In May, Sen. Kerry voted against a supplemental spending bill to give Mr. Bush another blank check for his war in Iraq. Watch as Sen. Kerry explains why the supplemental was wrong, and what provisions we need to put in a defense authorization bill.
Mr. President, I would like to speak about the supplemental funding bill for Iraq. I will oppose this legislation for the simple reason that it does nothing to force the President to change his failed policy in Iraq. This bill does not provide a strategy worthy of our soldiers' sacrifice. Instead, it permits more of the same - a strategy that relies on sending American troops into the alleys and back roads of Iraq to referee a deadly civil war. Instead of the same misguided strategy, we could truly show support for our troops by getting the policy right. We could show support for our troops by setting a deadline to force Iraqis to stand up for their own country. We could show support by bringing our troops home - not with meaningless benchmarks and blank check waivers for this President.
As JK has so often said, it's time to get the policy right. So, the Democrats go to the floor next week with the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (S.1547), we will look to the amendments to see if it's a yea or a nay.
Currently, S.1547 includes some key funding to equip and support our troops, including a much needed pay raise that the President has said he will not support (Mr. Bush has said our troops don't need the 3.5%. Apparently 3% is enough for their sacrifice.), and funding for TRICARE.
There's also this critical item:
No funds appropriated pursuant to an authorization of appropriations in this Act may be obligated or expended for a purpose as follows:
(1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
(2) To exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq.
But the key to this will be in the amendments. We're hoping and praying for binding legislation on withdrawal. If it's there, we're confident of a yea from JK. If not ...
Stay tuned.
Comments (2)
Posted by ProSense | July 7, 2007 1:00 PM
Excellent post. Senator Kerry gave the clearest and most forceful explanation about why the bill needed teeth. Given what we seen and heard from Bush (and Repubs like Lindsey Graham), despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it's clear that the Democrats need to stand firm.
Posted by fedup | July 7, 2007 3:29 PM
This should be a very interesting week coming up in the Senate. I hear reports of more and more Republican Senators on the brink of finally saying "Enough is Enough" to Bush. We will see how far they will stray.
As of today 3,601 soldiers have sacrificed their lives , NO MORE. This madness has got to end and I trust Senator Kerry to end it the RIGHT way.