Persistently Static Iraq

The Bush Administrations policy on Iraq has remained unchanged for one simple reason, Bush's views have remained unchanged and the Democrats lack the necessary 2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate to over ride a veto.

Like it or not, Bush is in control of our military and our state department. As long as he continues to get funding, he will continue to enjoy the discretion to run the war the way he wants to. Its his administrations policy and he believes that it is the most appropriate one. He doesn't have to worry about getting reelected so there is little reason to be swayed by public opinion other than out of concern for his parties performance in the next election. Even though polls show overwhelming disapproval of Bush and that the majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the war, I believe Bush's popularity will have very little effect of a conservatives allegiance to the Republican party or their preference for Republican politicians. All the Republican party stands to loose due to displeasure with Bush's policy are some of the independent voters, but even they could be maintained with a Republican nomination who is moderate enough and who effectively distances himself from Bush.

The only way that the Democrats could get Bush to change his policy is by continuing to pass funding bills that contain troop withdraw time tables, which Bush would veto, until all of the previously allocated funds run out. This would force Bush to make some tough decisions. He could try to maintain the current forces on a much lower budget or he could do the responsible thing and bring them home instead of leaving them their with inadequate resources. However, this course of action by the Democrats would hurt them in the next election because of the all to familiar notion that cutting funding for the war is sinominous with abandoning the troops.