May 10, 2007

Benchmarks OK, Timetables Not

That seems to be the new White House position on funding the Iraq War.

Hours before the House approved a plan on Thursday to finance the Iraq war only through midsummer, President Bush offered his first public concession to try to resolve the impasse on war spending, acknowledging rising pressure from his own party and the public.

After a briefing at the Pentagon, Mr. Bush said he had instructed Joshua B. Bolten, the White House chief of staff, to reach “common ground” with lawmakers of both parties over setting firm goals, or benchmarks, to measure progress in Iraq. Mr. Bush had previously insisted that he wanted about $95 billion for the military with no strings attached.

“It makes sense to have benchmarks as a part of our discussion on how to go forward,” Mr. Bush said, even as he threatened to veto the House plan, approved on a 221-to-205 vote Thursday night, which would require him to seek approval in two months for the balance of the war money.

Of course, the key is how to make those benchmarks something other than a timetable for withdrawal. And, of course, what criteria are actually being set -- whether they can be attained, and what the consequences of not meeting them are. My big concern is that such benchmarks will become a de facto timetable if the goals are not reasonable and incremental.

Posted by: Greg at 10:16 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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