On Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic bill to fund the Iraq war that would have ordered troop withdrawals to begin within 30 days and set a goal of ending combat by the end of 2008.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: “This bill requires the President start bringing these troops home so that they can get the heroes’ welcome that they so bravely have earned. Our bill sets a reasonable goal for the end of combat operations. And it finally ensures the President will be accountable to the Congress and to the people.”

The final vote on the funding bill was 53 to 45. The Democrats came up seven votes short of the 60 needed to advance the bill.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina: “This is ridiculous! It’s undercutting America’s vital national security interests, and it’s telling our soldiers ’You’re losers’ when they’re winners. So, we’re going to defeat it now and forever.”