Editorial: A new day for Iraq funding

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007 | 7:24 a.m.

The notion held by President Bush that Congress must play dead while he indebts future generations to pay for his war in Iraq may, at long last, be in for a strong challenge.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday that Bush's latest demand to borrow more billions for Iraq will not be met as easily as were past demands.

Bush last month insisted that Congress quickly approve an additional $196 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with most of the money planned for Iraq.

Before this year, with Congress in the hands of Republicans, Bush's Iraq demands were quickly met. In May of this year, with Democrats in control, a war-funding demand by the president to borrow an additional $95 billion was approved, but not so easily. Bush first had to veto a bill that made some demands of him, too, such as beginning a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq.

This week the House and the Senate plan to vote on a bill authorizing $50 billion for Iraq - providing, once again, that Bush begins withdrawing troops immediately and that he sets a goal of leaving Iraq entirely by the end of next year.

On Tuesday, Reid said congressional Democrats will not capitulate this time. When asked what will happen if Bush again uses his veto to thwart accountability, Reid said, "Then the president will not get his $50 billion."

The Associated Press reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., made a similar statement last week during a closed-door session.

Congressional Republicans could use procedural tactics to kill the bill, but that would almost guarantee another bill would not be drafted until next year. If a new bill is not forthcoming by February, the Pentagon would - horrors! - actually have to start paying for Iraq out of its regular $471 billion budget Congress approved last week instead of with borrowed money.

We support the stand by Reid and Pelosi. It is time that Bush began responding to the will of the American people, as represented by Congress.

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