A Date With Failure
President Bush vetoed the military appropriations bill. The Democrats gave him every penny of the money he asked for, but dared to stipulate a withdrawal timetable and assurances that the Iraqi government become effective as a government. In typical stiff-necked style, the axe fell.
Four years after "Mission Accomplished." Over $8,800,000,000,000 spent at the rate of $1,560,000,000 per day. A casualty ratio of more than 30 Iraqis for every 1 US soldier. Still - WE CAN"T WIN THIS THING!!!!!
Another $124 billion is needed? Where did all the money go? That seems a reasonable question to ask, isn’t it?
Now, though, the money is not the issue. It was so badly needed a few weeks ago, but thanks to the (only) second veto Mr. Bush invoked, the needy military can scratch their bums while the process starts again. No doubt the Republican talking point memos are already circling the "It’s all the Dem’s fault" wagon. But it was the President that nixed the whole thing, so he’s culpable, too.
Nancy Pelosi notes the President "wants a blank check." As if a price point with 13 digits is insufficient. If $8 trillion dollars couldn’t get the job done, another few billion will make no difference. More soldiers will die with or without the money. Mr. Bush says:
"Setting a deadline for withdrawal would demoralize the Iraqi people, would encourage killers across the broader Middle East and send a signal that America will not keep its commitments…. Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a date for failure."
Let me break is to you slowly, man. The date with failure was May, 1, 2003. You took her to the movies to see "Top Gun Meets Mission Accomplished." If I remember right, all the Iraqis in the audience cried.