By Andrew Taylor

The Senate voted Wednesday to divert some of the money President Bush requested for the war in Iraq to instead increase patrols against illegal immigrants on the nation’s borders and increase security at U.S. ports.

An amendment cutting Bush’s Iraq request by $1.3 billion to pay for new Border Patrol agents, aircraft some fencing at border crossings widely used by illegal immigrants was adopted on 59-39 vote.

While the border security funds had sweeping support, Democrats and Republicans argued over whether the cuts to Pentagon war funds would harm troops on the ground in Iraq. The cuts, offered by Judd Gregg, R- N.H., trim Bush’s request for the war by almost 3 percent but don’t specify how.

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In a change of heart, the Senate has voted to divert money from the emergency funding bill for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Katrina victims. Personally, I think this is a smart move. There is no doubt the U.S. - Mexico border needs stronger security to keep illegal aliens out of our country.

Though shifting money to border and port security is a great move, there are serious concerns about funding for Iraq and Afghanistan. I believe Iraq must take control of its own reconstruction and fund it via oil revenues. The Iraq War is an honorable war and I agree with its cause, but at some point, the United States must take a stand by giving the Iraqi government a nudge to fund reconstruction itself.