The Timeline Argument Makes No Sense

Yesterday President Bush vetoed the Emergency War Spending Bill which congress has just passed. The reason he gave in signing the veto, the same reason he has given all along, against the time line makes no sense. Here is an excerpt from his statement:

Tonight I will explain the reasons for this veto...

Here is why the bill Congress passed is unacceptable. First, the bill would mandate a rigid and artificial deadline for American troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq. That withdrawal could start as early as July 1st. And it would have to start no later than October 1st, regardless of the situation on the ground.

It makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing. All the terrorists would have to do is mark their calendars and gather their strength -- and begin plotting how to overthrow the government and take control of the country of Iraq...

Second, the bill would impose impossible conditions on our commanders in combat. After forcing most of our troops to withdraw, the bill would dictate the terms on which the remaining commanders and troops could engage the enemy...

Third, the bill is loaded with billions of dollars in non-emergency spending that has nothing to do with fighting the war on terror. Congress should debate these spending measures on their own merits -- and not as part of an emergency funding bill for our troops.

The first point that the President gives is the most puzzling. I will keep this brief, but isn't the whole point of us still being in Iraq is to get the Iraqi military and government prepared to takeover for themselves? The President is basically saying that the insurgents will sit back wand wait until we pull out and then attack! Great! Please tell them to sit back and chill for 5 months. In the meantime, we will have a quiet time to train and ready the Iraqi troops -- exactly what we are trying to do!

Regarding the second point, the commanders have 5 months (and longer) to plan for the withdrawal, plenty of time to scale back. And the final point isn't worth mentioning.

The whole point of the current Iraq operations is to get the Iraqis ready to defend themselves.