Running scared, Weldon proposes unconstitutional Iraq plan

Alex Bolton, for The Hill, reports that Curt Weldon has come up with a new scheme for distancing himself from the President while still remaining adamently in favor of a continuing, open-ended military engagement in Iraq.

The second-ranking Republican...has drafted a resolution that would give military commanders — instead of President Bush or Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld — decision-making authority over when American troops should return home.

I immediately jumped out of my seat. Civilian control of the military is a cornerstone of American democracy. The President is commander-in-chief.

Do you remember how rabid the Weldon clan was when Sestak appeared in uniform at a memorial service? I heard people raising the rediculous specter of South American banana republics where generals called the shots. And yet Weldon wants to actually flout the constitution and give the President's inherent powers over to military leaders.

But don't take it from this member of the loyal opposition.

Here's the response from uber-hawk Republican Senator Richard Lugar:

Constitutionally, the president is the commander-in-chief. I don't see a good reason to separate the chain of command from the president. I appreciate what Curt is trying to do, but it's not a good idea.

Or how about Senator Graham (R-SC):

Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), a Republican on the Armed Services panel, said that empowering generals with such decisionmaking authority risked "doing away with civilian control of the military." "It would subvert civilian leadership of the military," he said.

Can Curt Weldon possibly be this short-sighted and uninformed? (Even I'm surprised.) Is he going to give this issue to Sestak on a silver platter, who can succinctly explain why it is terrible, disastrous policy to give military leaders decisions to make that have far-reaching political and civic implications?

Sestak's response:

As someone who served in the military for 31 years, this latest proposal from Curt Weldon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, shows his profound ignorance on military issues and American history. Curt Weldon ought to go back and read the Constitution. Every elementary school child knows the President is the Commander-in-Chief. Curt Weldon has failed to hold President Bush accountable for the mismanagement of the war and has backed Bush’s ‘stay the course’ policy every step of the way. But, now facing a tough election, he’s once again trying to play both sides of the issue just like he has with stem cell research, privatizing social security and increasing the minimum wage. Saying and doing anything to get re-elected is not leadership.

Americans have tremendous faith in their military. But what we need is new civilian leaders, not a discarded constitution.