Iraq Supplemental Bill

The Senate approved a bill today for Iraqi funding that included a timeline for pulling our troops out of Iraq, beginning in October of this year (or even sooner, if they fail to meet some guidelines). Unfortunately, this bill was passed 51-46, far below the 2/3 vote needed to overturn the President's promised veto of it. President Bush has already stated that he would veto any bill that included a timeline, or "surrender date" as many Republicans have dubbed it, on Iraq and so the passing of this bill will most likely end up being just symbolic. President Bush has stood strong against any consideration of an Iraqi timeline and this will really show in the form of a veto on this, after passing in the House and Senate.

One thing that has constantly come to mind for me in regards to the occupation in Iraq is "Mission Accomplished", Bush's "bold statement" about the state of affairs in Iraq nearly 4 years ago. I've joked about alternative meanings for "Mission Accomplished", as its meaning definitely didn't seem to mean what one might have thought it meant in this case. Now after so much has occurred since then, it's hard if we can't even begin to conceptualize an end to this situation and must continue to "stay the course" without an end in mind. Will we only be able to consider a withdrawal after the President finishes his term in office?