WASHINGTON, 11 October 2003 — Yielding to pressure from President George W. Bush, the House Appropriations Committee Thursday approved an additional $86.9 billion in US efforts to rebuild Iraq.
But the 14-47 vote highlighted the resentment in the subcommittee by members who felt bulldozed into signing the proposal.
“My God, if (Bush’s) eyes had been lasers, mine would have been burned out,” said Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tennessee, in describing a meeting the president held with conservatives, prior to the vote, to ensure they would toe the line.
The House bill, which will be voted on by the entire House next Thursday, did managed to trim $1.7 billion off the request. They removed items that had become embarrassing to the Republicans, such as programs to establish postal Zip codes, revamping Iraqi radio and television operations, and buying $50,000 garbage trucks from American suppliers.
But the proposal, if it succeeds, means Americans will shoulder the entire burden for continued military occupation there, as well as rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure.
“We have been led into a pre-emptive war that has left us isolated from our allies and left us holding the bag financially, militarily and politically for the reconstruction of Iraq,” Rep. David Obey, D-Wisconsin, a ranking member on the committee, told the members. He said White House hopes of eliminating terrorism by democratizing Iraq was drummed up by “political scientist romantics.” He also lashed out at the “self-appointed geniuses” who sent US troops to war without enough body armor, canteens and portable jammers to defuse bombs.
