Posted on 04/14/2003 6:18:39 AM PDT by kattracks
Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Some Democrats in Congress are pushing new legislation to limit the amount of control the Bush administration will have over the reconstruction of Iraq. The latest of the proposals comes from the same liberals who predicted thousands of American casualties in Iraq during a war they warned would last months, if not years.
Just 23 days after the start of the war, with about 100 Americans killed in action, coalition forces control every air and sea port and all but one major city in Iraq. Liberal Democrats - who predicted doom in Iraq and said the U.S. had no justification for the use of military force - now want to control how the Bush administration spends the money dedicated to rebuilding the country.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said Friday that she supports the U.S. troops in Iraq but still opposes the reason they are there.
"The mission, I believe, should have been a mission of reconciliation, of negotiation, of diplomacy, of the use of U.N. inspections and, therefore, war being the last option," she said.
Jackson Lee is seeking co-sponsors for a House resolution that would "instruct" President Bush to carry out Iraqi reconstruction efforts through NATO, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations. The proposal would also urge the use of minority-owned business to fill government contracts.
A member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Jackson Lee also plans to introduce legislation to "reinforce" the constitutional requirement for a formal declaration of war by Congress before the president can deploy U.S. troops anywhere other than Iraq or spend any funds on preemptive strikes against other terrorist nations.
"There is some scrutinizing of Syria and Iran, and I would hope that if we begin to make public statements by officials of the administration, that it would be recognized that any such action would need the Congress of the United States," she argues, "unless, of course, as has been long-standing policy, the United States is about to be attacked, or the Armed Forces are about to be attacked."
Jackson Lee believes it would be better to let an allegedly objective third party negotiate any differences between nations.
"That is the very reason why we should restore and rebuild the United Nations - because that is a far better vehicle, from my perspective, to begin to resolve that crisis or perceived crisis," she said. "Reconciliation and negotiation should be the forefront, as opposed to the first option being war or any actions suggesting war."
Clinton Accuses Bush of 'Track Record of Favoring Secrecy'
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) complained Thursday that the Bush administration has tried to deceive Congress about the potential costs of the war and how money allocated to be rebuilding will be spent.
"Over the past several months, several of my colleagues and I have repeatedly asked for estimates of the anticipated costs of a conflict with Iraq," she said. "And we were consistently told that such costs were - quote - unknowable."
Clinton - who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has received daily briefings from Defense Department officials - claimed that she only learned that hundreds of million of dollars in reconstruction contracts had been awarded by the DOD when she read about them in the newspaper.
The wife of former President Bill Clinton has introduced legislation that would require the administration to publicly disclose details of any Iraqi reconstruction contract not awarded under competitive bidding, regardless of the reason for the decision, unless doing so would endanger national security.
"Democracy is messy. It's time-consuming. It, you know, requires you to actually explain what you're doing to people," Clinton said. "And this administration has, unfortunately, a track record of favoring secrecy over openness."
Cost of War in Iraq vs. War on Terror?
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized the administration Thursday for allegedly weakening U.S. efforts to fight terrorism by getting involved in Iraq.
"I have absolutely no regret about my vote [against] this war," she said, noting a price tag of "probably $100 billion."
"We could have probably brought down that statue for a lot less," Pelosi continued, referring to a statue of Saddam Hussein toppled by Iraqis with the help of U.S. Marines. "But the most important question at this time, now that we're toward the end of it, is what is the cost to the war on terrorism?"
Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) suggested Pelosi ask that question to the families of those killed by terrorists on 9/11.
"Mrs. Pelosi needs to understand that the war in Iraq is part of the 'War on Terror,'" he said. "Maybe she should leave the 'Left Coast' and visit the gravesite in New York City where nearly 3,000 Americans were slaughtered."
"It's becoming very apparent why she's the minority leader," Foley continued. "It's because her views represent the vast minority of the country."
Proposals Not an Attempt to Distract from Success of War
Jackson Lee denies any ulterior motive to the various Democrat-sponsored proposals to limit the Bush administration's control over the rebuilding process or continued criticisms of the war.
"Dissent is good," Jackson Lee said. "I think this is the appropriate time, in a very quiet and deliberative way, to be able to challenge the administration on the aftermath of Iraq."
She said her resolution "instructing" the president to include the U.N. and other organizations in the rebuilding effort and the planned bill to restrict funds that might be used for a preemptive strike against other terrorist nations amount to "constructive advice."
Foley offered a different perspective on those who opposed the war in the first place but now seek to control the rebuilding effort even as they continue to criticize the mission.
"Over the past months, we've heard apologists make excuses for Saddam Hussein, saying he wasn't as bad as portrayed," he said. "Now, as we unearth tales of torture and see liberated, jubilant Iraqis, they're changing the subject because they're out of excuses."
The Florida Republican described the Democrats involved in the distraction efforts as "fair weather friends."
"The very same people who wanted to deny freedom to the Iraqis now want a piece of their economy," he added. "It's the typical liberal, or French, mentality: dodge the tough fights but reap the benefits later."
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"Over the past months, we've heard apologists make excuses for Saddam Hussein, saying he wasn't as bad as portrayed," he said. "Now, as we unearth tales of torture and see liberated, jubilant Iraqis, they're changing the subject because they're out of excuses."
Go Mark Foley! Can't wait for the campaign against Bob Graham.
5.56mm
Jackson-Lee has an agenda, and that agenda is not what's best for all Americans. That she should be so presumptuous as to TELL Bush what to do is more than laughable, i.e.:
Sheila Jackson Lee, Limousine Liberal
Does she think the ethics rules don't apply to her?
apparently it's not convenient enough. Jackson Lee is routinely chauffeured the one short block to work--in a government car, by a member of her staff, at the taxpayers' expense. And apparently in violation of House rules.
But the $79 billion a year we spend to keep troops in Yugoslavia is OK and well publicized. /sarcasm
Hmmmm....
Is it possible that the Democratic Party has been hit in a very tender spot by this war, such that the only ones who retain their voice have no balls at all?
Just when I thought she couldn't possibly be any stupider, she proposes to ditch the War Powers Act, which would make it impossible for America to respond quickly to military crises without handing the President unlimited war making power.
Her bill will go nowhere.
Last time I looked, only 14% of Americans opposed the war in Iraq, less than 1 in 6.
I don't believe the Constitution gives Congress any power to "instruct" the Executive. Sheila must know that; but she doesn't mind raising a big [unconstitutional] stink anyway.
Ms. Lee can join with the axis of weasels and should fit in fine.
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