House Passes Timetable For Iraq

Finally, some reason in the chaos that has been the Iraq policy.

The House of Representatives today passed a $124 billion emergency spending bill that sets binding benchmarks for progress in Iraq, establishes tough readiness standards for deploying U.S. troops abroad and requires the withdrawal of American combat forces from Iraq by the end of August 2008.

President Bush had his expected reaction.

“I will veto it if it comes to my desk,” he said. “It is clear that my veto would be sustained.”

He is right. Democrats don't have enough members in the House to override the veto. What this does do is press Bush to answer how are U.S. troops going to get out of Iraq. If he is going to push the fantasy that democracy is going to flower in Iraq; he will just come off as delusional. I would love to see the different ethic factions embrace democracy, peace and human right. It would be good for Iraq and the region. It is hard to see that happening during a bloody civil war.

The Los Angeles Times has a video of Bush saying Democrats are abandoning the troops. Real classy.

"Here in Washington, members of both parties recognize that our most solemn responsibility is to support our troops in the war on terror. Yet today a narrow majority in the House of Representatives abdicated it's responsibility by passing a war spending bill that has no chance in becoming law and brings us no closer to getting our troops the resources they need to do their job."

That is why he is sending units over to Iraq not combat ready.


Republicans are having a harder time defending Bush's disasterous policy. Who can blame them?

No, Republicans countered on the House floor. Several said the measure would amount to micromanaging the war, to the detriment of military commanders and front-line troops. “Its prevailing tone is one of defeat,” Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, the minority whip, said of the legislation.

The provision calls for troops to be out of Iraq by September 1, 2008. Benchmarks will be set for the Iraqi government. If the Iraqis don't meet the benchmarks the withdrawal would be speed up.

Update: Crooks and Liars has a longer video of Bush's press conference.

Update: Nancy Pelosi speaks on the House floor.