Bush Seeks Further War Funds

On Thursday, before the lawmakers took leave for their holiday break, Bush called on Congress to approve billions of dollars funding for the war. The president warns that, if the funds are not cleared by Congress, the Army will have to shut down bases by mid-February. As a result, between 100,000 and 200,000 civilian workers will lose their jobs.

Bush argued, "Pentagon officials have warned Congress that the continued delay in funding our troops will soon begin to have a damaging impact on the operations of this department." Bush called on Congress to approve the funds "without strings and without delay."

CNN reports that a $50 billion war spending bill, requiring U.S. troops to begin leaving Iraq within 30 days, passed the House, but stalled last week in the Senate. According to Reuters, the Democrats have offered to pass $50 billion of the $196 million Bush requested, but with a requirement that most U.S. troops leave Iraq by December 2008.