Showdown Looms on War Funds

Pentagon warns of 200,000 layoffs without bucks
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 21, 2007 3:45 AM CST
Showdown Looms on War Funds
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates delivers a speech to students during a public speech at Sophia University in Tokyo Friday, Nov. 9, 2007. A showdown is looming between Congress and the White House over funding the war in Iraq, with the Pentagon warning of civilian lay-off by Christmas if Congress...   (Associated Press)

A showdown is rapidly approaching between Congress and the White House over funding for the Iraq war. The Pentagon has warned that up to 200,000 contractors and civilian employees may be laid off by Christmas unless Congress acts on a $196 billion request for war funds, reports the Washington Post. The money is stalled by Democrats who are demanding a shift in policy.

"We are calling on Congress to send the president supplemental war funding without arbitrary surrender dates and without micromanaging the war," said a White House official. The chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee countered that the US owes the troops "a way that leads home." (More Iraq stories.)

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