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One account of today at the White House

Bush, Lawmakers Meet on Iraq War Funding on the Deadliest Day in Baghdad Since the “Surge” Began Protesters Outside White House Urge End to War as Meeting Goes on Inside
By Kevin Zeese

The stalemate between Congress and the President continued as they met in the White House on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. In Baghdad a reported 178 people died and many more were wounded on the deadliest day since the Bush “security plan” began. Outside the White House, scores of protesters called for an end to the war and the closure of Guantanamo Bay with more than a dozen arrested chaining themselves to the White House fence.

Several groups of protesters and peace movement leaders were outside. Cindy Sheehan noted the flag at half mast for the killings at Virginia Tech should be at half mast every day for the deaths in Iraq. Marine Mom Tina Richards hoped to get a chance to ask Nancy Pelosi whether she would meet with military families and others affected by the war or continue to arrest them. A protest organized by the Catholic Workers included two dozen people in orange jump suits wearing black hoods who chained themselves to the White House fence. Outside the cordoned off area of the Guantanamo Bay protesters were CODE PINK “police” blowing whistles and shouting in bull horns that the Democrats should not buy Bush’s war.

Inside the Associated Press reports President Bush sat between Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid but neither side was ready to compromise. Bush seemed to hope that the House and Senate would compromise with each other and weaken their resolve. But, the Democratic leadership, for now, seems to be holding firm.

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