Congress has the Commander Guy between Iraq and a hard place

[ProSense]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-05-10-bush-iraq_N.htm?csp=34">Bush gives on Iraq benchmarks

WASHINGTON — President Bush, in a political shift, said Thursday that setting benchmarks to measure progress in Iraq "makes sense" in working out an agreement with Congress on a military spending bill.
But he rejected the idea of Democratic leaders in the House for "haphazard" funding, in a two-month increment that would keep a tight rein on the president's conduct of the war.


VIDEO: Bush to Congress: Be patient

The idea of "benchmarks" has been raised by members of both parties in the Senate as a means to put pressure on the Iraqi government to bringing political stability to the country.

Most discussions of benchmarks have involved the Iraqis passing a new oil-sharing bill, updating the Iraqi constitution, and holding provincial elections.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-05-10-bush-iraq_N.htm?csp=34">more

Bush seeks compromise on Iraq benchmarks

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
21 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush, under growing political pressure, agreed Thursday to negotiate with Congress on a war-spending bill that sets benchmarks for progress in Iraq.

The turnabout in Bush's position came as Republicans expressed anxieties about the war and the House was expected to pass legislation that would cut off funding for U.S. troops as early as July.

Bush said he would veto the measure. "We reject that idea. It won't work," the president said, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon after a briefing on Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill being voted on Thursday is opposed by nearly all Republicans and unlikely to survive in the Senate. But House Democratic leaders say the measure shows they refuse to back down in challenging Bush on a deeply unpopular and costly war.

more

From Think Progress:

Tony Blair, a man “whose decade of achievements have faded into the shadows of the Iraq war,” said Thursday that he will step down as British prime minister on June 27. As the war “turned from a military cakewalk to the nightmarish years-long aftermath, Blair’s popularity ratings dived; they stand at just 28 percent today,” the same level as President Bush.

"Patience is not a strategy..."

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Clearly bush has no faith in his plan, otherwise why not agree with the

reporting requirement?

[atreides1]

2. You know what???

Until he signs a binding law without a signing statement, no one should believe anything spewing forth from this jerk!!!!!

[rurallib]

3. Amen

he's only in trouble when there are teeth in something.

[Alamom]

4. Great post and a Most Excellent Title.

Let's hope they keep him there.