Re: Supplemental Spending Bill of February 14, 2005
by Jeff Leys
Voices in the Wilderness

President George W. Bush’s $82bn supplemental spending request appeared set for easy approval by Congress, as Democrats on Tuesday pledged to support the measure in spite of complaints about faulty estimates of war costs and lax oversight of Pentagon spending.

“Democrats are hopeful we are successful” in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Steny Hoyer, House Democratic whip, explaining his plan to support Mr Bush’s request for extra funding.

“This administration has been extraordinarily wrong” in its cost estimates, he said, but the money proposed as an addition to the annual budget was needed to help stabilise and develop Iraq. The supplemental funds are to be used to cover the costs of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as tsunami relief and some homeland security, intelligence and foreign operations programmes. (Financial Times)

The following can be used for talking points or as a sample letter to U.S. Senators and Congressional Representatives. Please contact your Senators and Congressional Representatives and urge them to vote against endless war.

I urge you to vote against the Supplemental Spending bill submitted by President Bush on February 14, 2005 for the following reasons:

A Vote Against the Supplemental Does Not Endanger US Troops in Iraq.

How Washington Plans To Dominate The New Iraqi National Assembly
By Milan Rai

The elections in Iraq have been an unprecedented opportunity for ordinary people to influence the destiny of their country, but the National Assembly they have elected is so hedged in with US-imposed restrictions that the cabinet it produces will be more like a chain-gang of prisoners than an independent government.

A prominent Iraqi politician in the Shia coalition told the New Yorker in January that the US had quietly told the parties before the election that there were three conditions for the new government: it should not be under the influence of Iran; it should not ask for the withdrawal of US troops; and it should not install an Islamic state.