democrats as republican lite

I guess you have to go to the arabic press to get such stories

Friday 31 October 2003 6:58 AM GMT

Ignoring popular rising anti-occupation sentiment the US House of
Representatives has strongly endorsed a $87.5 billion package, mainly to

sustain the country���s military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Congress stood with the president and our soldiers tonight, sending
them the support they need to defend our nation and all those working to
advance freedom abroad," said Republican
Representative Roy Blunt. <?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns =
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The package, approved 298-121 on Friday morning, includes nearly $65
billion for military personnel and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,
and an additional $18.6 billion for
reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

The Senate is expected to follow suit quickly, sending President
Bush a package that closely mirrors his original request.

Final details

In a victory for the White House, lawmakers from both chambers
worked out the final details of the package on Wednesday night,
eliminating a Senate provision that would have
required that half of the money for Iraqi reconstruction and
security forces be given as loans instead of grants.

Democrats, while saying US troops must be given full financial
backing, used the debate to criticise the scope of the package and the
lack of congressional controls over how it will be spent.

"We are going to be held accountable for this vote for a long time,"
said David Obey, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.
Constituents "are going to be asking us about the loans, they are going
to be asking us whether
or not there is adequate protection for taxpayer money."

The White House had threatened to veto the bill if loans were
included. It said Iraq was already too deeply in debt and didn't have a
government authorised to take on new loans.

It also said that any loans secured by Iraq's oil revenues would
only support the arguments of war critics who said the US was after
Iraq's oil.

Supporters of the loans said US taxpayers are already paying plenty
for Iraq and Iraqis should have a bigger stake in their country's
reconstruction.

The House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, on Thursday said that
dropping the loans shows a "tin ear to what the American people are
saying."

The final version of the bill included $64.7 billion for military
operations, just under the $65.1 billion Bush had sought.

The $18.6 billion for reconstruction and security in Iraq was less
than $20.3 billion requested.

The bill would also provide $1.2 billion for Afghanistan, compared
with $800 million sought by Bush.
-- -Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
http://www.anaphoria.com
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