Reviving the discussion of the recent war-funding / Iraq withdrawal House Resolution
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| Also listed in: Americans Against Escalation in Iraq | Central Ohio | Female political bloggers | V for Very-Vigilant | Young and Youngish |
I feel like the announcement of the House passing the $120 BILLION Supplemental Iraq War funding bill, Link, was hardly discussed. This really surprised me given the number of people that must read this site and have opinions about Iraq.
I think it's an important topic because, in addition to the obvious reasons, it illustrates an obvious divide among democrats (progressives/libertarians/whatever.) There are those of us, myself included, who refuse to settle for anything less than an IMMEDIATE withdrawal of ALL troops, and those who applaud the passage of last week's bill because it's "better than nothing."
My own sentiment is summed up by Congressman Ron Paul's address to the House, Link.
What do you all think about this?
I think it's an important topic because, in addition to the obvious reasons, it illustrates an obvious divide among democrats (progressives/libertarians/whatever.) There are those of us, myself included, who refuse to settle for anything less than an IMMEDIATE withdrawal of ALL troops, and those who applaud the passage of last week's bill because it's "better than nothing."
My own sentiment is summed up by Congressman Ron Paul's address to the House, Link.
"As we bleed financially, our men and women in Iraq die needlessly while the injured swell Walter Reed Hospital. Our government systematically undermines the Constitution and the liberties it is supposed to protect, for which it has claimed our soldiers are dying in faraway places.
Only with the complicity of Congress have we become a Nation of preemptive war, secret military tribunals, torture, rejection of habeas corpus, warrantless searches, undue government secrecy, extraordinary renditions, and uncontrollable spying on the American people.
The greatest danger we face is ourselves, what we are doing in the name of providing security for a people made fearful by distortions of facts. Fighting over there has nothing to do with preserving freedoms here at home. More likely, the opposite is true."
- Ron Paul
What do you all think about this?
Ultimately they had to compromise in order to get something passed. I personally feel that we have failed in Iraq and the continuation of the war is just throwing more good lives away.
The reason I feel like this is definatly better than nothing is that the Dems have the president over a barrel. If he vetos the bill the Dems need to yell from the rooftops that the President does not support our troops and is putting his personal political preferences above the troops well being.
After he vetoes the bill the Dems need to draft the same legislation and put it before the President again.
If he vetoes it again, the Dems should refuse to pass any emergency spending bills and make the continuation of the war contingent on the president signing the legislation. If the president does not sign it a second time, the war is effectively over!
This is what I hope the Dems are shooting for but I am not holding my breath.