House Votes to Ban Permanent Bases in Iraq

Good news from the Gavel,
the House has passed a ban on permanent bases in Iraq.

Today, the House passed H.R. 2929, Banning Permanent U.S. Bases in Iraq. This bill states that it is the policy of the United States not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing a permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq. It also states that it is the policy of the United States not to exercise U.S. control of the oil resources of Iraq. The measure bars the use of any funds provided by any law from being used to carry out any policy that contradicts these statements of policy.

This is significant in a number of ways:

• Bush will threaten a veto, making it clear that he does wants permanent basis (though he'll probably use the micro-management commander-in-chief excuse).
  
• This veto is likely to be successfully overridden.
  
• It's a direct challenge to the "it's not abut oil" lie.
• Because it forbids expenditures, it's is clearly in the purview of the congress, even in the view most hacktacular of pundits (OK, maybe not...they are pretty hacktacular.
  
• It's a marvelous club to use in the 2008 elections.