The Leadership Fiddles While the Base Balks!
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The Democratic party was elected the majority in both the House and Senate last November primarily to end the U.S. involvement in Iraq. The task was a simple one. In 1971 and again in 1973 Congress first rescinded the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and then terminated funding for the war in Vietnam. Those actions were a roadmap that today is being ignored.
There was little or no debate that stopping the funding for that war would risk the troops who were being whacked at weekly rates far eclipsing that of this occupation in Iraq. It was common sense then, it should be common sense now. Cut off the funding for the war by not adding money for it into the Defense Department's budget and the President as Commander-in-Chief will have to follow the recommendations of the Generals in the field who will tell him to get them the heck out of the line of fire. Instead this is what the Democratic controlled House and Senate did. It is a blatant betrayal of the public's trust and a slap in the face of the Democratic party voters out in the Districts. It is no wonder that President Bush continues to make more power grabs every week. He rightly views our party as weak. And considering what happened with the 2008 Defense Department budget bill he may have a point.
In mid May, both the House and Senate passed the 2008 Defense Department budget. HR 1585 allocated $645.6 billion for the Pentagon starting October 1, 2007. In contrast, the fiscal year Defense Department budget for 2007 was $439.3 billion. That amounts to a 68% increase in military spending in 2008 over 2007. Of the $645.6 billion, $141.8 billion has been allocated to fund fighting the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq through September 2008.
While this bill and funding for the Iraq war for another year was being quietly assembled in back rooms absent public debate and media coverage, the leadership was putting on a public display over the 2007 Supplemental Appropriation bill to fund the "Surge."
If that was not bad enough the day before HR 1585 passed, the House defeated a resolution to the bill clarifying that Congress has never authorized military action against Iran, and that no funds in HR 1585 could be used for a strike against Iran unless Iran has first attacked the United States or its forces.
With the House and Senate preparing to head off on vacation for the month of August, three U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups are circling in the Persian Gulf ready to launch massive air strikes at Iranian Nuclear sites should Bush give the go order.
Considering that the U.S. Government is putting intense pressure on the Iraqi parliament to get that Oil Revenue Sharing Bill passed before it also goes on vacation for the month of August, it would be appropriate that we Democrats turn up the screws on our Congress to bring back that 2008 Defense Department Budget, gut it of the $141.8 billion for the wars through September 2008, and send it to the "Decider"
If Bush want a fight, damn it, its time to give it to him!
There was little or no debate that stopping the funding for that war would risk the troops who were being whacked at weekly rates far eclipsing that of this occupation in Iraq. It was common sense then, it should be common sense now. Cut off the funding for the war by not adding money for it into the Defense Department's budget and the President as Commander-in-Chief will have to follow the recommendations of the Generals in the field who will tell him to get them the heck out of the line of fire. Instead this is what the Democratic controlled House and Senate did. It is a blatant betrayal of the public's trust and a slap in the face of the Democratic party voters out in the Districts. It is no wonder that President Bush continues to make more power grabs every week. He rightly views our party as weak. And considering what happened with the 2008 Defense Department budget bill he may have a point.
In mid May, both the House and Senate passed the 2008 Defense Department budget. HR 1585 allocated $645.6 billion for the Pentagon starting October 1, 2007. In contrast, the fiscal year Defense Department budget for 2007 was $439.3 billion. That amounts to a 68% increase in military spending in 2008 over 2007. Of the $645.6 billion, $141.8 billion has been allocated to fund fighting the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq through September 2008.
While this bill and funding for the Iraq war for another year was being quietly assembled in back rooms absent public debate and media coverage, the leadership was putting on a public display over the 2007 Supplemental Appropriation bill to fund the "Surge."
If that was not bad enough the day before HR 1585 passed, the House defeated a resolution to the bill clarifying that Congress has never authorized military action against Iran, and that no funds in HR 1585 could be used for a strike against Iran unless Iran has first attacked the United States or its forces.
With the House and Senate preparing to head off on vacation for the month of August, three U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups are circling in the Persian Gulf ready to launch massive air strikes at Iranian Nuclear sites should Bush give the go order.
Considering that the U.S. Government is putting intense pressure on the Iraqi parliament to get that Oil Revenue Sharing Bill passed before it also goes on vacation for the month of August, it would be appropriate that we Democrats turn up the screws on our Congress to bring back that 2008 Defense Department Budget, gut it of the $141.8 billion for the wars through September 2008, and send it to the "Decider"
If Bush want a fight, damn it, its time to give it to him!
An Iraqi female (apparently a government official)said, "...they always go on a 2 month summer break." Since when? I didn't know they had a government earlier a 2 month summer vacation. What a benefit and it really demonstrates how they are anxious to get a democratic government going. No one questioned her remark. Then Chertoff's gut tells him we're in for a summer surprise, and after the 48 hr. plea for an up-or-down vote, Bush undergoes having his bum scoped, and our surge doesn't stop attacks. hummmmm, I think lil B and Cheney are up to something again, you 'spose, or why gain sympathy...it's the pattern. What's up?