Vilsack wants funding for more troops blocked
8:20 AM
Posted: Wednesday, January 10, 2007
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack called Tuesday for Congress to block funding for additional troops in Iraq.
But he said he's leery of using purse strings to shrink the U.S. presence in Iraq. His comments came before President Bush was expected to announce plans to send 20,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq.
Vilsack, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, said the nation needs to let Bush know that he doesn't have a blank check for the war.
"I think it's one way of absolutely putting that on the table," Vilsack told The Associated Press. "Mr. President, you don't have a blank check. Congress basically made a mistake by giving him a blank check at the beginning of this process. Now they are basically saying you don't get a second blank check."
Vilsack used his annual Condition of the State speech delivered earlier in the day to urge the Iowa Legislature to approve a resolution opposing Bush's effort to expand the number of troops in Iraq.
It was Vilsack's last high profile speech before ending his eight-year tenure as governor. Democrat Chet Culver will be sworn in as governor on Friday.
While congressional Democrats have raised the potential of not funding the increase in troops, some war critics have suggested that Congress could use its budget authority to pressure Bush to begin pulling troops out. Vilsack wasn't willing to take that step.
"I think we take the first step and see what kind of reaction we get from the administration," he said. "I'm not willing to suggest we have a cutting off of funds that would really put people in greater danger than they are today."
Vilsack said his role as governor uniquely qualifies him to address the issue.
"I have a unique perspective as the commander in chief of the National Guard troops," he said. "Talk to the rank and file. They've already been deployed once and in some cases twice."
Added to that, National Guard gear deployed to Iraq doesn't return when the troops come home, leaving units in desperate need of equipment.
Vilsack said the result has been on overwhelming strain on units which still have a primary mission that's domestic in nature.
"The next generation of Guard members will be less prepared than this current generation for all the other responsibilities they have," Vilsack said. "It would be one thing if all those other responsibilities sort of stopped, but we have fires in the West and floods and we have tornadoes and we have activities in all 50 states in which the Guard is required."
Vilsack said the debate can't simply be in Washington, but at all levels.
"I think the country has found its voice," Vilsack said. "Unfortunately, I don't think the president is listening to it."
He rejected suggestions that it has taken Democrats and other war critics far too long to make their opposition clear.
"I think it was important for everybody in the country to understand and appreciate the politics of this, that Democrats are indeed supportive of the troops," Vilsack said. "If you had come to too quick a judgment on that, that might have been read as a lack of support for the troops."
Vilsack said support for the troops is a key factor for critics.
"There is more than one way to support the troops," he said. "One way to support them is by not putting more of them in harms way."
AP-CS-01-10-07 0104EST
But he said he's leery of using purse strings to shrink the U.S. presence in Iraq. His comments came before President Bush was expected to announce plans to send 20,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq.
Vilsack, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, said the nation needs to let Bush know that he doesn't have a blank check for the war.
"I think it's one way of absolutely putting that on the table," Vilsack told The Associated Press. "Mr. President, you don't have a blank check. Congress basically made a mistake by giving him a blank check at the beginning of this process. Now they are basically saying you don't get a second blank check."
Vilsack used his annual Condition of the State speech delivered earlier in the day to urge the Iowa Legislature to approve a resolution opposing Bush's effort to expand the number of troops in Iraq.
It was Vilsack's last high profile speech before ending his eight-year tenure as governor. Democrat Chet Culver will be sworn in as governor on Friday.
While congressional Democrats have raised the potential of not funding the increase in troops, some war critics have suggested that Congress could use its budget authority to pressure Bush to begin pulling troops out. Vilsack wasn't willing to take that step.
"I think we take the first step and see what kind of reaction we get from the administration," he said. "I'm not willing to suggest we have a cutting off of funds that would really put people in greater danger than they are today."
Vilsack said his role as governor uniquely qualifies him to address the issue.
"I have a unique perspective as the commander in chief of the National Guard troops," he said. "Talk to the rank and file. They've already been deployed once and in some cases twice."
Added to that, National Guard gear deployed to Iraq doesn't return when the troops come home, leaving units in desperate need of equipment.
Vilsack said the result has been on overwhelming strain on units which still have a primary mission that's domestic in nature.
"The next generation of Guard members will be less prepared than this current generation for all the other responsibilities they have," Vilsack said. "It would be one thing if all those other responsibilities sort of stopped, but we have fires in the West and floods and we have tornadoes and we have activities in all 50 states in which the Guard is required."
Vilsack said the debate can't simply be in Washington, but at all levels.
"I think the country has found its voice," Vilsack said. "Unfortunately, I don't think the president is listening to it."
He rejected suggestions that it has taken Democrats and other war critics far too long to make their opposition clear.
"I think it was important for everybody in the country to understand and appreciate the politics of this, that Democrats are indeed supportive of the troops," Vilsack said. "If you had come to too quick a judgment on that, that might have been read as a lack of support for the troops."
Vilsack said support for the troops is a key factor for critics.
"There is more than one way to support the troops," he said. "One way to support them is by not putting more of them in harms way."
AP-CS-01-10-07 0104EST
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 4 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Thomas Wayne wrote on Jan 11, 2007 2:28 PM:
Brenda Nosbish wrote on Jan 11, 2007 1:42 PM:
Jesuree Elliott wrote on Jan 11, 2007 11:53 AM:
Leah Cauthron wrote on Jan 10, 2007 9:31 AM: