Current Event

Current Event

NEWS:

In Washington the House voted to give Bush $92 billion more for Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf Coast hurricane relief. Both Republicans and Democrats joined to pass the measure on a 348-71 vote. They are ravenous to demonstrate all the support for the troops and the hurricane reconstruction. It was said that "concerns about the deficit and spending are overridden by the urgent issues before us-supporting our troops and helping the hurricane victims" said by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. Nineteen Republicans and 52 Democrats voted against this measure. Although the bulk of the bill would pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan it would boost to nearly $400 billion for the total spent on the conflicts and operations against terrorism since September 11, 2001 attacks. This bill contains $19.2 billion for cleaning up and rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Katrina. That would now bring the total amount spent on Katrina to $100 billion. Bush said, "This bill will give our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan tools they need to prevail in the war on terror." It was a weak time for lawmakers to take up the bill mainly for Republicans who control the White House and both houses of Congress. With Bush's popularity at a low point, the federal debt continues to rise and public support for the Bush administration's Iraq policies is declining as violence threatens our to push our country into a civil war. The president would get most of what he wanted. A lot of the new war money would pay for operations and maintenance costs, equipment replacement and personnel expenses. With a total of $4.8 billion would go for training and equipping Iraqi and Afghan security forces. The administration says that large numbers of U.S. troops can begin returning home once the Iraqi security forces are able to safeguard their country. Another $2 billion would go for the Pentagon to develop technology to detect and destroy bombs. These bombs are the leading killer of U.S. troops. $9.6 billion would go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for removing debris, reimbursing state and local governments