Congress Disputes Bush Pledge (No $$ for Abu Ghraib)

Washington Post
Wednesday, May 26, 2004; Page A17

President Bush grabbed headlines with his pledge to tear down Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prison, but Monday night's promise left the White House scrambling on Tuesday to persuade Congress to endorse something it specifically rejected last year.

White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said U.S. taxpayers will finance a second prison to replace Abu Ghraib. She said there is sufficient flexibility within the $18.4 billion in Iraq reconstruction aid approved in October to build the prison.

But Tim Rieser, a Democratic aide on the Senate Appropriations foreign operations subcommittee, which is monitoring the reconstruction, said Bush would have to consult Congress on such a large transfer of money. "For all intents and purposes, the money is not there," Rieser said.

It is clear that Bush's dramatic promise to raze Abu Ghraib will take quite some time to fulfill. The prison -- notorious for torture and killing during Saddam Hussein's reign and a still-growing prisoner abuse scandal under U.S. control -- will not be torn down until its replacement is ready, Bush said. And aides in Congress and the occupation authority said construction of a bare-bones facility would take 18 months to two years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55622-2004May25.html

on both sides of the aisle.
Bush admin seems so adamant that they can make imperial proclamations and leave Congress completely out of the decision.
The real conservatives should jump ship, and fast before they go down with the ship of Fools.
Every republican talking head that continues to cover for Bush admin policy looks more ridiculous and foolish every day, covering their own $pecial Intere$ts .
Wake me up when the nightmare is over.

tearing it down. They wouldn't expect us taxpayers to pay for that boondoggle, now would they?! ;)

"Abu Ghraib.... will not be torn down until its replacement is ready, Bush said. And aides in Congress and the occupation authority said construction of a bare-bones facility would take 18 months to two years."

Meanwhile the Iraqi detainees remain in Abu Ghraib and there will be no more pesky photos coming out.