Jon Stoltz, an Iraq war veteran and chairman of VoteVets, a political
action committee, said in a statement that the president would be
undermining U.S. troops if he refused to sign the measure, which
contained funds to boost the care of wounded U.S. soldiers and supply
vitally needed new armored equipment to American forces operating in
Iraq.
"Now, the United States Congress is ... demanding accountability and
performance from the administration. It's ironic that an
administration that has such a hang up for tying accountability to
funding for things like schools or social programs is so opposed to
any performance evaluation itself, especially with American lives on
the line," Stoltz said.
"Once the Congress passes the final bill, the president must sign it
and not hold up funding that will help protect and train our troops,
fix Walter Reed, fund traumatic brain injury research, and supply the
newest up-armored equipment in Iraq," he said.
"If the president vetoes this bill, never in the history of war would
there be a more blatant example of a commander in chief undermining
the troops," Stolz said.
"There is absolutely no excuse for him to withhold funding for the
troops, and if he does exercise a veto, Congress must side with the
troops and override it."
VoteVets.org describes itself as "a pro-military organization
committed to the destruction of terror networks around the world."
From UPI, 3/30/07:
http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/war_vets_urge_bush_to_sign_funds_bill/20070330-012510-2490r/
War vets urge Bush to sign funds bill
WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) --
The head of a U.S. war veterans group opposed to continued U.S.
presence in Iraq urged President Bush on Friday to sign the Iraq
funding bill.
The U.S. Senate Thursday approved the $122 billion Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Bill for additional funding of Iraq
operations by 51 votes to 47.
Bush has pledged to veto the measure, which calls for U.S. troop
withdrawals from Iraq to begin 120 days after its final passage.
____________________________________________________
OK, Georgie, your move.
Harry
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