How I'd love to see a picture of Bush flipping the troops off, because it would compliment the policies towards them that he endorses. The President is asking for another chunk of change to "fight" the war in Iraq. That chunk is $108 billion, not a penny more and not one less. He does not want to see Democrats passing legislation that would help our troops receive college educations after their service and he definitely does not want to help pay for the war he is pushing for one moment after he leaves office. That means the next President would have to request funding the moment he gets into office. George really is a piece of work.
From the AP:
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush and Democrats controlling Congress continued on course toward a veto confrontation Tuesday as Bush said he would veto any attempt to add a popular veteran benefits bill to his $108 billion war funding request.
Bush's hard line in a Rose Garden news conference could virtually assure a veto of the hotly contested war funding bill. Democrats are likely to add extended unemployment benefits and new education funding for post-Sept. 11 veterans to the war funding bill, along with a few other add-ons.
When asked about the popular plan to increase education benefits for troops returning from Iraq, however, Bush held firm.
"I made my position very clear to Congress and I will not accept a supplemental over $108 billion or a supplemental that micromanages the war, ties the hands of our commanders," Bush said. "We will work with Congress on these veterans' benefits .... But the $108 billion is $108 billion."
As we know from the President's past attempts at bipartisanship, "We will work with Congress" means that its Bush's way or no way. $108 billion means more contracts for war profiteers like Halliburton and Blackwater. It means more dead and wounded soldiers. It means more death and chaos across the country of Iraq. It means continuing down a dead end street.
This time we need the Congress to hold firm and resist the President. Of course, we needed them to be strong for the last few times in the last year and a half, so I'm not holding my breath.
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