The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a nearly $97 billion spending measure that funds the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and provides counter-insurgency funding for Pakistan. The Senate is expected to vote next week on its version of the legislation:| How much did Murtha carve out for his nephews? |
| I imagine that kind of thing is harder for him than it was a month ago. |
House appropriations chairman, Democrat David Obey reiterated his concern about the possibility of achieving real success in Afghanistan. "I have a profound doubt that he can succeed. Not because of any problem with his policy, but because I am dubious that there are the tools available in that region for us to succeed using any policy," he said.
Both the House measures give the Pentagon money for new weapons, aircraft, and armored vehicles and support for troops and their families.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq receive several billion dollars in economic and development stabilization funds. Pakistan gets 400 million dollars requested by the Obama administration for a new joint counterinsurgency fund.
Exceeding President Obama's foreign aid request by $2.2 billion, the House measure includes economic, security, food and HIV-AIDS assistance for a range of countries in the Middle East, and Africa, as well as Mexico and the Republic of Georgia.