The House of Representatives are voting on a $162.6 billion funding request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This would allow President Bush and his successor to extend the Iraq war until the summer of 2009.
If Rep. Vito Fossella adheres to his previous pattern, he will give his unswerving support for the measure.
In recent days, New York newspapers have been filled with stories about the details of the congressman’s personal life. Much of that information is irrelevant to his conduct as an elected official and concerns only a small number of people.
What is much more relevant to the congressman’s public role, and largely overlooked by the press, is Fossella’s irresponsible handling of the Iraq War.
In 2002, he uncritically accepted the Bush Administration’s case for invasion without careful review of the National Intelligence Estimate. In the intervening years, he has repeatedly voted the money to continue that effort without any expression of concern about the situation on the ground.
Since 2007, there have been several votes in the House of Representatives, which would have begun the process of bringing our troops home. These have been supported by every congressional member in Brooklyn. Sadly, Vito Fossella has remained aloof. Constituents will be asking why he has ignored the unfolding tragedy in Iraq,-remaining silent as 4,000 Americans have given their lives and a half a trillion dollars wasted.
When Rep. Fossella gives his vote on another blank check for the White House, one hopes the press will give this more attention than his domestic embarrassment.
Carolyn Eisenberg
Professor
Foreign Policy
Hofstra University;&
Co-Founder
Brooklyn for Peace
