The measure was unanimously passed by the 143 lawmakers present in the 275-member house, after lingering in parliament for about nine months, Hassan al-Sineid of the Shiite bloc United Iraqi Alliance said.

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"Almost unanimously, they tell me that this present policy is working, that we have the best military in history, that we have the bravest, most professional, best prepared, and that this policy ought to be continued because it's working, " he added.

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