The U.S. House of Representatives has held an extended debate on the war in Iraq.
The debate, only the second since the war began in 2003, showed the stark divisions among lawmakers over how best to support the Iraqi government and fight global terrorism.
Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert asserted that Democrats lack any coherent policy on Iraq. He also said it is not enough for lawmakers to pledge support for the troops, if they do not support the mission.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans of trying to politicize the war and called the conflict a "grotesque mistake." Other Democrats renewed allegations the Bush administration has incompetently handled the war.
The contentious debate came as the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected an amendment calling for the withdrawal of American troops by the end of the year.
The 93 to 6 vote turned down a proposal calling for only personnel critical to training Iraqi security forces to remain in Iraq in 2007. Democrats accused Republicans of maneuvering the vote for their own political advantage, and vowed to introduce a competing measure sponsored by Senator John Kerry.
Also on Thursday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an 94-billion dollar emergency spending bill to provide funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and aid for hurricane-ravaged states in the U.S Gulf Coast.
The measure includes nearly 66 billion dollars for military operations and equipment for American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials say the money will be used to buy new weapons and ammunition, as well as fund training for Iraqi and Afghan security forces.
The House has already approved the bill, which also includes nearly 20-billion dollars for hurricane relief along the U.S. Gulf Coast devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year.
The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.
The debate, only the second since the war began in 2003, showed the stark divisions among lawmakers over how best to support the Iraqi government and fight global terrorism.
Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert asserted that Democrats lack any coherent policy on Iraq. He also said it is not enough for lawmakers to pledge support for the troops, if they do not support the mission.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans of trying to politicize the war and called the conflict a "grotesque mistake." Other Democrats renewed allegations the Bush administration has incompetently handled the war.
The contentious debate came as the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejected an amendment calling for the withdrawal of American troops by the end of the year.
The 93 to 6 vote turned down a proposal calling for only personnel critical to training Iraqi security forces to remain in Iraq in 2007. Democrats accused Republicans of maneuvering the vote for their own political advantage, and vowed to introduce a competing measure sponsored by Senator John Kerry.
Also on Thursday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed an 94-billion dollar emergency spending bill to provide funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and aid for hurricane-ravaged states in the U.S Gulf Coast.
The measure includes nearly 66 billion dollars for military operations and equipment for American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials say the money will be used to buy new weapons and ammunition, as well as fund training for Iraqi and Afghan security forces.
The House has already approved the bill, which also includes nearly 20-billion dollars for hurricane relief along the U.S. Gulf Coast devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year.
The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.