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September 5, 2008 8:25:56 PM CDT

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Pentagon, Congress Play Chicken Over Iraq Funds

Posted Nov 21, 07 9:00 AM CST in Politics,  US 

(Newser) – The Pentagon is threatening as many as 200,000 civilian layoffs by Christmas if war funding isn't approved by Congress, but Dems say there will be no funding until Bush sets withdrawal dates for Iraq. "Both sides are playing a big game of chicken here," a Congressional budget expert told the Washington Post.

The Pentagon claims that the military faces a funding crisis if no bill is approved. "It's an extraordinarily desperate situation," says a spokesman. But analysts say that the Pentagon actually has plenty of flexible cash on hand, and is playing Chicken Little to make the Democrat-controlled Congress look bad.

Source Washington Post

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The Pentagon has warned that thousands may be laid off if Congress delays war funding.   (Public Domain)
"It's an extraordinarily desperate situation," said Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, pictured here speaking to reporters. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)   (Associated Press)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks in this Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 photo. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)   (Associated Press)
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., speaks about Iraq during an address at the National Press Club, Monday, Sep. 17, 2007, in Washington. Murtha, a Vietnam veteran and war critic, said President Bush owes Americans...   (Associated Press)
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Iraq  • Iraq war  • Pentagon  • congressional Democrats


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