Bush will veto the Iraq emergency funding bill even though it would seem to be in his better interest to just approve it with a signing statement, something else must be at work here. The accumulated evidence points to what may be influencing this stance.
Milestones:
Additional troops in attack/blocking position. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font> [Note requests for additional troops in Diyala (east of Baghdad), perhaps diverting those going to Al-Anbar (west of Baghdad)].
Additional carrier fleet in position near Straits of Hormuz. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
Dick Cheney trotted the globe recently distributing the sensitive parts of the plan. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
(Continued on the flip side)
Establish permanent military bases in Iraq using reconstruction contractors and funds. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
While we as American citizens do not like being lied to and Congress doesn’t like being lied to, many Democrats and Republicans in Congress like the idea that we have gone into Iraq, we have built four mega bases, they are complete. Most of the money we gave to Halliburton was for construction and completion of these bases. We have probably, of the 150,000, 160,000 troops we have in Iraq probably 110,000 of those folks are associated with one of those four mega bases. Safely ensconced behind acres and acres of concrete. To operate there indefinitely, no matter what happens in Baghdad, no matter who takes over, no matter if the country splits into three pieces or it stays one. No matter what happens, we have those mega bases, and there’s many in Congress and certainly in this administration, Republican and Democrat alike that really like that.
Begin illegally funded covert operations with Al-Qaeda-esque groups. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
Placed Chalabi in charge of the Surge. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
Crank up Iran rhetoric in the news media.<font color="00cc00">Check.</font>
Nancy Pelosi removed problematic Iran language from the "emergency funding" bill with little fanfare or explanation. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
New UN Security Council resolution 1747. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
All systems go. <font color="#00cc00">Check.</font>
A Gulf of Tonkin style kidnapping which will draw reluctant UK along. <font color="0#0cc00">Check.</font>
Money: a "clean" emergency funding bill. <font color="#ff0000">Uncheck.</font>
Oops the Dems did not quite cooperate as planned. Bush needs a "clean" emergency funding bill. One with no strings attached and telling them where to spend the monies. Much like the diverted reconstruction funds used to build those four permanent megabases, those monies he requested most likely included bribes and other things that will go towards our upcoming war with Iran. Making it even more unappealing was the cutting of certain funds: like the contractor funds. Hence a veto is forthcoming along with (prepare for it) some bigtime whining, "We need it Nowwww!"
And even though it would seem to be in Bush's (and the troops) better interest to sign the bill and take advantage of the loopholes built in, it is obvious to me that Bush has "other plans" for the additional war funds, and will veto the bill just as he has threatened. All the assets, except the money, are in position, but they cannot remain there forever. The units on extended deployment will need to go home soon, and the second carrier battle group will also need to leave the region and the British seamen hostage crisis cannot go on forever.
When Bush vetoes the bill, the push to get the money quickly will be strong, because the window of opportunity will start to close. The media will do their part by creating the image, Congress is hurting the troops. [Even though they passed a spending measure].
It is within the netroots power to get out in front of the upcoming media condemnation of Congress. I think one good way is by writing positive op-eds and editorials about Congress and opposing that with the sheer bullheaded stupidity of Bush should he veto this legislation. I am sure there are other great suggestions out there.