Bush, Democrats locked in battle over Iraq spending
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
WASHINGTON, Dec 04 (AP): President Bush and congressional Democrats are locked in a struggle over Iraq spending, with neither side budging and each calculating that their argument will be the one to resonate with voters.
For both sides, this rhetorical tug-of-war has become a question of leadership on national security issues and who is more committed to the troops.
"It's unconscionable to deny funds to our troops in harm's way because some in Congress want to force a self-defeating policy, especially when we're seeing the benefits of success," Bush said in a Rose Garden speech Monday.
But with Bush blaming Democrats for failing to provide money needed by the troops, party leaders are on the defensive and hoping to switch the public message.
The president was likely to press his case further at a news conference he scheduled for Tuesday morning.
"Democrats want to work with the president, yet he continues to engage in the same tired rhetoric that does not serve the best interests of the American people," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Once the bill fails in the Senate, it's expected that Congress will not consider another spending bill for Iraq. While it is possible Democrats could allot some money for other military needs, Iraq will be left out of the equation until Congress returns in January.
After that, Democrats won't say what will happen.
"House Democrats have passed a bill that provides our troops with both $50 billion in funding and a strategy to bring them home safely and soon," said Congress has until mid-February before the Army will cease base operations and until March before the Marines takes similar steps, according to the Pentagon.
The standoff between Bush and the Democrats is largely on principal, as the Democratic bill would likely have little to no practical effect on force levels in Iraq.
For both sides, this rhetorical tug-of-war has become a question of leadership on national security issues and who is more committed to the troops.
"It's unconscionable to deny funds to our troops in harm's way because some in Congress want to force a self-defeating policy, especially when we're seeing the benefits of success," Bush said in a Rose Garden speech Monday.
But with Bush blaming Democrats for failing to provide money needed by the troops, party leaders are on the defensive and hoping to switch the public message.
The president was likely to press his case further at a news conference he scheduled for Tuesday morning.
"Democrats want to work with the president, yet he continues to engage in the same tired rhetoric that does not serve the best interests of the American people," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Once the bill fails in the Senate, it's expected that Congress will not consider another spending bill for Iraq. While it is possible Democrats could allot some money for other military needs, Iraq will be left out of the equation until Congress returns in January.
After that, Democrats won't say what will happen.
"House Democrats have passed a bill that provides our troops with both $50 billion in funding and a strategy to bring them home safely and soon," said Congress has until mid-February before the Army will cease base operations and until March before the Marines takes similar steps, according to the Pentagon.
The standoff between Bush and the Democrats is largely on principal, as the Democratic bill would likely have little to no practical effect on force levels in Iraq.