Someone's gotta micromanage that war! Posted by Rosa Brooks

So the Senate-- like the House--  has now passed a bill providing $122 billion in additional funding for the Iraq War but calling for troop withdrawal to begin within four months, with a "goal" of fully withdrawing combat troops a year from now. Predictably, supporters of the Bush Administration are accusing Congress of trying to "micromanage" the president's conduct of the war. This is silly: after more than four years of carnage, a Congressional insistence on bringing the war to a close is hardly "micromanaging." On the contrary: Congress is-- finally-- taking seriously its constitutional responsibilities.

But maybe more to the point... I'd feel more sympathetic to the claim that Congress shouldn't "micromanage" the war if it looked like Executive Branch was already performing that function. As the White House keeps reminding us, they're the ones sitting in the Executive Branch; constitutionally, they're supposed to be the micro-managers. But when it comes to Iraq,  no one seems to be minding the store. This is a White House that has plenty of time to go after a handful of insufficiently fanatical US attorneys-- and plenty of time to try to cover it all up later-- but no time to come up with a plan to manage-- much less micro-manage-- Iraq. From the very beginning, this White House didn't want to bother with micro issues like ensuring enough troops on hand to prevent sabotage and looting. Since then, the White House has distractedly produced plan after plan after plan for Iraq, each hardly distinguishable from the last, and each one quietly abandoned when it falls short.  There's no accountability and no back-up plan for when things go wrong.

If the White House felt like  doing a little "micromanaging" in Iraq, it would be a welcome change. But since they seem incapable of doing that, well.... can we really blame Congress for losing patience and trying to bring this disasterous war to an end?

Comments

[Don Bacon]

Isn't it wonderful that not only did the Democrats overcome Republican "NO" votes to pass bills continuing the funding of the Iraq War, they also gave Bush twenty billion dollars more than he asked for and still had millions left over for spinach, strawberries, oranges and christmas trees.

The Congress also seeks, among other things, to micromanage the 'sovereign government' of Iraq. The bills require that the President, on or before October 1, 2007, certify to the Congress that the Government of Iraq has enacted a broadly accepted hydro-carbon law that equitably shares oil revenues among all Iraqis; adopted legislation necessary for the conduct of provincial and local elections, taken steps to implement such legislation, and set a schedule to conduct provincial and local elections; reformed current laws governing the de-Baathification process to allow for more equitable treatment of individuals affected by such laws; amended the Constitution of Iraq consistent with the principles contained in article 137 of such constitution; and allocated and begun expenditure of $10 billion in Iraqi revenues for reconstruction projects, including delivery of essential services, on an equitable basis.

If the President can't so certify, the Secretary of Defense shall commence the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq and complete such redeployment within 180 days.

Just imagine elections (and constitutional amendments) in strife-torn Iraq. But notice that the oil comes first. Unreal.

And if these actions are so certified the redeployment will still occur, but six months later. However exceptions are made for US Forces necessary for: (1) Protecting American diplomatic facilities and American citizens, including members of the U.S. Armed Forces, (2) Serving in roles consistent with customary diplomatic positions, (3) Engaging in targeted special actions limited in duration and scope to killing or capturing members of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations with global reach and (4) Training members of the Iraqi Security Forces.

One can argue that these exceptions might cover (in size) a large proportion of US Forces currently deployed in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the war goes on and on while Congress will take a much-needed two-week break from their micro-managing toils.

[Namazu]

The question is posed: can we really blame Congress...? Of course we can. Congress wouldn't know how to manage a lemonade stand. Apply the standard you use in your argument: can we really blame the many thousands of Iraqis who may be slaughtered if we withdraw prematurely? How about victims of terrorism sponsored by an Al Qaeda cell sheltered in a failed state? Can we blame future generations of Americans who will suffer from the message it will send to their enemies and friends? Take a minute to think outside the narcissistic Washington, zero-sum box. Were you never taught that two wrongs don't make a right? Do you not see the fundamental amorality of making life and death decision due to a loss of "patience?"

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The question is posed:

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[modern desk]

The White House has distractedly produced plan after for Iraq,I think its not going to be good for both of these countries.

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Its really true that when it comes to Iraq, no one seems to be minding the store.

[Professor Prosperity]

The White House has distractedly produced plan after plan after plan for Iraq, each hardly distinguishable from the last,and each one quietly abandoned when it falls short.

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I think the main players are the Muslim Brotherhood – populist, religious, and righteous – and the regime coalition which, with its president soon to pass, finds itself in an uncertain place.

[Max Furniture]

The bills require that the President, on or before October 1, 2007, certify to the Congress that the Government of Iraq has enacted a broadly accepted hydro-carbon law that equitably shares oil revenues among all Iraqis!!

[Home Protect Home Warranty]

That's a really true statement.."there's no accountability and no back-up plan for when things go wrong".

[old phone]

From the very beginning, this White House didn't want to bother with micro issues like ensuring enough troops on hand to prevent sabotage and looting.

[Max Furniture]

There's no accountability and no back-up plan for when things go wrong.