As weak as the Lugar/Warner amendment is, it’s still too tough for the White House.
President Bush’s national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said Sunday the administration’s “very orderly process” for reviewing its Iraq plans should be allowed to play out despite a hurry-up initiative from two respected GOP senators.
Hadley’s reply was “No” when asked whether Bush could live with the proposal by Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Richard Lugar of Indiana.
It’s a toothless measure that basically amounts to a stern suggestion — and it’s unacceptable.
The president said this week, “Congress has all the right in the world to fund. That’s their main involvement in this war, which is to provide funds for our troops.” Any steps to change the policy in any way will be vetoed.
It’s time for a gut-check among congressional Republicans — are you anything more than the president’s ATM?
