AMERICAN LEGION: DEMS’ “SLOW-BLEED” PLAN IS “DISTURBING”

Via email:

The American Legion, a veterans’ organization with more than 2.7 million members, today released a statement expressing opposition to Democrats’ “slow-bleed” strategy to undermine our generals and hamstring our troops. In the statement, Paul Morin – National Commander of the American Legion – said:

“‘This is an attempt to implement a congressional strategy by imposing timelines for the withdrawal of military personnel from combat zones through a ‘slow bleed’ process by eventually reducing military funding,’ Morin said. ‘Rather than the President's and General Petraus’ reinforcement policy that is making progress in securing Baghdad. ’ ...

“‘Thank God there was no mandated timetable after the Battle of the Bulge or Iwo Jima ,’ Morin said. ‘Thank God, there was no mandated withdrawal or imposed exit strategy at Valley Forge or our Country would have lost the American Revolution.’”

Morin also sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) criticizing Democrats for loading up the emergency bill with BILLIONS in unrelated spending. In a press conference yesterday, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) emphasized the unity among House Republicans in passing a clean bill that supports America ’s troops engaged in combat:

“We shouldn't be putting this unnecessary spending on the backs of our soldiers.

“I know a lot of members around here see this as a big green light – this emergency supplemental spending bill – for all kinds of unrelated spending. This shouldn't be a Christmas tree, and we shouldn't expect to pass these unrelated issues on the backs of our soldiers.” (AUDIO)

Morin called the limitations Democrats’ impose on American troops in their “slow-bleed” strategy “disturbing”:

“[E]ven more disturbing is the fact this proposed legislation contains provisions that attempt to direct the conduct of military operations in Iraq , a task The American Legion unalterably believes rests with the Commander-in-Chief and the military leadership.”

Military commanders on the ground should manage the war effort – not politicians in Washington . Republicans will oppose the Democrats’ latest version of the “slow-bleed” strategy and any efforts to undermine our generals on the ground and our troops in harm’s way.