We keep hearing the vapid talking heads on television describe how Congress is "in a bind" and really has few choices but to agree to whatever the GOP’s endless war demands from us all next. Not-so-fast you blubbering, amost-always wrong pundits and politicians. There are many things Congress could do to bring us closer to protecting our troops and getting us out of Iraq even if Bush follows through on his promise to veto the funding of the troops in Iraq because he doesn’t like the "strings". More, after the fold...
- Provide funding for 60-90 days at a time – To require Bush to come back to Congress again and again for "emergency funding" is not unreasonable. Further requests for funding should also be required to include a plan (with target dates) for a ready exit from Iraq.
- Enact Anti-War-Profiteering provisions to any such funding – The Leahy bill war profiteering act must be immediately enacted into law.
Background here
Many Democratic Senators joined Leahy in reintroducing a bill creating criminal penalties for war profiteers and cheats who would exploit taxpayer-funded efforts in Iraq and elsewhere around the world. The War Profiteering Prevention Act of 2007 builds on earlier efforts by Leahy, who is also a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, to crack down on this type of rampant fraud and abuse. It is similar to legislation Leahy introduced in 2003, that was subsequently passed by the Senate as part of an appropriations bill but later torpedoed by the White House and the House Republican leadership, which stripped out the Leahy provision.
- Funding should include provisions to "Rein in contractors so that they fall under the Rule of Law." As a March 15, 2007 article in The Nation entitled "Bush’s Shadow Army" points out, Senator Barack Obama introduced legislation earlier this year to help address this issue. Here is a quote from the article:
Senator Barack Obama introduced comprehensive new legislation in February. It requires clear rules of engagement for armed contractors, expands MEJA and provides for the DoD to "arrest and detain" contractors suspected of crimes and then turn them over to civilian authorities for prosecution. It also requires the Justice Department to submit a comprehensive report on current investigations of contractor abuses, the number of complaints received about contractors and criminal cases opened. In a statement to The Nation, Obama said contractors are "operating with unclear lines of authority, out-of-control costs and virtually no oversight by Congress. This black hole of accountability increases the danger to our troops and American civilians serving as contractors." He said his legislation would "re-establish control over these companies," while "bringing contractors under the rule of law."
- Each 60 days of funding should require include an "Iraq War Accountability" provision that requires the President to mail an update to each taxpayer which shall include the following:
a. The number of American Service members killed and injured in this conflict by date with graphs
b. The number of Contractors and Sub-Contractors killed and injured in this conflict by date with graphs
c. A combined number of a and b above
d. The number of Allied members killed and injured in this conflict by date with graphs
e. A combined number of c and d above
f. The number of Iraqs and other nationals not included above that have been killed and injured in this conflict by date with graphs
g. A combined number of e and f above
h. The cost of this conflict to the American tax-payer by date with graphs
i. A comparison of costs to provide services via the experimental contractor route vs. What it would cost for the U.S. Military to provide the same services like water and fuel deliveries along with a rational for any decisions that were made that chose the more costly route.