Democrats Set To Vote Tomorrow For "Slow Bleed" of Troops in Iraq

Via email:

If Democrats are truly serious about wanting the Iraqis to step up and shoulder more responsibility, then why would they propose cutting off funding for Iraqi security forces if an arbitrary October 1 deadline isn't fully met? That is exactly what the latest "slow-bleed" strategy unveiled by House Democrats would do.

General Petraeus is helping the Iraqis build a larger, better-equipped, more professional Army - a critical element of our new strategy. But the Democrats' bill, set for a vote at the Appropriations Committee tomorrow, would cut funding for the Iraqi Security Forces Fund, Economic Support Fund, and the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Fund by 50 percent unless their expectations are met by October 1st.

At the same time, Democrats are explicitly protecting funding for USAID and democracy-assistance programs. So cutting off resources needed to combat al Qaeda and insurgents is OK, but the spigot will still be wide-open for international aid programs.

Moreover, many of the conditions designed to choke off resources for American troops in harm's way only apply to soldiers fighting in Iraq - Democrats place no such restrictions on soldiers in Afghanistan. Why do Democrats treat American troops differently in some conflicts than they do in others?

In an op-ed for the Washington Times, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) says Democrats' plan to undermine our generals and micromanage the war "doesn't meet the standard of common sense":

"House Democratic leaders want to micromanage an active military engagement being fought on an ever-shifting landscape of sand, soil and public opinion 6,000 miles from our shores. Or, just maybe, they don't want anyone to win a war that some of them no longer want to fight."

House Republicans will continue to stand united in this debate, and will oppose efforts by Democrats to undermine the ability of General Petraeus and our troops to achieve victory in the Global War on Terror.