Blunt Calls Iraq Resolution "A Vote for the Status Quo"

On the House floor, Rep. Roy Blunt today spoke strongly against a Congressional resolution opposing the troop surge in Iraq.

"What this resolution will not do is take a position on what we should do as we face the challenge of our generation," Blunt said on the House floor.

Blunt warned against the Congress making any tactical decisions, and said those should be left up to commanders in the field. "The resolution today is about the exact number of troops. Will the one tomorrow or next week be a vote on which block in Baghdad to target or which car to stop?," Blunt asked.

"Actions do have consequences. And this resolution the Democrats advanced today is a vote for the status quo. It's a vote for the current strategy, because it's a vote not to change that strategy," Blunt said.

"The current strategy isn't working and, as a Southwest Missourian told me yesterday, "We're there." He went on to say, "It really doesn't matter how we got there or what we thought, we're in a fight that won't stop if we leave."

Blunt said the language of the nonbinding resolution allows Congress to have it both ways, by "disproving the tactics, but supporting the troops."

"It doesn't say we'll fund the troops in the future or not fund the troops. It doesn't say we'll supply the troops in the future or not supply the troops," Blunt said. "This resolution just says enough not to say anything at all."