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Senate OKs $106B for Wars

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2009 5:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Senate today overwhelmingly passed a bill authorizing $106 billion to fund the nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Hill reports. It now goes to President Obama for his expected signature. The vote had been delayed by wrangling over how to keep detainee abuse photos under wraps. Yesterday, the Senate passed a stand-alone law on the matter, and Obama assured senators he would issue an executive order if necessary.

The supplemental bill includes add-ons above and beyond the $80 billion required for the military. One of the more contentious is $5 billion for the IMF, which the GOP said amounts to “a global bailout on the backs of US troops.” Harry Reid equated Republican reticence with not supporting the troops, which a GOP aide denounced as "ridiculous rhetoric."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

US soldiers salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. (AP Photo)

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This bill also contains our commitment to strengthening our military, rebuilding our relationships with key allies around the world and reducing key security threats.
- Harry Reid

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

onebadc20

Jun 19, 2009 12:31 PM CDT

If nothing would have been done about Iraq or terrorism, there is a good chance that there wouldn't be any Americans to give all that money to. You all want to bash on the military spending, but those boys are what keeps our homeland safe from invasion. If we done nothing after 911, more attacks would have followed shortly after.

JonmarkP

Jun 19, 2009 5:01 AM CDT

I'm weary of paying through the nose to be protected from imaginary threats. The treasury is being looted to pad the pockets of war profiteers, oil companies, big campaign contributors and other elites. We are thousands of times more apt to die at the hands of relatives, friends or by our own hand than by terrorists. We are thousands of times more apt to die from untreated illness, drunk drivers, pollution or unsafe roads and bridges. Statistically, we're more apt to die in a freaking' vending machine accident than we are from terrorism. So ENOUGH with this shit, already. Start spending our tax money on the things we need, for a change.

Doctor-Zaius

Jun 19, 2009 2:37 AM CDT

The = then

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Senate Democrats • US military • Senate Republicans • IMF • detainee • Iraq war • Afghanistan war • US Senate • supplemental funding • torture photos • military funding

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