9 More GI’s Dead in Iraq
Yesterday, the Democratic Party congressional leadership capitulated to the Bush administration’s demands of no timelines (or any other accountability requirements) in the latest version of the Iraq / Afghanistan funding bill. This morning we awake to the following news:
Roadside bombings and gunbattles across Iraq killed nine U.S. servicemen, and U.S. authorities were examining a [...]
Yesterday, the Democratic Party congressional leadership capitulated to the Bush administration’s demands of no timelines (or any other accountability requirements) in the latest version of the Iraq / Afghanistan funding bill. This morning we awake to the following news:
Roadside bombings and gunbattles across Iraq killed nine U.S. servicemen, and U.S. authorities were examining a body found in a river south of Baghdad that Iraqi police believe is one of three U.S. soldiers seized in an ambush nearly two weeks ago, officials said Wednesday…
Conventional wisdom in the progressive blogosphere seems to be focusing on the fact that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are doing the best they can, with what they have to work with, in offering up a no-strings funding bill to George Bush. CW continues that the leadership is merely punting the football downfield until September, when Gen. Petraeus is supposed to report back to congress on progress or (ha!) lack thereof in the escalation of the occupation.
I have one question.
How can either Reid or Pelosi wake up this morning and look at themselves in the mirror?
In taking the easy way out, and not forcing a confrontation with the White House at this time, the Democratic Party leadership has condemned unknown numbers of U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to a lousy death, for a nebulous cause, thousands of miles from home. They’ve also committed to not committing to any ending of America’s commitment to the bloodbath that Iraq has become.
Is this what you voted for in November, 2006?
(Photos from Faces of the Fallen are the faces of the U.S. servicemen and women who have fallen since the beginning of the escalation. How many more faces have to be added in the name of political expediency?)
Update: Digby’s got my back - albeit from a different angle…
Updated update: …and now Atrios signs on with the “reject this bill” crowd. Hey, it’s refreshing to know that I was an early adopter of this position, and didn’t need the rest of the progressive blogosphere to tell me which way the wind was blowing.
Not that Atrios or Digby did - I’m sure they were both just occupied with other things today. 
i’m sure the dem “leadership” hasn’t put 2 and 2 together yet on why their approval ratings are so low again. this is it. i’m disgusted and ready to leave this country again.
Democratic Party leadership has condemned unknown numbers of U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to a lousy death, for a nebulous cause, thousands of miles from home.
These soldiers have been sent to their fate by George W. Bush, period. Let’s at least be clear about that. It is Bush and the Republicans in Congress, the ones throwing around terms like “surender date” and “Defeatocrat” that represent 28% of the country but have 49% of the votes in the Senate, who are to blame.
The Democrats have been unable to end the war in the few months they have been in the “majority”. That is a majority that includes Tim Johnson, who can’t work due to illness, and Joe Lieberman, who is a Republican. If you thought Democrats could end the war in a few months, you are being naive.
The funding process starts again in four months. In that four months, it will be Congressional Republicans left twisting in the wind as more of our soldiers die each month. They are the ones supporting Bush and his never-ending meat grinder. That needs to be made clear instead of blaming those who are at least trying to stop it.
Pug, I disagree.
Bush is responsible for getting us into this mess.
The Democratic Party leadership may not have enough votes to override a veto - fine. Then send no bill. No bill, no money, the troops come home. They will not be left without bullets and MRE’s. When the money runs out, the pentagon has no choice but to load up the C5A’s, and bring everyone home.
That’s what I’m talking about. And no, that’s not naive. It’s practical. How many more faces do you wish to add to the wall above before anyone in the party leadership has the balls to challenge Bush?
Four more months? 400+ more dead soldiers and countless dead Iraqis? I guess that’s the price you’re willing to pay for political expediency and comity on the Hill. I’m not.
The Democratic Party leadership may not have enough votes to override a veto - fine. Then send no bill. No bill, no money, the troops come home. They will not be left without bullets and MRE’s.
Actually, Richard, i might not agree with this conclusion.
The Idiot in the White House is a vindictive evil man who is more than happy to use the troops as pawns and political props. I can see this white house making sure the troops are left without ammo and food to score points.
That said, I’m furious with the Democrats, absolutely furious. Make sure you call them and tell them to vote NO on the bill: you gotta figure a LOT of representatives are seething.