Senate votes to block Iraq war money

[ProSense]

Senate votes to block Iraq war money

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
53 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Friday blocked a Republican proposal to pay $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan without strings attached.

The 53-45 vote was 15 votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

The measure was aimed at countering Democratic legislation that also would bankroll the operations, but would additionally require that troops start coming home in 30 days.

The Democratic bill, passed by the House on Wednesday, set a goal of ending combat by December 2008.

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the only way to get troops the money was to approve the restrictions outlined by Democrats.

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Senate blocks Iraq war money (Dem bill)

US should change tack with Iraq Shiites: think-tank

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The US should use its privileged ties with Iraq's most powerful Shiite movement, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), to moderate the activities of its militia, the International Crisis Group said.

In its latest report released on Thursday, the Brussels-based think-tank said that the rivalry between the SIIC and the movement of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr "will help determine the country's future."

The US has "fully backed" the SIIC in its rivalry with Sadr's militia, the Mahdi Army, the report said, warning however, "this is a dangerous policy that will further deepen intra-Shiite divisions and ignores the Sadrists' stronger mass base."

Headed by Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the SIIC is one of the pillars of the coalition government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. It has a militia arm, known as the Badr Organization, many of whose members were trained in Iran and who have since been integrated into Iraq's security forces.

The SIIC is engaged in a bitter struggle for control of Iraq's majority Shiite community with Sadr's thousands-strong Mahdi Army militia.

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Petraeus adviser: Violence reduction due to ‘luck.’

[sampsonblk]

1. What do you think of the timing?

I am very surprised.

[NightWatcher]

2. will this stand up, or will it be another toothless vote.

I really hope that they can control the pres and end the war, but I grow wary of being let down again.

[sampsonblk]

3. Two things to look out for: the heat and the pragmatists

The GOP will try to create a big backlash. It doesn't really matter. But if Reid and Pelosi can't stand the heat, we'll know within days.

Then there's the Rahm side of the party that hates to rock the boat unless it gains us votes. The same ones who brought us the "we don't have enough votes" lie. They will insist on a quick cave-in.

[robertsams]

4. good

Thank God,

well it's about damn time.!