US House votes no on permanent Iraq bases

Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — Congress is on the verge of barring the construction of permanent bases for U.S. forces in Iraq, a move aimed at quelling concerns in the Arab world that American forces will remain in the war-torn country indefinitely.

The ban, which was inserted into the annual defense spending bill, won House approval Tuesday night when the chamber overwhelmingly approved the mammoth defense appropriations bill, 394-22.

The Senate is expected to vote on the $448-billion defense spending bill this week.