Bittersweet: House Passes Bill Including Withdrawal Timeline, Bush Says He'll Veto

The House of Representatives passed an Iraq Spending Bill today that provides $124 billion in funding for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and establishes a troop withdrawal timeline with September 2008 at the latest. It just passed at 218 - 212, not enough to withstand a presidential veto.

Also tacked onto the bill is $25 million for spinach growers in California that were hurt by the E. coli outbreak last year along with funding for other such agricultural projects. Republicans aren't happy about this - or the bill in general of course. God forbid we should help out some farmers instead of corporations... Some of them are calling the bill a victory for the terrorists, asserting that "Al Qaeda is celebrating in their caves and huts." If Al Qaeda is celebrating, it's because Bush will veto this bill, and they will continue to have a nearby supply of American lives to endanger.

President Bush, likewise, came out against the Democrats with such phrases as:

responsibility to support our troops in the war on terror

the house of representatives abdicated its responsibility by passing a bill that has no chance of becoming a law (because he'll veto it...)

an act of political theatre

rigid restrictions that would require an army of lawyers to interpret

billions for pet projects

undermine the troops

score political points

I suppose this will become the norm now that Congress is no longer populated with yes-men. According to The Nation, the Senate is considering its own bill with a tougher withdrawal timeline. More articles here and here.