Pelosi Signs Iraq Withdrawal Bill
It's done. Now we really are one signature away from ending the Iraq War. "I hope that he will listen to the American people," Nancy Pelosi says of the President.
He won't, though. Bush will address the nation about his upcoming veto at 6:10 P.M., MSNBC says. He really will veto the Iraq withdrawal bill on the fourth anniversary of "Mission Accomplished" day.
Here's Pelosi signing the bill:
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"One signature away."
Maybe someone could disguise themselves as Cheney, march into the Oval Office, and say, "I've got a few more little things for you to sign, Junior. No need to read these, either."
May 1, 2007 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose that "premature withdrawal" is against the fundamentalist creed.
May 1, 2007 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be nice if the Dems had a conference immediately after Bush's and rolled out Jim Webb and/or Wes Clark and/or other former military leaders who want a real change in Iraq. It's probably not traditional etiquette, but Dems will need a strong, credible voice to challenge Bush immediately after the fact.
May 1, 2007 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
the big question is, will he actually be able to remember the procedure for vetoing a bill? Will there be anybody in the White House who knows how you physically do that...?
May 1, 2007 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
More than 20% of America lives below the poverty line.
With the passage of the Supplemental the 100 billion or 100,000 thousand million dollars will make sure thay stay there.
The passage of the Supplemental also means that about 1.000 additional American soldiers will die. Tens of thousands of Iraqi's will die also. We like to think that American lives are worth much more than Iraqi, but I assure you that their daughters love their fathers as much as ours.
May 1, 2007 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Iraqis will die if we stay or if we leave immediately. That argument against the supplemental is pretty weak.
There is a lot that needs to be done to end systemic poverty. This bill won't change that, whether its passed or not.
May 1, 2007 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe we could get Arlen Specter to slip a withdrawal date into some No Child Left A Dime bill or something...
May 1, 2007 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
A great letter from one of Bush's past military experts (who Bush always listens to and who Congress shouldn't be dictating to):
May 1, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
Today, in your veto message regarding the bipartisan legislation just passed on Operation Iraqi Freedom, you asserted that you so decided because you listen to your commanders on the ground.
Respectfully, as your former commander on the ground, your administration did not listen to our best advice. In fact, a number of my fellow Generals were forced out of their jobs, because they did not tell you what you wanted to hear -- most notably General Eric Shinseki, whose foresight regarding troop levels was advice you rejected, at our troops' peril.
The legislation you vetoed today represented a course of action that is long overdue. This war can no longer be won by the military alone. We must bring to bear the entire array of national power - military, diplomatic and economic. The situation demands a surge in diplomacy, and pressure on the Iraqi government to fix its internal affairs. Further, the Army and Marine Corps are on the verge of breaking - or have been broken already - by the length and intensity of this war. This tempo is not sustainable - and you have failed to grow the ground forces to meet national security needs. We must begin the process of bringing troops home, and repairing and growing our military, if we are ever to have a combat-ready force for the long war on terror ahead of us.
The bill you rejected today sets benchmarks for success that the Iraqis would have to meet, and puts us on a course to redeploy our troops. It stresses the need for sending troops into battle only when they are rested, trained and equipped. In my view, and in the view of many others in the military that I know, that is the best course of action for our security.
As someone who served this nation for decades, I have the utmost respect for the office you hold. However, as a man of conscience, I could not sit idly by as you told the American people today that your veto was based on the recommendations of military men. Your administration ignored the advice of our military's finest minds before, and I see no evidence that you are listening to them now.
I urge you to reconsider your position, and work with Congress to pass a bill that achieves the goals laid out above.
Respectfully,
Major General Paul D. Eaton, USA, Retired
Link: Paul D. Eaton's Letter to Preznut Bush
May 1, 2007 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink