Veto bait
The pending House appropriations bill that would provide "emergency" funding for the continued occupation of Iraq is certain to draw a veto from the White House (and how much longer is this five-year-old occupation going to be falsely labeled an "emergency" so it can be funded off the books, outside the normal accounting of the Pentagon?).
The veto bait consists of the following amendments, all of which are desperately needed:
o Out in 18 months: Requires that troops begin redeployment from Iraq within 30 days with a goal of completing withdrawal of combat troops by December of 2009.
o Treaties with Iraq: Requires that any agreement between the United States and the Government of Iraq committing U.S. forces be specifically authorized by Congress.
o Iraqis Pay for Iraq Reconstruction: Requires that U.S. reconstruction aid for Iraq be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Iraqi Government.
o Fair Fuel Costs: Requires the President to reach an agreement with Iraq to subsidize fuel costs for U.S. Armed Forces operating in Iraq so that our military pays what Iraqis pay.
o Meeting Pentagon Guidelines: Requires that troops meet the Pentagon’s definition of “combat ready” before they can be deployed to Iraq; Prohibits troops from being deployed in Iraq longer than recommended under Pentagon guidelines; and Requires that troops follow military guidelines for time spent at home between deployments.
o Clean Up Contracting in Iraq: Expands current law to make all contractors working in war zones subject to prosecution for offenses that would otherwise be in violation of U.S. law; extends the statute of limitations for fraud cases during wartime; and amends the federal criminal code to prohibit profiteering and fraud involving contractors overseas.
o No Permanent Bases in Iraq: Prohibits the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq.
o Prohibits Torture: Prohibits interrogation techniques not authorized in the Army Field Manual.
These eight provisions should be obvious and automatic components of any sane US foreign policy; unfortunately, sanity has been missing from the White House for over 7 years now. If this bill reaches the President's desk in its current form, the obvious veto would be anti-climactic. However, John McCain's inevitable umbrage at the common sense provisions in this bill will be fun to watch; it'll be even more fun to watch the veins pop out in his neck while he strains to maintain his pose as Cheerleader #1 for the policy failures embodied by the continued occupation of Iraq.