House passes new defense bill (Caved again) - AP

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Of course, they could have let the Fratboy veto it, and sent it back with some real teeth, and let him veto that, and repeat until the money was gone and the troops were out. Alas, that would require backbone.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080116/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq_1;_ylt=AtqsUpv1cNmtX1aWCq1oSlsE1vAI

WASHINGTON - The House on Wednesday passed a new defense policy bill that includes a pay raise for troops.

President Bush had rejected an earlier version of the legislation because he said it would expose the Iraqi government to expensive lawsuits.

The new bill, which the House passed by a vote of 369-46, would let Bush grant Iraq immunity under the provision, which otherwise guarantees that U.S. victims of state-sponsored abuse can sue foreign governments in court. Iraqi officials objected to the measure because they said it would have subjected Baghdad to high-dollar payouts in damages from the Saddam Hussein era.

The decision to change the bill without attempting to challenge Bush's rejection reflects the difficulty Democrats have had in challenging the president on even minor issues. Democrats lack the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.