Congressman Roy Blunt Calls for Passage of Clean Troop-Funding Bill

One day after leading anti-war Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania said, "The surge (in Iraq) is working," House Republican Whip Roy Blunt called on congressional Democrats to put aside what he calls their political posturing and pass a clean troop support bill before Congress leaves the Hill for its Christmas recess.

Murtha visited Iraq in person and concluded that the surge strategy is beginning to show definite success. "This could be a real headache for us... Pelosi is going to be furious," a top House Democratic aid is reported to have said in response.

United States troop deaths have experienced very sharp declines in October and November, and began declining in the summer. The incidences of roadside bombs--the number one killer of U.S. soldier troops in Iraq--have also fallen off significantly.

"With one of the Democrats' leading war critics now saying the surge in Iraq is working, it's difficult to understand why the majority continues to push an irresponsible withdrawal plan that jeopardizes critical support funding for our troops. It can't be the facts on the ground that are influencing their decision-making...It's time for the majority to stop playing games and deliver a well-deserved gift in time for Christmas to our men and women in uniform: a clean supplemental funding bill," Blunt's statement read.

However, Democratic Senator John Tester of Montana, who also just returned from an Iraq visit, stated to the press that he saw definite surge-success in just one Iraqi province, and that is not enough to convince him that the war should continue to be funded and prosecuted.

The United States military has already begun scaling back its efforts in Iraq so that the Iraqi military and intelligence agencies can begin assuming control of their nation.

Tester did, however, express his deep respect for the American troops, saying they are doing incredible work and that their spirits are high.