Commentary: Four Votes

Gradually withdrawing players in the middle of the game would betray
those who are left on the field, but you can cut a deal to call the whole
thing off. A change of four "Yes" votes to four "No" votes on the House
bill to continue payments could have stopped the war. The vote was 218 to
212. The President would have had to negotiate safe withdrawal of troops
and amnesty for the Iraqi collaborators.


The appropriations bill now goes to the Senate, where just 51 votes are
needed to block it. If the Senate changes the bill in any way, it must go
to a joint conference committee, and then the reconciled bill must be
voted again by each chamber of Congress. We can still block funding for
this immoral war.

- Jean G. Braun