Are you happy now, Democrats? (RELATED: HOUSE FAILS TO OVERRIDE VETO)

(5/3 Update: Dems back off the timeline ‘requirement.’ )

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The Democrats political games with the war supplemental are already starting to affect the military:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The standoff between President Bush and congressional Democrats over a war funding bill already is delaying some military training and orders for spare parts, Pentagon officials said.

Bush on Tuesday vetoed legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress that would continue to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but set a timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.

The bill would have required U.S. combat troops to begin to withdraw on October 1, with a goal of a complete pullout within six months.

“This is a prescription for chaos and confusion,” Bush said, explaining his veto of the legislation. “It makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing.”

The president and congressional leaders have agreed to meet to discuss a compromise. (Full story)

In the meantime, military officials said some effects are already or will soon be felt.

According to the Pentagon, the Army two weeks ago told commanders to purchase fewer parts, delay repairs on training equipment and postpone nonessential travel.

This month, the Army also will freeze hiring for civilian jobs, release temporary workers and sign no new contracts.

An Army official said these disruptions will hurt military readiness.

[…]

Without new funds, orders for what the Army considers the No. 1 lifesaver against roadside bombs, MRAPs — Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicles — will be canceled. About $3 billion for the vehicles is tied up by the stalled legislation.

“We can build what we can get the funds to build. It’s strictly an issue of money,” outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker told a Senate panel in March.

The vehicles provide four to five times the protection of an armored Humvee. They have V-shaped hulls that deflect blasts from improvised explosive devices — IEDs — outward and away from passengers.

This is obscene.

So much for their BS about “supporting the troops”! Not that most of us ever believed it anyway.

The President is set to meet with House and Senate ‘leaders’ today to discuss a ‘compromise.’ Don’t back down, Mr. President.

BTW, here’s the transcript of the President’s presser last night explaining his veto.

Update: The House, by a vote of 222 to 203, failed to override the President’s veto of the war supp.

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