Congress Authorizes War Funds
I have said repeatedly for weeks that in the end President Bush would get his Iraq war funding with no strings attached. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened today.
The Democratic-led Congress authorized more Iraq war spending on Friday, sending President George W. Bush a defense bill requiring no change in strategy, which makes sense considering the current strategy is working.
With the situation in Iraq improving on a daily basis, the Democrats simply don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to Iraq. They continue to be in denial about the progress there, and simply look foolish for trying to pull troops out at the first sign of progress.
The defense policy bill, approved 90-3 by the U.S. Senate, also expanded the size of the U.S. Army and set conditions on the Bush administration’s plan to build a missile defense system in Europe.
The measure already had passed the House of Representatives and now goes to Bush, who is expected to sign it into law. It authorizes Pentagon programs expected to cost $506.9 billion during fiscal 2008, which began in October.
The bill authorized another $189.4 billion for the Iraq and Afghan wars, for which Congress has already approved some $600 billion.
The defense policy legislation expands the Army by 13,000 soldiers to 525,400 in 2008. It also provides 25,000 more U.S. immigrant visas over five years for Iraqis who worked for the United States and whose lives are now in danger.
The bill also includes a 3.5 percent pay raise for the military. In response to complaints, it enhances veterans’ health care, expanding treatment for brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, and assuring speedy mental health evaluations.
-Chris Jones
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