House passes Iraq & Afghanistan funding; WITH a deadline

The House has passed an appropriation bill that funds the troops, but requires the troops begin coming home by Oct. 1. The Senate will almost certainly pass an identical bill today.

Coming soon to a political theater near you: a Bush veto, with political props in the background (probably some hawkish veteran Repubes).

Well, you'll have your "clean bill," Mr. President - no pork, no b.s. The only thing that it does have is a timetable for withdraw, which a vast majority of Americans overwhelmingly support. The rest is up to you.

From The New York Times:

Only hours after Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander in Iraq, told lawmakers he needed more time to gauge the effectiveness of a troop buildup there, the House voted 218 to 208 to pass a measure that sought the removal of most combat forces by next spring. Mr. Bush has said unequivocally and repeatedly that he will veto it.

"Last fall, the American people voted for a new direction in Iraq," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California. "They made it clear that our troops must be given all they need to do their jobs, but that our troops must be brought home responsibly, safely, and soon."

Republicans accused Democrats of establishing a "date certain" for America's defeat in Iraq and capitulating to terrorism.

"This bill is nothing short of a cut and run in the fight against Al Qaeda," said Representative Harold Rogers, Republican of Kentucky.

On the final vote, 216 Democrats and 2 Republicans supported the bill; 195 Republicans and 13 Democrats opposed it.

Rogers' quote would be noteworthy, but it's become boilerplate for most GOPers - "the Democrats are the party of cut and run," blah blah blah. Republicans tried that last fall, and it fell flat.

This is what Democrats were put in charge of Congress to do, and they're doing it. Bravo.

Your move, Dubya.