Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Pelosi: no blank check for escalation

Much as we figured, not only is Nancy Pelosi smart, she's tough. There will be no blank check for escalation. Think Progress provides video and transcript of Pelosi on Face the Nation this morning:
SCHIEFFER: So, you’ve told him what you don’t want to do, and that is to expand the size of the force in Iraq even on a short-term basis. But what if he decides to do that? What will be your action then?

PELOSI: If the president chooses to escalate the war, in his budget request we want to see a distinction between what is there to support the troops who are there now. The American people and the Congress support those troops. We will not abandon them.

But if the president wants to add to this mission, he is going to have to justify it. And this is new for him because up until now the Republican Congress has given him a blank check with no oversight, no standards, no conditions. And we’ve gone into this situation, which is a war without end, which the American people have rejected.

SCHIEFFER: Now, let me ask you, and make sure I understand exactly what you are saying because, up until now, Democrats have not been enthusiastic about using the ultimate weapon, and that is to cut off funding.

PELOSI: We won’t do that.

SCHIEFFER: But you will not vote any more money to expand the size of the force there?

Is that what you’re telling us?

PELOSI: I’m saying two things. We will always support the troops who are there. If the president wants to expand the mission, that’s a conversation he has to have with the Congress of the United States.

But that’s not a carte blanche, a blank check to him to do whatever he wishes there.

And I want to make a distinction here. Democrats do support increasing the size of the Army by 30,000, the Marines by 10,000 to make sure we’re able to protect the American people.
So, Republicans, what's it gonna be? A "bi-partisan" discussion, or more attempts at media manipulation?

This is going to be very difficult for George W. Bush. As Pelosi points out, he's never experienced what it's like if the Congress actually does it job.

Let's be clear about this, too, just as Pelosi was. Nobody who is serious would propose cutting off funds for troops already deployed. You don't do that to your fellow citizens. You get them home and you take care of them. But forcing the administration to justify the escalation is something the American people expect of their Congress.

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