Senate and House put accountability provisions for Obama Afghanistan policy in their spending bills

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from Reuters: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21309282.htm

The House-approved legislation includes a provision that requires Obama to submit a report on whether the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan are "demonstrating the necessary commitment, capability, conduct and unity of purpose" to continue his policy on the region.

The Senate bill orders the administration to provide within 60 days of enactment a statement of its objectives with respect to the two countries as well as regular reports from March 2010 through September 2011 on progress in achieving them and any recommendations for resources or changes.


It's a start, but these provisions look like little more than an invitation for the administration to explain away whatever they're doing in Afghanistan/Pakistan and for Congress to let that explanation stand as acceptable policy, like Bush did with Petraeus' 'surge' report. Pretty weak. Budget chairman Obey did say he intends to demand more accountability in a year (the same amount of time he says he gave Nixon in Vietnam). We'll see.

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1. .

[leftstreet]

2. Check this out!

snip

The House legislation also includes $4.8 billion for more armored vehicles designed to resist improvised explosive devices, which have had a devastating impact on U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate bill includes $4.2 billion. The Pentagon had requested $2.69 billion.

FFS! The Pentagon must be LOVIN' this Congress.

And as for your original point, yeah it just sounds like a lot more dotting of i's and crossing of t's to CYA.