Archive for December 27th, 2007
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Setting the Record Straight: Defense Authorization Bill Veto Necessary to Secure Gains in Iraq
Administration Committed To Working Quickly With Congress To Secure
Military Pay Raise And Provide Technical Fix Protecting Political And
Economic Progress That Is Critical To Bringing Our Troops Home -
Memorandum of Disapproval
I am withholding my approval of H.R. 1585, the “National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008,” because it would imperil
billions of dollars of Iraqi assets at a crucial juncture in that
nation’s reconstruction efforts and because it would undermine the
foreign policy and commercial interests of the United States. -
Press Briefing by Conference Call by Senior Administration Officials on the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008
MR. STANZEL: This is Scott Stanzel, and I’m going to be joined today
by Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto, and I will also be joined by
senior administration officials from the National Security Council,
and they will provide information to you — they will be referred to
as senior administration officials. This is a background call. -
Fact Sheet: National Defense Authorization Act Section 1083: A Danger to Iraq’s Progress
President Bush intends to veto the National Defense Authorization Act
for FY08 (NDAA) because particular provisions included in the bill
risk imposing financially devastating hardship on Iraq that will
unacceptably interfere with the political and economic progress
everyone agrees is critically important to bringing our troops home.
Section 1083 of the NDAA amends the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act,
which establishes rules on how foreign countries may be sued under
U.S. law. The amendments would dramatically change these rules and
potentially invite foreign governments to take reciprocal action
allowing suits to proceed against the United States even for
legitimate government activities. Among other things, Section 1083
would allow plaintiffs’ lawyers pursuing Iraq for Saddam-era acts of
terrorism to freeze Iraq’s assets in the amount of damages claimed in
their lawsuits, and would permit the relitigation of billions of
dollars of lawsuits against Iraq that have already been dismissed by
our courts. At the same time, by subjecting the democratically elected
Government of Iraq to this liability, the provision would imperil
billions of dollars of Iraqi assets at a crucial juncture in that
Nation’s reconstruction efforts and undermine the foreign policy and
commercial interests of the United States. -
Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel
The President intends to veto H.R. 1585, the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (“NDAA”). One provision in the
bill – section 1083 – would significantly amend current law (the
Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act) in ways that would imperil Iraqi
assets held in the United States, including reconstruction and central
bank funds. If enacted, Section 1083 would permit plaintiffs’ lawyers
immediately to freeze Iraqi funds and would expose Iraq to massive
liability in lawsuits concerning the misdeeds of the Saddam Hussein
regime. The new democratic government of Iraq, during this crucial
period of reconstruction, cannot afford to have its funds entangled in
such lawsuits in the United States. Once in place, the restrictions on
Iraq’s funds that could result from the bill could take months to
lift, and thus Section 1083 cannot become law even for a short period
of time. -
President Bush to Welcome President Gul of Turkey to the White House
President Bush will welcome President Abdullah Gul of Turkey to the
White House on January 8, 2008, for his first visit to Washington as
President. The President looks forward to establishing a good
relationship with President Gul and discussing issues of mutual
concern, including our efforts to counter the PKK; promote peace and
stability in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and the broader Middle East;
and advance Turkey’s European Union accession goals, which the United
States supports. -
Analysis: Edwards, McCain positioned to shake up race
In the race for the White House, each party has one candidate who might shake things up.
