OneWorld.net (U.S.)

The anti-Iraq war movement scored a major victory this week.

Yesterday, in votes on three amendments to the Supplemental Appropriations bill to fund the war, the House:

* Rejected $168 billion in funding to continue the war in Iraq

* Set tough restrictions on the administration's conduct of the war, including imposing a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops, mandating minimum periods of rest for troops between deployments, barring the President from entering into long term commitments in Iraq without Congressional approval, and making the prohibition on torture crystal clear.

* Expanded the GI bill to provide education benefits for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the first vote, in which Congress rejected continued funding for the Iraq war, anti-war advocates had an unexpected ally: 132 Republicans refused to vote either for or against war funding, and simply voted "Present."

While Republicans have tried to spin this as a protest against the congressional procedures Democratic leaders used to bring this legislation to a vote, the practical reality is that House Republicans refused to vote to fund a war that they support. The only conclusion to be drawn is that Republicans are finally realizing that their President and party are significantly out of step with the clear will of the American people and that their electoral prospects in November are in serious jeopardy.

The Senate version of the Supplemental Appropriations bill – which still includes war funding – will be considered next week.

For a complete analysis of yesterday's vote, click here.