WASHINGTON - Worried Congress' support for the lost Iraqi war is deteriorating rapidly, Cheney dispatched senior officials from Baghdad to Capitol Hill this week to warn members one-on-one that pulling out U.S. troops would have disastrous consequences for the bank accounts of Halliburton and some other great American companies with which he is involved.

The lobbying push copies some of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee’s tactics and targeted Republicans and Democrats alike, but focused primarily on those considered influential on the war debate.

On Thursday, hours before the House voted to limit funds for the war, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh met with more than 30 House Republicans and more than a half-dozen senators.



Senator Clinton was not impressed and said, "It is clear that whatever the mission used to be, it is either accomplished or over."

"If there are remaining American interests, then let's spell them out."

Cheney replied that “the great American oil companies and others like Halliburton and Blackwater needed to make some more $s and our boys needed to be ready to die for this as he and Bush were was in Vietnam.“