US House leaders agree to fund Iraq war without timetables

The House is expected to approve a measure Thursday that fully funds the president's $96 billion request but does not set a deadline for troop withdrawal.

By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the May 24, 2007 edition

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Washington - The 108-day standoff between Congress and President Bush over war funding is poised to come to an end.

A measure expected to be approved by the House Thursday fully funds the president's $96 billion request for fiscal year 2007, with new reporting requirements, but not the deadline for withdrawal of US forces that Mr. Bush says he would veto.

A second measure adds about $20 billion in domestic spending to the war-funding package. It includes money for veterans' healthcare, children's healthcare, Katrina recovery, and a minimum wage increase.

It will mean that House Democratic leaders will have met their own Memorial Day deadline for funding the troops, without requiring their members to take a high-profile vote on the combined war-funding package.

"It's a brilliant way to go forward," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after a meeting with the House Democratic caucus to explain the bill on Tuesday.

At the briefing on his plan, Rep. David Obey (D) of Wisconsin, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said, "That is the fastest way that we know of to resolve the difference and to still recognize the right of people in the House to exercise their opinion and vote any way they choose on both packages."

Democrats say they expect that the war-funding piece of the package will pass with Republican votes.

But the move set off a firestorm within the Democrats' antiwar base.

"It's a complete capitulation to a failed president and a failed policy," says Tom Andrews, national director of Win Without War.

Other antiwar groups, such as MoveOn.org, say they are considering "all options" against Democrats who vote "a blank check for an endless war," including advertising and recruiting primary challengers in key districts.

"With the kind of mandate that the Democrats have from the public, there shouldn't be a cent more given to this war without timetables or teeth to end it," says Eli Pariser, the executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

"And we'll work hard so that Republicans who refuse to listen to the country on Iraq face a great political backlash in their home districts," he adds.

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