President Bush 's delusional wartime cheerleading and unwarranted optimism regarding the "success " of the Iraq War is reminiscent of Japanese soldiers on far-flung Pacific islands fighting on long after the end of World War II.

So far the Iraq War has cost the United States more than 4,000 dead, including 89 Wisconsinites, and more than 30,000 wounded.

Iraq remains a devastated, sectarian and unstable society. More than 2 million Iraqis have fled to neighboring Arab countries. And the cost of the Iraq War is $600 billion and counting. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the final cost in trillions, "depending on troop levels and how long the American occupation continues. "

An endless Iraqi civil war and U.S. troops in a quagmire. Some "success. " What to do?

All efforts by the Democratic-led Congress to end the Iraq War have been thwarted by a Bush presidential veto or GOP-led filibusters in the Senate. Overriding a presidential veto requires two-thirds of the House and Senate. Ending an obstructionist filibuster in the Senate requires 60 votes.

Moreover, the Democrats have only a 236 to 199 majority in the House and a thin 51 to 49 majority in the Senate. Despite the odds, Democratic leaders like Wisconsin Rep. Dave Obey are still trying, and making efforts to pick up some GOP support.

The House voted on what is likely the last Iraq War funding bill of the Bush administration. There were three critical votes.

First came a vote on $162.5 billion in emergency funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. President Bush and GOP congressional leaders have long relied on emergency measures to fund the wars, ignoring the regular appropriations process.

But some GOP members, perhaps frustrated that they are now in the minority and a bit panicky after losing three special elections, decided to vote "present " and helped defeat funding for the Iraq war which they support.

Wisconsin GOP Rep. Paul Ryan voted "present. " Wisconsin GOP Reps. Tom Petri and Jim Sensenbrenner as well as Democratic Rep. Ron Kind voted "yes. " Wisconsin Democratic Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Steve Kagen, Gwen Moore and Dave Obey voted no.

The second vote was on requiring U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq with a goal of removing all U.S. combat troops by December 2009. The measure passed 227 to 196.

Finally, the House voted 256 to 166 to extend unemployment benefits an additional 13 weeks. And it approved expanded veterans educational benefits, funded by a surtax on the rich, income above $500,000 for individuals or $1 million for couples.

All Wisconsin Democratic representatives and GOP Rep. Tom Petri voted yes, joined by 31 other GOP representatives. But Wisconsin GOP Reps. Paul Ryan and Jim Sensenbrenner voted no. The Senate and President Bush will have the last word for now. But voters will weigh in come November.

Kaplan, a UW graduate, lives in suburban Washington, D.C.