Administration threatens veto of Senate defense measure
White House vows to scrap Defense authorization bill if it includes language prohibiting the use of private security contractors for any 'inherently governmental' security functions in combat zones.
The White House Tuesday threatened to veto the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill if it includes language in the Senate's version of the measure that would prohibit the use of private security contractors for any "inherently governmental" security functions in combat zones.
In its Statement of Administration Policy, the White House also said it would veto the bill, which the Senate is expected to begin debating Tuesday, if it forbids contractors from interrogating detainees.
"Such a provision would unduly limit the United States' ability to obtain intelligence needed to protect Americans from attack." The House bill includes similar language on the use of contractors in war zones.
Other provisions in the Senate's version of the bill that drew veto threats include language that would prohibit the administration from considering public-private competition until workforce gaps are filled and three separate provisions the administration believes would interfere with executive branch authorities and responsibilities on defense intelligence matters.
In addition, the administration said it would veto the bill if the final version included any amendments to record intelligence interrogations. Doing so, the White House said, is "impractical, burdensome, and runs the risk of significant unintended consequences in current and future military operations." During its debate on the authorization bill, House lawmakers approved an amendment requiring that the military videotape detainee interrogations. And, as it has done repeatedly, the White House warned that it would veto the bill if it includes any language setting a date to begin a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The Senate has tried -- and failed -- to pass Iraq withdrawal language.
The administration said Tuesday it would also veto the bill if it mandates that any Status of Force Agreement between the United States and Iraq includes language requiring the Iraqi government to provide financial or other types of support to U.S. forces in Iraq. In its version of the authorization bill, the House approved similar language in an en bloc amendment package approved by a bipartisan majority. In addition, the administration said it would veto any amendment that would "restrict the ability of the United States to deal effectively with the threats to regional security posed by the conduct of Iran."