U.S.: Obama wins a big victory over defense spending in the Senate
- No more F-22s After getting added to a bill at the last minute a week ago, Obama threatened to veto the entire defense spending bill unless they were taken off the table. The jets, not only expensive but a product of a bygone era of war-fighting, were an iconic symbol of the administration’s fight to focus on insurgency-focused warfare.
- McCain’s big help Former presidential race foe John McCain played a huge role for Obama. McCain said the victory, attributable to stands taken by both Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, “really means there’s a chance of us changing the way we do business in Washington.” McCain’s support meant the vote was bipartisan. source