As the U.S. enters its fourth year in Iraq, former President Jimmy Carter slammed the war as “completely unnecessary” and “unjust”, and called for a withdrawal of U.S. forces, The Associated Press news agency reported.
“It was a completely unnecessary war. It was an unjust war," said Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
"It was initiated on the basis of false pretenses. All of those are true, but we can't just pre-emptively withdraw."
Carter also demanded the Bush Administration to bring home as many troops as possible within the next year.
"The violence is increasing monthly," he said. "My prayer is we'll see some kind of democracy eventually evolve."
Carter’s comments came at a press conference before a building dedication at the University of Washington.
Emergency war funds
A House of Representatives committee approved 71 billion doll. in emergency funds mostly to finance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Reuters reported.
The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee approved almost all of the 67 billion doll. the Bush Administration wanted for the wars, and ordered that some 1.3 billion doll. be used to upgrade armor on Army vehicles for troops‘ protection in Iraq.
The committee also cut most of the 75 million doll. that President Bush sought for “promoting democracy” in Iran, describing the plan as poorly justified. Instead, it funded existing pro-democracy programs for Tehran.
Lawmakers also agreed to put into law a block on aid to the Palestinian Authority unless the new government being formed by Hamas gives up anti-Israeli attacks and recognizes Israel’s right to exist. However, the amendment would not block humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.
The war funds for the Pentagon would come on top of the 320 billion doll. the White House budget office said has been allocated so far, and costs are to increase to around 500 billion doll. by next year with the bulk going to Iraq.
"I believe in the end DOD (Department of Defense) will get virtually everything it asks for. It almost always does," said Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, the committee's top Democrat and a critic of Bush's Iraq policies.
Vote to block Dubai ports deal
The House of Representative committee also voted to block a deal that would give a Dubai-based company control over six major U.S. ports, BBC reported.
By a vote of 62-2, the House Appropriations Committee approved the amendment to stop the state-owned United Arab Emirates company Dubai Ports World from managing terminals at U.S. ports from New York to New Orleans.
The vote is seen as a direct challenge to President Bush by members of his own Republican party, who fear the deal will threaten the U.S.’s security and increase the risk of terrorist attack.
But Bush has strongly backed the 6.85bn deal, saying repeatedly that he would veto any law designed to block it.
The full House is expected to confirm the committee's decision next week and the measure is also expected to be approved in the Senate.
The deal is currently in limbo while the U.S. conducts a review.
Agencies
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