Don't Blink

Message to Congress-Don't Blink. Do Not Blink! Do not back down!

CNN reports The Democratic-controlled U.S. House approved a war-funding bill with a timeline for troop withdrawal from Iraq and substantially less funds to conduct the war than President Bush has requested. Sen. Harry Reid says restrictions must be part of the bill or "the president won't get his $50 billion." The bill states that the primary purpose of the money "should be to transition the mission of United States Armed Forces in Iraq and undertake their redeployment." It demands that Bush begin withdrawing troops from Iraq within 30 days of passage, with a goal of having American combat troops out of Iraq by December 15, 2008. It's about time.

Congress should not listen to the threats that they are not supporting the troops or their families; they should not believe the statements that they are soft on terror. We know it's not true. With opposition to the war at an all time high of 68%, it's time for the Democrats to stand up to George Bush and stop funding the never ending war/occupation in Iraq. Stop the funding, bring 'em home.

House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said "we can no longer militarily sustain the deployment in Iraq; staying there in the manner we are there is no longer an option." and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said "We're going to continue to do the right thing for the American people by having limited accountability for the president and not a blank check"

Secretary Gates says that without the money now, drastic steps would have to be taken in anticipation of the shutdown, including plans to freeze contracts and to furlough about 100,000 government employees . So what? The American people are saying we do not want to spend money on combat any longer (if we ever did) After countless deaths, nearly 5 years in Iraq and having spent nearly $5 billion dollars; it's time to put an end to this endless war.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Bush told his audience. The men and women of this department, the Department of Defense, are helping to carry out the government's most important duty: protecting the American people. Every day they confront America's enemies. Every day they work to stop the spread of dangerous weapons. And every day they guard against those seeking to bring another day of destruction to our shores. The missions of this department are essential to saving American lives. And they are too important to be disrupted, or delayed, or put at risk.

The American people expect us to work together to support our troops. That's what they want. They do not want the government to create needless uncertainty for those defending our country, and uncertainty for their families. They do not want disputes in Washington to undermine our troops in Iraq just as they're seeing clear signs of success.

Here in Washington, leaders have a responsibility to send the right message to the rest of the world. Let us tell our enemies that America will do what it takes to defeat them. Let us tell Afghans and Iraqis that we will stand with them as they take the fight to our common enemies. Let us tell our men and women in uniform that we will give them what they need to succeed in their missions -- without strings and without delay.

Except there are a few problems with his comments.

If only the military in Iraq was protecting the American people. In the third Terrorism Index, more than 100 of America’s most respected foreign-policy experts see a world that is growing more dangerous, a national security strategy in disrepair, and a war in Iraq that is alarmingly off course.

Georg Bush has done well enough on his own to create needless uncertainty to those defending our country and their families. How much more uncertainty can we give members of the military with multiple deployments of uncertain lengths? The only certainty that this administration has given our troops is that they are certain to be heading to a war zone.

The American people do expect those in Washington to work together to support our troops and Bush has yet to make any concessions in Iraq. With this president and this administration, it's their way or the highway. The president has discovered the veto and the democrats and some republicans have discovered a spine. Bush is criticizing Democrats for their priorities and blasting the Senate for using a procedural maneuver to prevent him from making recess appointments.

“In a political maneuver designed to block my ability to make recess appointments, congressional leaders arranged for a senator to come in every three days or so, bang a gavel, wait for about 30 seconds, bang a gavel again, and then leave.” waah!

Pro-forma sessions appointments. is a tool given to the Senate usually to satisfy the constitutional obligation that neither chamber can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other. Bush has had no problem abusing his privilege and making recess appointments with disastrous affects to our country; John Bolton as UN Ambassador comes to mind as one of the worst recess appointments , although he is only one example of the 167 recess in the Bush presidency.

So the message to Congress, is Don't blink, don't back down to this bully-president or to threats from the Pentagon. We know you support the troops, we know the president doesn't. Our message has been clear. End the war, NO MORE FUNDING!

Can it be easier than that?