Bush Vetoes Iraq Funding Bill

President Follows Through On Promise, Will Meet With Congressional Leaders Wednesday

(CBS/AP)  When he announced a U.S. troop increase in January, Mr. Bush said Iraq's government must crack down equally on Shias and Sunnis, equitably distribute oil wealth, refine its constitution and expand democratic participation. But he attached no consequences if these benchmarks were not met.

On Tuesday, the president did not explicitly mention the war funding legislation. But he made clear indirectly how he feels about its requirement that troops begin to be withdrawn by Oct. 1, and defending his policy of not only keeping troops in Iraq, but increasing their numbers.

Mr. Bush said that pulling the American presence from Baghdad before Iraqis are capable of defending themselves would have disastrous results — giving al Qaeda terrorists a safe haven from which to operate and an inspiration for new recruits and new attacks.

"Withdrawal would have increased the probability that coalition troops would be forced to return to Iraq one day and confront an enemy that is even more dangerous," he said in remarks to representatives from countries participating in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. "Failure in Iraq should be unacceptable to the civilized world."

Mr. Bush's appearance came exactly four years after his speech on an aircraft carrier decorated with a huge "Mission Accomplished" banner. In that address, a frequent target of Democrats seeking to ridicule the president, he declared that the Iraq front in the global fight against terrorism had been successfully completed.

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended," the president said from the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, just weeks after the war began. "In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."

Four years later, the White House is still defending and explaining the appearance, reports CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer.

Deputy press secretary Dana Perino noted Tuesday that the banner referred to the mission of the carrier's crew following a 10-month deployment. The White House long ago confirmed it had the sign made. It said the ship's crew requested the banner for the presidential appearance.

More than 3,175 Americans have died in Iraq since the president said major fighting was over. The White House repeated Tuesday that the administration did not anticipate the level of sectarian violence. Perino said the president has no lingering regrets about what she contends was "a widely misconstrued" speech.

The anniversary prompted a protest in Tampa, not far from where Mr. Bush spoke. "He's hearing us. He's just not listening to us," said Chrystal Hutchison, who demonstrated with about two dozen others under a "Quagmire Accomplished" banner. "He's taking a hard-nosed stand here and doing what he wants regardless."

Perino accused Democrats of using U.S. troops as pawns in political games by waiting to send the funding bill to the president on the anniversary.

"It's a trumped-up political stunt that is the height of cynicism," she said.

[thgdriver]

"it makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing."

Your dam4 right it don't, God bless President Bush for standing up to the power hungry morons in the Congress and Senate!!!.

[beanerman4]

"In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."

Forgot one. Fill me in please. Don't tell me our president would say something like that without really meaning it.

[beanerman4]

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended"

"Mission Accomplished"

I just woke up from a 4 year nap. Can anyone fill me in on what's happening in this illegal war?

1.20.09 backwardsbush.com for some comfort

[hhkeller]

"Bush is dumber than a sack of rocks"
Those who follow him are even dumber.
It feels like January '09 is an eternity away.

[formrusmcsgt]

This isnt about the business of the People, its about greedy, power hungry members of congress that are every bit as dangerous to us as the terrorists are.
Posted by pwrslm at 08:06 AM : May 02, 2007

If so, why hasn't Homeland Security cordoned off the Capitol building and taken all 485 Congressmen into custody?

You support a policy that all 16 of our intelligence agencies confirm creates more terrorism worldwide rather than diminishes it.

Yet you have the audacity to attack a Congress who is trying to end such a counter-productive policy in regards to terrorism.

[pwrslm]

"House Republicans will oppose any bill that includes provisions that undermine our troops and their mission, whether it's benchmarks for failure, arbitrary readiness standards or a timetable for American surrender," said Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

[pwrslm]

congress authorized, almost unanamously, to send our military to Iraq.

Its not thier job to tell the military how to accomplish its tasks, that duty is vested in the Executive Branch of our government by the Constitution.

We are supposed to support our troops, not make them fail in thier mission. Congress is trying to though, and if they succeed, they will be responsible for the deaths of hundreds more US Soldiers, and uncounted thousands of Iraqi people.

This isnt about the business of the People, its about greedy, power hungry members of congress that are every bit as dangerous to us as the terrorists are.
Posted by pwrslm

Only an a$$hole would send troops to a foreign country and then abandon them by vetoing a bill that not only sought to save American lives, but fund those same troops willing to sacrifice their lives.

[luvny-2009]

MY BAD...I said is didntinhale like 12. I was wrong, it's more like 8 or better yet ******* W'ya hired them to do this LOL. I just ignore them because it's so juvenile.

[formrusmcsgt]

We need them to keep giving our poor excuse of a President the same bill requiring timetables to get out of Iraq.
Posted by bigsk8fan at 07:49 AM : May 02, 2007

While a simple solution, I don't think it's one that is politically feasible.

The neocons are trying to cast the Dems as being non-supportive of the troops because there are strings attached to the funding bill. He wants a blank check like the Repub Congresses gave him year after year.

If the Dems just re-send the same bill to Dubya, they will play into the neocon characterization of them as being obstructionist and non-supportive.

Remember that Dubya has no concerns about facing the American electorate again, Congress does.

As last November proved, neoconism has become a fringe movement and the Dems are not about to squander their advantage and give neoconism an opportunity to regain any momentum.

Why won't GW Bush and his Republican cohorts support the troops?

He has just cut off their funding - what an a$$hole.

He had the option of passing the bill and ignoring the deadline, but instead, he chose to veto it thus denying the troops much needed funds.

Perhaps he could ask Halliburton for some of our money back?

[bluestardad]

REPUBLICAN SELL OUT AMERICA FOR ISRAEL CROWD!

According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted in June, 52 percent of Americans now believe the President deliberately distorted intelligence to make a case for war. In an Ipsos Public Affairs poll, commissioned by AfterDowningStreet.org and completed October 9, 50 percent said that if Bush lied about his reasons for going to war Congress should consider impeaching him. The President's deceit is not only an abuse of power; it is a federal crime. Specifically, it is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, which prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States.

http://www.democrats.com/node/12313

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051114/delavega

If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[e-mail] Here is the Republican Party email address too!

[e-mail] Here is the Democratic Party email address also!

[bigsk8fan]

Now is the time if the Democrats we elected into office last November can stick to their guns. We need them to keep giving our poor excuse of a President the same bill requiring timetables to get out of Iraq. This is an illegal war of aggression. Iraqis were never responsible for 9/11. Iraq actually was on the forefront of the war with Al Qaeda.

I see we are back to receiving lots of identical spam postings from our Republican blogger didntinhale. How typically rude of a neocon! Spam the sight to get opinions you don't like to the next page!

[rharrin1]

pwrslm

bush and cheney is where the power hungary lies.
bush has run this abortion in Iraq not the generals and has been a great success at failing just like everything else in his life.

The democrats are trying to stop what bush can't.

[bluestardad]

REPUBLICAN SELL OUT AMERICA CROWD! GO LIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!

AIPAC, AEI, and PNAC are the Neocon Chicken Hawks who gladly sell American Lives for the Interest of Israel!

The American Enterprise Institute came up with this Surge Plan Not American Generals!

Contact Information Reuel Marc Gerecht

American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Assistant: 202-862-5926
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]


Here are Senators from Military states that support Everything Bush has done to keep our troops in this Civil War in Iraq! 101st Airborne in Kentucky and 82nd Airborne In North Carolina! Write them let them know they work for America not Israeli Government!

McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
361-A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

nDole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
555 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Con
tactInformation.C...


Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contac
t

If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Sp
eakers email address: [e-mail]

info@go
p.com Republican Party email!

[e-mail] Democratic Party email

[gslinger3]

In your face Nancy Pelosi and Harry "War is Lost" Reid!!!!!! Your surrender bill is Anti American and politically minded. Your political futures now depend on us losing this war, and you will stop at nothing less than total defeat!

[luvny-2009]

You gotta love old GW. He does not give a RATSASS what the left wing radical kooks think about him, he will not back down, and that my friends is what will allow us to win this war!!!
Posted by gslinger3 at 07:26 AM : May 02, 2007

No my friend that is called a DICTATOR, Bush is a sick man, he's physco. If they were and I hope they do Impeach and or throw his a$$ in Jail he'd get off cause he's NUTS!!

[luvny-2009]

Ok is didntinhale like 12 or are they TRYING to fly under the radar and PRETENDING they are a new person with moron comments?

[gslinger3]

You gotta love old GW. He does not give a RATSASS what the left wing radical kooks think about him, he will not back down, and that my friends is what will allow us to win this war!!!

[pwrslm]

congress authorized, almost unanamously, to send our military to Iraq.

Its not thier job to tell the military how to accomplish its tasks, that duty is vested in the Executive Branch of our government by the Constitution.

We are supposed to support our troops, not make them fail in thier mission. Congress is trying to though, and if they succeed, they will be responsible for the deaths of hundreds more US Soldiers, and uncounted thousands of Iraqi people.

This isnt about the business of the People, its about greedy, power hungry members of congress that are every bit as dangerous to us as the terrorists are.