Gephardt Backs Bush on Iraq, Afghanistan Aid

Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, siding with President Bush on his $87-billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan, vowed to finance the war on terrorism even if it undercuts his presidential bid or ensures budget deficits for years to come.

“We’re in a military situation, we’ve got a lot of foreign obligations, we’re fighting terrorism in many places around the world, we’ve got homeland security needs,” the Missouri Democrat said. “In light of that, I don’t think it’s possible to get to a balanced budget.”

Gephardt criticized Bush’s postwar Iraq policy but argued that it would be irresponsible to vote against reconstruction money for two war-torn nations.