Little resistance in US Congress to providing additional Iraq funds: lawma

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050125/pl_afp/usiraqbudgetpolitics&cid=1521&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Despite concern over the ballooning US budget deficit, lawmakers in Congress said it was all but certain they will grant President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s full request for an additional 80 billion dollars for military operations in Iraq (news - web sites) and Afghanistan (news - web sites).

"We've got to watch every dollar that we spend ... but I don't want to nickle and dime this effort," Republican Senator Jeff Sessions told AFP Tuesday.


"We want to complement the success in Afghanistan with another great success in Iraq. I think the president will get what he asked for," the Alabama lawmaker said.


Moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins said that spiraling costs in Iraq take a backseat to providing adequate equipment and supplies to US forces.

"I am concerned about the cost, but on the other hand we want to and need to provide our troops with everything they require," she said.


Democrats said the funds would likely be approved, but not before a long and loud congressional debate.

"I think there will be a lot of questions and challenges about what is the plan, where is this money going, how is it being spent?" Senator Hillary Clinton (news - web sites).