Will Democrats offer voters clear Iraq choice?

Democrats see troops in Iraq for years
“We probably want to be intertwined with their military — assuming we’re invited to do so —giving logistical, intelligence and conventional support for years in the future,” Marshall said.

Will the American people have the patience to sustain this? “I certainly hope so,” he said. “We did it for Germany, we did it for Japan, we’ve done it for Korea; we’ve been in the Philippines for the longest time.”

Due to redistricting controlled by Georgia Republicans, Marshall’s district has shifted from a 52 percent Republican district, as measured by performance in presidential races, to one closer to 58 percent Republican. He will face a well-funded opponent next year, former Rep. Mac Collins.

Ford is another Southern Democrat with a lot at stake in his party’s Iraq debate. He is giving up his House seat next year to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Harold Ford said, “We’ve got to figure how we can get out in a way that we maintain some dignity and honesty.”

So what changes will Americans see if Ford is elected to the Senate and there’s a Democratic House? “The notion of staying the course — we’ll actually define what that means. I think there will be a more concerted effort to involve the international community (in Iraq). I think there’ll be a more concerted effort to provide our military commanders with the resources they need to train the Iraqi military and forces. I think there’ll be a greater movement to involve the United Nations and the Arab League and other nations who have a stake in the outcome of our efforts.”

Asked for his definition of “victory” in Iraq, Ford said, “The Iraqis being able to govern themselves with a military and a police force that can defend the government’s stances and policies.”

Cut off funding?
In the end, whether on Iraq or any other policy question, the most important power Congress has is its control of the budgetary strings.

“I’d never support a resolution that undercuts the troops when they are out in the field in fighting a war,” Murtha said when asked about making further funding contingent on the kind of redeployment of troops that he has proposed. “I’m not at a point where I’d support something like that.”

Asked whether the cutoff of funding for the Iraq operation wasn’t the only leverage Congress had to change the policy, Murtha said, “I hope in the end it won’t be. It may be in the end. But at this stage I don’t think we need to go to that extreme yet.”

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