House approves billions for wars without debate with broad bipartisan support. [View All]

[Karmadillo]

When we actually control the Executive and Legislative branches, I guess a kabuki debate about forcing the troops home would be too dangerous.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101217/ap_on_re_us/us_defense_spending

House approves billions for wars without debate

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer Anne Flaherty, Associated Press Writer – Fri Dec 17, 2:17 pm ET

WASHINGTON – The House on Friday passed legislation that authorizes the Pentagon to spend nearly $160 billion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this budget year without major restrictions on the conduct of operations.

The 341-48 vote on the defense authorization bill came after House and Senate Democrats agreed to strip several provisions, including one that would have allowed gays to serve openly in the military and another that would have authorized abortions at overseas military facilities.

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This year's bill agreed to $725 billion in defense programs, including $158.7 billion for overseas combat.

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Unlike during the height of the Iraq War when anti-war Democrats tried to use the legislation to force troops home, the House passed the defense bill Friday with almost no debate on Afghanistan.

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