Iraqis blame U.S. for discord. Shocker.
The Dems keep giving Bush $. Promises, promises.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR2007121802262.html
All Iraqi Groups Blame U.S. Invasion for Discord, Study Shows
Iraqis of all sectarian and ethnic groups believe that the U.S.
military invasion is the primary root of the violent differences
among them, and see the departure of “occupying forces” as the key to
national reconciliation, according to focus groups conducted for the
U.S. military last month.
That is good news, according to a military analysis of the results.
At the very least, analysts optimistically concluded, the findings
indicate that Iraqis hold some “shared beliefs” that may eventually
allow them to surmount the divisions that have led to a civil war.
(!!)
…The results are analyzed and presented to Petraeus as part of the
daily Battle Update Assessment or BUA (pronounced boo-ah).
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-budget-battle,1,5411202.story
Senate OKs $70B for Iraq, Afghanistan
The Senate gave President Bush a big win on Iraq Tuesday night as it
passed a massive $555 billion spending bill combining funding for 14
Cabinet departments with $70 billion for U.S. military operations
there and in Afghanistan.
…In rapid succession, the Senate cast two votes to approve the
hybrid spending bill. By a 70-25 vote, the Senate approved the Iraq
and Afghanistan war funds — without restrictions that Democrats had
insisted on for weeks.
Cloud and Clear 