Here is what I want to see in tonight’s Democratic debate from Nevada. Harry Reid is making a threat. If the Republicans filibuster the latest Iraq supplemental bill or the president refuses to sign it into law, Reid is going to make them pay for the war out of the regular Pentagon budget.
Democrats say that the Pentagon will be forced to fund the war through the $460 billion Defense Department spending bill that was signed into law this week if the White House and Republicans do not agree to a change in the course of the war. That has prompted strong concerns from the White House and the GOP, who say not providing either a portion or all of the $196 billion supplemental war funding request will make it increasingly difficult for the Pentagon to plan for and carry out the war.
“The days are over when the money is sent with no questions asked,” said Charles Schumer (N.Y.), the vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Conference.
The bill that the House passed has some useful things in it.
The strings included a requirement that troop withdrawals begin within 30 days, a narrowing of the mission to focus on counterterrorism and on training Iraqi security forces, and a goal of full withdrawal by mid-December 2008.
The bill would also require all American personnel, including C.I.A. operatives, to follow Army Field Manual rules on torture, among them a ban on waterboarding, an interrogation technique that simulates drowning without causing death.
Naturally, all or part of those strings can be stripped from the bill in conference but, for now, the legislation is fairly strong…particularly on ending torture.
When the candidates speak tonight, I want to see them back the leadership and commit to do everything in their power (if they are senators) to make sure they don’t turn Chuck Schumer into a liar.
I also want to have them all go on the record as opposing immunity for the telecommunications corporations. I want them to commit to lobbying Diane Feinstein on this issue. Lastly, I want them to take a stand on the enforcement of congressional subpoenas. Harriet Miers and John Bolton have been held in Contempt of Congress by the House Judiciary Committee. I want the candidates to commit to supporting whatever it takes to hold them accountable.
The candidate(s) that do all of the above will have my support, and the support of the vast majority of activists.
