As expected, President Bush has vetoed an Iraq War supplemental that contains a Congressionally-mandated withdrawal timetable.
Four years to the day after standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier and declaring “major combat operations” in Iraq as being over, President Bush on Tuesday vetoed a war-spending bill that calls for the start of a withdrawal of American combat troops from the now-unpopular conflict.
“It makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing. All the terrorists would have to do is mark their calendars. … Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a date for failure, and that would be irresponsible,” Bush said in a televised address after the veto.
“I recognize that many Democrats saw this bill as an opportunity to make a political statement about their opposition to the war,” Bush said. “They’ve sent their message, and now it is time to put politics behind us and support our troops with the funds they need.”
The coincidence of the timing is rather surreal. Indeed, one would think Rove and company would have delayed this until tomorrow.
Bush had little choice here. We’ll see how it plays out but I suspect Congress will be forced to blink in this one.
