Cheney: Anti-War Dems Undermine Troops

(AP)  Anti-war lawmakers in Congress are undermining U.S. troops in Iraq by trying to limit President Bush's spending requests for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday.

Hitting out at lawmakers who profess to back the troops but oppose Mr. Bush's plans in Iraq, Cheney said proof of their commitment would come as they consider legislation to provide nearly $100 billion for the rest of this year's costs of the war.

The House of Representatives plans to begin considering a bill this week that would fully finance the administration's request. Senate action is expected to come later.

"When members of Congress pursue an anti-war strategy that's been called 'slow bleed,' they are not supporting the troops, they are undermining them," Cheney said in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

"Anyone can say they support the troops, and we should take them at their word. But the proof will come when it's time to provide the money," he said.

House Democratic leaders want to add provisions to the war spending measure requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops by the end of August 2008 and possibly by the end of 2007. Some anti-war Democrats prefer limiting the funds so the administration would essentially be forced to remove U.S. forces, a strategy that party leaders have abandoned.

"We expect the House and Senate to meet the needs of our military and the generals leading the troops in battle on time and in full measure," Cheney said. "When members speak not of victory but of time limits, deadlines and other arbitrary measures, they are telling the enemy simply to watch the clock and wait us out."

Cheney said the House's nonbinding vote against troop increases in Iraq last month was an example of "twisted logic" and "not a proud episode in the history of the United States Congress."

Cheney added, "Very soon, both houses will have to vote on a piece of legislation that is binding, a bill to provide emergency funding to the troops, and I sincerely hope that this time, the discussion this time will be about winning in Iraq."

He predicted "disaster" and "chaos" in the Middle East, with either al Qaeda or Iran emerging dominant from a bloody sectarian battle and compromising regional security if U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq before their mission is completed.

Of particular concern, he said, would be a powerful and possibly nuclear-armed Iran, criticizing as inconsistent some lawmakers who are pressing for tougher action on Iran but opposing Mr. Bush's Iraq plan.

"It is simply not consistent for anyone to demand aggressive action against the menace posed by the Iranian regime while at the same time acquiescing in a retreat from Iraq that would leave our worst enemies dramatically emboldened and Israel's best friend, the United States, dangerously weakened," Cheney said.

[randalds]

Musty,, Before I go, you ever meet an HMCM Don Jones ?? 3 tours RVN, my uncle.
Posted by j-whitman at 10:09 PM : Mar 12, 2007

J. He never served. he looked up some slang online and posted it here. Look at his 'tude man! Would a real vet say he invested in body bags just to be sure they were double seamed? Would a real vet trumpet the money he's made in Halliburton stocks knowing that the money was made with our troops blood? OK so he talks a good game, but no man who has ever served would have his attitude unless he'd been kicked out as mental defective. I could go online and claim enough info to "prove" I was an Air Force PJ, except that I am pathologically honest. He obviously is not and I have no doubt, not even a little bit, that he never served a day in his life.

[randalds]

Yo Lieber, Where you been all day? Randal got all athletic about my posts and thought I was either you or Lars. That guy is a runaway venereal disease with all his liberal banter.
Posted by Musty2U at 09:20 PM : Mar 12, 2007

If you willingly associate yourself with liberman, then that's the final evidence that you are a troll. I almost thought I was wrong about you after a few (very few) intelligent posts, but you never disappointed me in the end by being so full of shi*it as to be a lair.

Please, please do not feed this troll. It will only ruin your lawn by pis*sing on your plants. It's full of sh*it sure, but it has no fertilizing value.

[h0rseracer05]

I having served in Vietnam, believe the paralells are there, however I also think the D's have stripped the military and the CIA of funding for years. Yes the troops were not furnished the equipment they should have had. For that I blame the Administration. With that said, the need to win this unfortunate engagement is absolute. The consequences are many. We need to send a message those that attack the United States of America will pay the ultimate price.
Forget all the Rhetoric about Cheney or George, this is about our Country and its ability to survive this. It's about all those that have fought and those that paid the ultimate price. We must prevail. It's not about Nancy or Murtha or the critics, this is far more serious than any of those. The time has come for all in Congress to rise above that, they should support the Troops, they should demand those serving us have the very best equipment and the best Medical Care and after care.....Let us all rise above the pettiness and give those Brave Men and Women everything they need to do the job We asked them to do. I say We, because they go to War at the discretion of either the Congress or the President. Those to distinct branches of Government sent them to fight, *** it they need us and we need to be there for them....!!!!!!

[j-whitman]

Musty,,, Your only concerned about the coinage you get..... And apparently you forgot much...
" And, it is making me money. What more could I want? "

You could want real troop support equipment & armor, training restored, paying them the money they deserve, giving them the care they need -- & Winning Plans that will actually bring them home... I don't think you talk to any of them.

[nyckate]

Cheney is obviously really not wrapped too tight and he and Bush live in a perpetual World of Delusion that rare if ever meets the real world!!

Fact is what undermined the troops were the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld truly screwed up Invasion fo Iraq strategy - from lack of planning, to no exit strategy to lack of arms, armour, supplies and even troops - and then refusal to see the insurgency was growing - guess the dumb suckers were still awaiting the Sobbing Cheering Crowded Iraqi Welcoming parades!!

[scott4261]

The neo-cons envision a country in which there is no social safety net like those that came out of the New Deal and the Great Society. Since they no know they could never dismantle all of thoas programs in America (although they are trying to dismantle as many of those programs as fast as they can before Bush is out of office), they are trying their "experiment" in Iraq. They are robbing our treasury of billions of dollars and contracting out work that could be done by Iraqis. They have dismantled the "socialistic" elements of Iraqi society that were present before we invaded along the way. It is becoming a miserable failure (not mention a reason for terrorist recruitment) right before our very eyes.

[j-whitman]

Musty,, Our troops in Ethiopia are Waging Peace insead of Wajing War as Iraq,,, They are winning in Ethiopia & we are losing Iraq.

[firststate]

They beat the support the troops drum, but we see the conditions their support put our soldiers in at Walter Reed. Laura wouldn't let Barney go in there, but bush-cheney were too busy privatizing for their friends to care.

As 41's Sec Def, dickey was aware of the chaos and civil war that were expected after deposing Saddam. He's crazy or had ulterior motive$. Instead of a rational analysis, his time was spent picking favorable intel, coordinating the lies and making sure his house of cards didn't fall before the fighting started. He should have worked as hard for the country as he did pushing the crack-pot agenda of the Perverts for a New American Century (PNAC.) Even a glance at the demographics in Iraq would have led to the conclusion that a democratic Iraq would be heavily Shiite and more at ease with Iran than other neighbors.

A serious investigation might unearth the entities that gained from invading Iraq, but the invasion was NEVER in the interests of the U.S. For the last 2 yrs of this fiasco, their rationale has been facing situation after situation that were expected results of the war. Al Qaeda of Iraq didn't exist before this mess. Now, we should worry about a stronger Iran even though we assured their increased influence.

bush-cheney and the 28% still in their Kool-Aid cult should go to Dubai with Halliburton, we can do better without them.

[j-whitman]

Musty,, You can't tell me much about the marines, my son in law's into his 9th year & re-elisting,, I talk to quite a few of them who certainly don't share your views.

[j-whitman]

Musty,, Before I go, you ever meet an HMCM Don Jones ?? 3 tours RVN, my uncle.