Bill Would Restrict Iraq Rebuilding

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Bill Would Restrict Iraq Rebuilding
May 07, 2008
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A House bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year would press Baghdad to match every dollar the U.S. spends on reconstruction projects worth more than $750,000, as well as training and equipping its security forces, according to Democratic aides.

The provision is part of the latest push by Democrats and many Republicans to try to get Iraq to spend more of its own money. With the country's oil production on the rise and record-high fuel prices, Iraq is looking toward a massive budget surplus this year while the U.S. is grappling with a spending deficit.

The plan also would give anti-war lawmakers a vote on nonbinding language setting the goal of withdrawing most combat troops by December 2009. This provision is expected to fail in the Senate and be stripped from a final bill to be approved by the House this spring.

President Bush has requested $102 billion to pay for combat operations in the two wars through September.

The Pentagon says it needs the money by Memorial Day, or else it would have to drain funds from elsewhere within its budget to cover combat costs. In information provided to lawmakers Tuesday, the military said the Army will run out of money by late July if Congress does not act - something Democrats say won't happen.


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