Kicking The Can Down The Road

Our President is a very responsible, serious leader. There should be no doubt-

The White House confirmed Wednesday that its new budget next month will not request a full year’s funding for the war in Iraq, leaving the next president and Congress to confront major cost questions soon after taking office in 2009.

The decision reverses the administration’s stance of just a year ago, when President Bush’s budget made a point of spelling out in advance what he thought the costs would be for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for 2008...

Let's also think of this in light of this underreported line from last night's State of the Union-

"American troops are shifting from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective overwatch mission."

So after years of doomsday rhetoric and fearmongering, Bush will leave behind a half-assed permanent occupation specifically, and a tattered foreign policy generally. Not the legacy I'd want, but what do I know?

And I'm sure the President will be thinking hard of the Iraqis and our soldiers and everyone else next year when he's building homes for Habitat for Humanity traveling the world clearing brush on the ranch. There are three words to describe this man... they begin with "W" and end with "orst President ever".

[Related reading: Why Congress didn't bring the troops home (LA Times)

Bush Issues Signing Statement On Defense Act, Waiving Ban On Permanent Bases In Iraq (Think Progress)]