To no one's surprise, President Bush is requesting another $108 billion from Congress for the Iraq war.

The Democratic majority have more or less given up on trying to bring the war to an end by cutting off money for it, even though this is the normal role of the legislative branch when it opposes a project of the executive.

But Democrats have found themselves out-maneuvered by the Republicans. In the Senate they lack the votes not only to overcome a veto but also to cut off debate with a determined minority. In an election year the Democrats are careful not to let themselves get tarred with the brush of not backing the troops in Iraq, even though lawmakers believe they should no longer be there.

With this funding request, which comes on top of the $518 billion that the war has already cost, Democrats are trying another ploy. Instead of trying to block the supplemental spending bill, they are adding expenditures such as unemployment assistance and education benefits for veterans.

The purpose is either to get meritorious spending through the bill while swallowing the extra money for the war, or to run up the total price tag so that Mr. Bush will veto it -- something he says he will do in the name of limiting this year's budget deficit.

The picture painted for the American people is confusing or appalling, depending on one's level of tolerance. Mr. Bush's position of not wanting to add to the nearly $10 trillion national debt -- one reason for the world's lack of confidence in the U.S. economy -- by accepting Democratic ornaments to his spending tree makes sense, in a limited way.

At the same time, the bulk of the new expenditure -- all deficit spending -- is for Mr. Bush's misbegotten war. If there is merit in what the Democrats want to do, it should be approved separately by Congress, in its own bill, instead of on top of another $108 billion poured into an unending war.

It is also important to bear in mind that U.S. troops in Iraq will not suffer if the new spending isn't passed. The Defense Department budget already stands at nearly half a trillion dollars, from which the Iraq war can easily be funded.

The best course for Congress is simply to reject the supplemental spending bill. The war doesn't deserve more money. If other expenditures for veterans are justified, they should be put in separate legislation.