Senate Authorizes $150B More for Wars In Iraq and Afghanistan

Thwarted in efforts to bring troops home from Iraq, Senate Democrats yesterday helped pass a defense policy bill authorizing another $150 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 92–3 vote comes as the House planned to approve separate legislation today that requires President Bush to give Congress a plan for eventual troop withdrawals. The developments underscored the difficulty facing Democrats in the Iraq debate: They lack the votes to pass legislation ordering troops home and are divided on whether to cut money for combat, despite a mandate by supporters to end the war.