolf58]

Washington makes me sick, Republicans blowing anything rich and Democrats to spinless to make a stand for the right thing. They all can go to hell, get rid of them all and start over.

[scooperss]

hoyer is a democrat?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. phone companies would be shielded from potentially billions of dollars in lawsuits under an anti-terror spy measure that appears headed toward approval, congressional sources said on Wednesday.

House of Representatives Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer, a lead negotiator on the bill, said, "We're very close to having an agreement," and a House vote could come as early as Friday.

[jonboy3000]

Why is this so difficult for the Democrats? Play hardball with the republicans. If there is no bill, there is no funding and the troops come home. Simple as that. The Iraqi government and people don't want us there. Why are we willing to sacrifice so many troops for a lost cause. It's Viet Nam all over again. Thousand of young kids were needlessly killed. I'm getting pretty cynical about this because I really feel the Democrats want this as a campaign issue so they can take the majority. All they care about is power while our kids are being killed or maimed. I know Obama will get us out of there but I just feel so bad for the kids who are stuck in that hell hole trying to survive on a daily basis. Probably an additional 500 will not return home and 10 times that many will be maimed. This doesn't even include the psychological burdens the ones that survive will have to carry. It's just so sad. Our folks over there deserve so much better.

[rextrek]

Yea just keep throwing BILLIONS down the Proverbial toilet that is Iraq.....M­eanwhile America sinks lower in our economy and moral compass around the world....a­t 47yrs old, I've never seen this country in such dire straits..b­oth politically,morally corrupt due to this war,econom­ically...e­tc etc.......

[truthoutdotduh]

I saw a guy in town the other day wearing a tee shirt that said: 'I used to care.' And under that in smaller print, it said: 'And now I take meds for that.'

Bottom line is America IS screwed beyond any hope at all. If you are smart, you will get out asap. There IS no other solution with the exception of a violent revolution. And I hardly think we would be up for that.

See ya in Costa Rica . . . adios amigos!

[jwws007]

now that obama has flip flopped on trade, and the democrats have funded the war, who cares

[yappnmutt]

and millions of americans think obama will change everything. are blue staters the new red staters?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

At a pace of roughly 3 dead American servicemen and women per day, Pelosi has just struck a deal trading about 500 reasonably forecastable service peoples' lives for.... education and unemployment benefits they won't live to see.

Your doin a heckuva job, Nancy.

Having principles is off the table.

[vlebje]

Pelosi and Reid are the top two most ineffective legislative leaders the Dems have ever had. Both need to go, and that right soon.

[scooperss]

They're only ineffective if they're supposed to be doing the people's bidding!

[esquire07]

Lol... more dead troops for oil profits.

[UNR]

Obama really needs to get in the ear of the democratic house leadership and STOP nonsense like this from happening. It's disgraceful. We would have pushed Webbs GI bill through after November as well as the unemployment benefits. Show a little bit of back bone, for once!

[bluesnot]

He isn't president yet.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Ending the occupation is, clearly, "off the table."

As the Iraqis continue to lie down, the administration will continue to lie.

BTW, if Maliki weren't such a Bush toadie, dontcha think the Iraqis would have asked us to leave YEARS ago?

[ribe8g]

Pathetic. I support none of it. I only live here. Take your war and troooops and
go to hell.