Finally, it looks like the Senate will be able to debate and vote on a bill to put a deadline on Iraq war funding. The bill, sponsored by Senators Feingold and Reid, would cut off all funds for the war after 120 days.
The bill was not expected to get the 60 votes necessary to bring it up for debate, but at the last minute, the Republicans changed their mind. They have bought into Bush's rhetoric about how the surge is working and we're now winning the war. They believe that since we're "winning", the American public will be on their side and demand the war funding be continued. They also think this will work to their advantage in the upcoming election.
I think they are wrong. America is sick of this war. People can see that more than one American soldier is killed for every day we stay in Iraq, and little to nothing is being accomplished. Staying in Iraq for another year will cost another 400 to 500 American lives, and the Iraqi civil war will still be continuing unabated.
The attention of Americans has been turned to the declining economy and the coming election, but that does not mean they now approve of the war. It just means they are now realizing the Republicans are screwing up the economy in addition to the war.
Of course, Bush says he will veto the bill if it is passed. He says the bill would substitute legislative judgement for the judgement of military commanders. That is an asinine and ludicrous statement. That sounds like he's trying to blame our military for screwing up in Iraq.
The fact is that the military did not choose to invade Iraq -- Bush did. The military did not screw-up the occupation of Iraq -- Bush did. And it is not the military that is choosing to stay in the middle of the Iraqi civil war perpetually -- it is Bush. The legislature is just trying to end the failed policies of a failed presidency, and save American lives.
The Democrats should pass this bill and send it to Bush. Let him veto it if he wants. It will be obvious by November that the war is still a disaster (like the economy), and the voters will take it out on Republicans at the polls.
The only question now is whether the Democrats have the backbone to do what they were elected to do -- bring our troops home.
No comments:
Post a Comment
ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. And neither will racist,homophobic, or misogynistic comments. I do not mind if you disagree, but make your case in a decent manner.