Piecemeal funding of US troops

Instead of the blank cheque, an installment plan. The vote by the US House of Representatives to fund the military operations in Iraq in installments of just a few months is the latest skirmish in a political feud over control of the war. The House voted by 221 votes to 205 to release $43 billion in emergency war funds, but told President George W. Bush he must show progress in Iraq in July, before collecting another $53 billion in financing.

What this signifies is not just a more assertive Congress but that the end of America's massive military involvement in Iraq is in sight. Whether it comes with a new president after next year's election, or before that with an isolated Bush succumbing to political pressure, is debatable. What is not debatable is the feeling in Washington that operations in Iraq will be scaled down. But until those who reside in Washington's corridors of power realise that military withdrawal must be accompanied by a cohesive political programme then Iraq will continue to implode. There may be debate in Washington about funding but there is hardly a word mentioned about developing an overall strategy to help the country get out of its catastrophic state.