Bush Vetoes Iraq Emergency Spending
May 1, 2007, 10:16pm
The clash between Democrats in Congress and President Bush over military spending in Iraq reached the next level today, as Bush vetoed the spending bill sent to him. It was only the second veto of his presidency.
The bill would have condition the spending on a timetable for getting U.S. troops out of Iraq. “It makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing,” Bush said in explaining one of three reasons for the veto. “All the terrorists would have to do is mark their calendars and gather their strength — and begin plotting how to overthrow the government and take control of the country of Iraq.”
He also objected to the “impossible conditions on our commanders in combat” proposed by the legislation and to “billions of dollars in non-emergency spending that has nothing to do with fighting the war on terror.”
The veto came four years after Bush boldly declared the “mission accomplished” in Iraq. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a video calling attention to that proclamation as Bush fights Congress for more money to continue the war.
“On the fourth anniversary of the ‘mission accomplished’ speech, President Bush vetoes a new direction in Iraq,” the ad says.
Categories: Podcast of the Week, Military, Iraq, White House, Democrats, Terrorism, Budget, AdWatch
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