Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Amendment

In the war funding debate, the House is trying to string the military along in Iraq, waiting for the chance to cut them off at the knees:

House Democratic leaders briefed party members Tuesday on new legislation that would fund the Iraq war through July, then give Congress the option of cutting off money if conditions do not improve.

If the party of retreat insists on putting in timetables and hard benchmarks in order to interrupt funding for the Iraq War that will result in American forces being pulled out of Iraq, I suggest the pro-victory forces offer amendments to this legislation at every opportunity to demonstrate that when you retreat, somebody else advances.

My suggestion is to amend their bill by proposing to add section 1a to read:


(A) WHEN AN AMERICAN BRIGADE WITHDRAWS FROM IT'S AREA OF OPERATIONS, PRIOR TO MOVING OUT THE BRIGADE COMMANDER SHALL REQUEST A MEETING WITH THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF AL QAEDA IN IRAQ (AQI) TO SURRENDER THE REGION TO THAT AQI COMMANDER.

(B) SHOULD THERE BE NO AQI PRESENCE IN THE REGION, THE BRIGADE COMMANDER SHALL REQUEST A MEETING WITH THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BAATHISTS TO SURRENDER THE REGION TO THAT BAATHIST COMMANDER.

(C) SHOULD THERE BE NO BAATHIST PRESENCE IN THE REGION, THE BRIGADE COMMANDER SHALL REQUEST A MEETING WITH THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MAHDI ARMY TO SURRENDER THE REGION TO THAT MAHDI ARMY COMMANDER.

(D) SHOULD THERE BE NO MAHDI ARMY PRESENCE IN THE REGION, THE BRIGADE COMMANDER SHALL REQUEST A MEETING WITH THE LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS TO SURRENDER THE REGION TO THAT REVOLUTIONARY GUARD COMMANDER.

(E) IF THERE IS NO ENEMY PRESENCE, THE BRIGADE COMMANDER MAY TURN OVER THE AREA TO THE LOCAL IRAQI GOVERNMENT SECURITY FORCES WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INFORM THAT COMMANDER THAT CONGRESS WILL NOY SUPPLY HIM WITH ANY MEANS TO HOLD THE TERRITORY.
And demand a record roll call vote each time, of course. The majority can pretend that retreat is a mere technical term with no consequences. That doesn't mean the rest have to go along with that fantasy.