Where Is the Sacrifice?

After Tony Snow said that the Iraq government was taking the month of August off for a vacation because it was difficult for them to work in such heat, there were a number of protests and the question that if the troops are still expected to do their mission (even though it was ostensibly accomplished years ago) why should the government be excused?

It wasn't long before Snow apologized for making such a statement. I cannot help but wonder, though, if the administration told him to make his follow up remarks.

President George W. Bush's press secretary on Wednesday backed off a comment that appeared to suggest the administration was resigned to Iraqi lawmakers taking August off based on the summer heat in Baghdad. "I used a dumb line," Tony Snow told reporters. "The fact is, we expect the Iraqi government to continue working at all times toward the goals of political accommodation and reconciliation. We made it clear. They know that it's important for us, and important for them, to get key pieces of legislation passed," Snow said. Snow had agreed that Iraqi lawmakers had much work to do before a U.S. progress report is made in September, but said last Friday: "You know, it's 130 degrees (54 Celsius) in Baghdad in August."

Somewhere between the first press conference and the follow up one is the truth. Yet, even though President Bush expects the Iraq government to stay in session, it's quite likely he has plans to spend much of August kicking back. (Of course, that may work out better for the country in the long run.)

Vacation plans have not been announced for Snow's boss, but Bush is known to be planning to spend part of August at his ranch in Texas. As in previous Texas vacations, he is expected to make official and unofficial side trips from the ranch. Early in Bush's tenure, he spent weeks at the ranch, usually in August. Last year, however, he had his shortest Texas vacation yet, nine days.

Meanwhile, I understand where some small businesses close shop for a week so that the miniscule staff can take a break, especially since it's quite likely one staff member cannot adequately function without the other. But when it comes to our government, why do entire branches get to shut down for a month?

In the U.S. Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate are taking roughly five weeks off, starting Aug. 6.

The House's Web site calls its vacation the "Summer District Work Period," because lawmakers are expected to use part of the period to work with constituents at home. The site says the vacation is Aug. 6-31, but almost all members will return to Washington no earlier than Sept. 4: Monday, Sept. 3, is Labor Day, a holiday in the United States, complete with parades and gatherings that provide fertile grounds for politicking.

The Senate Web site gives a clean Aug. 6-Sept. 3 period for vacationing senators.

It's amazing what our government demands of those who put these officials in office, especially when the officials cannot get through an all-nighter without having cots at the ready and pizza delivered. (I must ask, just who is paying for these items?) There are still people in New Orleans waiting to get their lives in order and yet the government must have a cot on which to rest after filling its belly.

In the meantime, the troops are wearing heavy battle gear in triple digit heat while risking suicide bombers and simply hoping they survive another day.

Therefore, let me ask the entire government, just where is your sacrifice?

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