U.S. Navy Seaman Lucas J. Jettson looks through the scope on his weapon for possible insurgent activity during a security patrol in the abandoned village of Now Zad, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 6, 2009. Jettson is a hospital corpsman assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. James A. BurksObama Risks Liberal Backlash on War Funding -- Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama plans to request new funding from Congress for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he risks a backlash from antiwar lawmakers.
Mr. Obama is expected to seek congressional approval of $75.5 billion for the wars, perhaps as soon as Thursday. The issue is already raising tensions on Capitol Hill, especially among liberals who are sympathetic to the president's broader agenda but voice concerns about his timeline for withdrawal of troops from Iraq and his plans to beef up forces in Afghanistan.
"I can't imagine any way I'd vote for it," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a California Democrat and leader in the 77-member congressional Progressive Caucus. It would be her first major break with this White House.
Read more ....
My Comment: The usual suspects in Congress are always going to oppose war funding bills .... but the mass majority (Republicans included) will not.