It seems that President Bush has been sucessful in making sure the war in Iraq will continue until at least July 2008. This week saw the Republicans fillibuster two bills that would benefit U.S. soldiers and start a war withdrawal.

The first bill the Republicans fillibustered was written by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NA) would have cut off funding for combat in June 2008, plus promised soldiers that their minimum tour would be 10-12 months abroad with 20-24 months back in the state, which had been standard until 2002.The bill got a "yea" vote of 56-44, but was fillibustered by Republicans.

The second bill called for an immediate start to withdrawing troops. This bill got a "yea" vote of 53-47, but was fillibustered by Republicans.

Besides using the fillibuster, President Bush has said he would immediately veto either bill if they passed. So the war goes on and on and on and on.

The one thing the Republicans did do was successfully push through a resolution condemning an advertisement by MoveOn.org. Which makes me ask, 1) why the hell did the Democrats even let this waste of time resolution get brought to the floor and 2) how hypocritical is it that the Republicans will blast MoveOn.org for pointing out the Petraus has shamefully allowed himself to become a Presidential pawn, but they won't blast Ari Fleischer and his new far-right think tank - Freedoms Watch - for continuing to promote the complete lie that Iraq attacked America on September 11, 2001. Watch the shameful Republican funded ad here: