Congress OKs New Iraq Bill

Sans timetable, Bush expected to sign; Clinton and Obama say nay

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted May 25, 2007 5:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Congress approved $95 billion to pay for the war in Iraq—without a timetable for troop withdrawal. The bill, which Bush says he'll sign, passed both houses last night, ending a long and bitter struggle between Democrats and a veto-ready White House over bringing the troops home. Aspiring presidents Clinton and Obama voted against the bill.

In exchange for the dropped timetable, the White House approved a $17 billion rider for unrelated domestic programs, and a hike in the minimum wage. Majority leader Harry Reid warned that the war over the war wasn't over: "Senate Democrats will not stop our efforts to change the course of this war until we get a new president."

' (Associated Press)

A U.S. marine observe children play in Ramadi, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, April 8, 2007. U.S. forces have tried just about everything to quell the Sunni insurgency in the... (Associated Press)

' (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Dems Ditch Iraq Timeline Demand

New war spending bill won't include much-ballyhooed provision

(NEWSER) - Democratic leaders have quietly abandoned a cornerstone of their Iraq war platform: a timeline for withdrawal. Racing to pass a spending bill before the Memorial Day recess, they don't have the votes to pass a timeline, the LA Times reports, and they risk fallout for failing to fund troops in the field if they can’t reach an agreement this week. More»

Dems Unite to Slam Iraq In First Debate

Candidates united to attack Bush for continuation of unpopular war

(NEWSER) - Eight Democrats butted heads last night in the first '08 debate, not so much with each other but with the president over the war in Iraq. Candidates at South Carolina State University competed at panning the war for making the country less safe and Bush for ignoring the voters' will for a prompt exit. More»

Reid Declares War Is Lost

Rhetorical bombshell fires up pundits, but will policy consequences follow?

(NEWSER) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has upped the ante in the Dems' rhetoric on Iraq, saying the U.S. has "lost" in Iraq, and warning that, "the surge is not accomplishing anything." But he stopped short of threatening to pull funding from the war, the biggest gun in his policy arsenal. More»

Obama: 'Our War in Iraq Ends This Month'

President promises US will still have 'strong presence'

(NEWSER) - As the last 6,000 American troops prepare to leave Iraq by Dec. 31, President Obama today heralded the end of the divisive war—but issued a warning to the country's neighbors: The US will continue to have a "strong presence in the Middle East." He added, in a speech made after meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki this morning, that "the United States will never waiver in the defense of our allies, our partners, and our interests." More»

McCain Blasts Dems on Iraq

Presumptive GOP nominee says departure calls are 'imprudent and dangerous'

(NEWSER) - John McCain slammed his Democratic presidential rivals today over their calls for an Iraq troop withdrawal, calling the notion “the height of irresponsibility.” Speaking to veterans in Kansas City, McCain said a quick departure would be “imprudent and dangerous." The remarks foreshadowed political heat over this week's visit to Capitol Hill by Gen. David Petraeus, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Congress OKs New Iraq Bill

Sans timetable, Bush expected to sign; Clinton and Obama say nay

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Opposition to War

Iraq • Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Harry Reid • Senate Democrats • Iraq pullout • Iraq appropriations • war • Iraq war

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Dems Ditch Iraq Timeline Demand

New war spending bill won't include much-ballyhooed provision

Dems Unite to Slam Iraq In First Debate

Candidates united to attack Bush for continuation of unpopular war

Reid Declares War Is Lost

Rhetorical bombshell fires up pundits, but will policy consequences follow?

Obama: 'Our War in Iraq Ends This Month'

President promises US will still have 'strong presence'

McCain Blasts Dems on Iraq

Presumptive GOP nominee says departure calls are 'imprudent and dangerous'

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Congress OKs New Iraq Bill

Sans timetable, Bush expected to sign; Clinton and Obama say nay

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Opposition to War

Iraq • Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • Harry Reid • Senate Democrats • Iraq pullout • Iraq appropriations • war • Iraq war

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Dems Ditch Iraq Timeline Demand

New war spending bill won't include much-ballyhooed provision

Dems Unite to Slam Iraq In First Debate

Candidates united to attack Bush for continuation of unpopular war

Reid Declares War Is Lost

Rhetorical bombshell fires up pundits, but will policy consequences follow?

Obama: 'Our War in Iraq Ends This Month'

President promises US will still have 'strong presence'

McCain Blasts Dems on Iraq

Presumptive GOP nominee says departure calls are 'imprudent and dangerous'

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?