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TechnoratiNo Time for Compromise on Iraqi Withdrawal
The Democrats must stand strong against the current of compromise that is swirling around Washington concerning the funding of the Iraq War.After Bush's veto, there has already been lots of talk on Capitol Hill about crafting an acceptable bill.
But no bill is acceptable that continues funding for this war and this occupation.
The American people want out, the U.S. soldiers want out, and the Iraqis are demanding that we leave. A majority of Iraqis think it's acceptable to kill Americans there. We can't win that way.
Yet the Democrats are seriously contemplating a compromise on an already compromised bill. Now, rather than insist on a deadline for withdrawal that was fudge-able in the first place, they appear to be ready to settle for no deadline at all, just some unenforceable benchmarks for the Maliki government.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer expects a new bill to pass in the House in two weeks and to become law by Memorial Day. "We're not going to leave our troops in harm's way . . . without the resources they need," he said.
But resources for what?
For continuing the occupation?
Or for getting the hell out of there?
Nancy Pelosi wasn't exactly crystal clear in her statement on the President's veto. The Speaker said the original bill "honored and respected the wishes of the American people to have benchmarks, to have guidelines, to have standards for what is happening in Iraq."
Those weren't the wishes of the American people.
Their wishes were to bring the troops home within a year.
Now it looks like the Democratic leadership is going to cave even more.
Last week, in the context of Iraq, Harry Reid tipped his hand, saying, "I'm a legislator, and I believe legislating is the art of compromise."
There may be times to compromise.
But this is not one of them.
There is no art in continuing to pay for a foolish, bloody war.
The Democrats need to find the courage to withstand the slurs from Bush and Cheney and their parrots on Fox News and rightwing radio.
They need to defund the war. That is their moral duty, and they have the clear constitutional authority to do their duty. Not compromise.
Matthew Rothschild is the editor of The Progressive magazine.
© 2007 The Progressive
11 Comments so far
Show AllAfter having written both Senators and telling them they need to vote as one and as one with the American people; to gain the 2/3 majority and throw down the gaunlet before King George. I sadly wonder if they even read their mail or their interns simply "round file," it!
End this immoral war, no more blood for oil!
helix
it's a little like a tanker going full speed. shouldn't expect rapid course change.
born2bwild,
Re : i do not look to members of the house of senate to "advocate" for the people. i don't believe they know how any longer, and i sincerely doubt that most citizens care that much, in the final analysis.
Well, here's a historic opportunity for the Democrats to awaken the public: send the same bill back to Bush, with the additional proviso that the funds must be raised by levying a tax on the citizenry.
Let's see... that's $124 billion divided by $300 million... which comes to about... $410 for each person on average... So for my little family of 3, that's $1230 to fund the bill.
Now there's a wake-up call!
I long ago rid myself of the foolish notion that simply putting Democrats in charge would change anything. As a result, I'm neither shocked nor disappointed. Pissed, yes.
Every country gets the leaders it deserves. That is why the American people are sufficiently ignorant to ignore the impression that THEY will end up as a failed state.
alamac,
good point
I am so tired of talking points and mouthing of empty phrases I could vomit. I know Americans have trouble admitting that we illegally attacked a soverign country and then lost the war we started. It is time we start looking at our sins.
The Democrats are in the very real danger of alienating the people who gave them the majority in the first place, by doing "politics as usual", and being more concerned with running the risk of being put in an unfavourable light by Republians attack ads, instead of standing by the principles they were spouting during the election.
The people want the military out of iraq NOW. They will stand behind the Democrats only as long as the Dems do what they were elected to do.
Bush turned down the money that was offered to fund this military adventures....let him make the concessions.
Yeah. The whole right-wing schpiel is absurd: "Leave our troops in harm's way without funds"?? BULL. Cut off the funds and the troops will HAVE to come home. If the Chickenhawk in Chief really does decide to try to leave them there without ammunition, food or whatever, then at least we would have enough grounds for impeachment that even the Republikans wouldn't be able to oppose it...
congress isn't simply a bunch of legislators whose function is as a deliberative body and producer of bills which are designed to balance the power of the other branches. ideally, they are a barometer of the nation.
they reflect the will of the people to a far greater extent than the president or the courts. they are far more directly accountable to the hopes and dreams and fears and outrage that exist in the very districts they represent. but there is at this stage in the life of the u.s. a profound disconnect between our elected representatives and the people, even those of the same political party affiliation who bothered voting for them. even with that "sacred" fulfillment of civic duty, there is severe disenfranchisement - to say nothing of those voting the "losing" side or not voting at all. it's almost like a form of paralysis where the brain (the people) can try it's damnest to impose it's will on the body (congress), but to no avail. we have effectively cut ourselves off from the process of lawmaking or correcting executive folly. we are numb to the seriousness of the challenges facing us. (i would expect those most in favor of change to be organizing with greater intensity if this were not the case). we are all affected. congress will listen when the will of the people is finally expressed - when we find our voices again, when we realize the urgency of the moment. of course, when it happens, it won't look all that pretty to those in high places. but is it all that remarkable that congress falls victim to it's weakest attributes? the "art of compromise" which is another way of saying "do something even if it's not what you believe in - at least you've done your job, even if it in no way answers the real concerns of the people." and this in turn further feeds the disconnect. i do not look to members of the house of senate to "advocate" for the people.
i don't believe they know how any longer, and i sincerely doubt that most citizens care that much, in the final analysis.
The fact that both Democrats and Republicans agree that the American public is stupid enough to equate defunding the war with endangering the troops in an unpatriotic fashion, that it vitrually represents an act of treason which encourages and supports the terrorists, is enough of an indictment of our entire political process to leave one speechless.
Small wonder we've been punished with the government we have. It is the government which a pack of idiots deserves. Much like standup comics, our politicians play to their audience as they perceive them. Fart jokes for the morons. This is how they view you. Nothing could be plainer. Be sure to show them your gratitude when next they ask for your political contributions and your votes.