Five American troops died in four separate attacks across Iraq on Thursday, most of them by roadside bombs, the U.S. military said on Friday, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, the Democratic-controlled Congress approved fresh billions for the Iraq war Thursday night, minus the troop withdrawal timeline that drew the president's earlier veto. "The Iraqi government needs to show real progress in return for America's continued support and sacrifice," said the commander in chief, and he warned that August could prove to be a bloody month for U.S. troops in Baghdad's murderous neighborhoods.
According to the AP, the Senate's 80-14 vote to send the legislation to the president came less than two hours after the House gave its approval on a margin of 280-142. In both cases, Republicans supplied the bulk of the support, an oddity in an era of Democratic control.
Democrats in both houses coupled their concession with pledges to challenge Bush's his policies anew — and force Republicans to choose over and over between the president and public sentiment on the unpopular war. "This debate will go on," vowed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
