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Analysis: Selling a 'Surge' to Americans

Council on Foreign Relations

January 10, 2007
Prepared by: Lionel Beehner

President Bush is expected to call for a surge (USNews.com) of twenty thousand troops, or five combat brigades, bringing the total number of U.S. forces in Iraq to roughly 160,000. The plan will likely focus on clearing Baghdad and Anbar province of Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias with the help of Iraqi—and Kurdish peshmerga—forces and set benchmarks for the Iraqis to meet. A dramatic surge in reconstruction aid would also follow.

Ahead of Bush’s formal announcement, the surge idea has set off a spirited debate in the halls of Congress, not least because of U.S. public opinion turning against deploying (Gallup) more forces. Even members of the U.S. military increasingly disapprove of the idea (Military Times). There are new Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate, yet the power to wage and escalate war still rests in the White House. Still, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), echoing Democratic leaders in both chambers, pointed out Congress’ “power of the purse” (Reuters) on NBC’s Today Show, suggesting Democrats may withhold funds for future troop increases. In general, Democratic leaders have vowed greater oversight of defense appropriations, such as the administration’s plan to ask Congress for another $100 billion in emergency “supplemental” funds to finance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This Backgrounder outlines the defense budgetary process.

Bush has spent much of the week meeting with congressional leaders to garner support for his plan (LAT). Many Republicans say the risks of withdrawal are too great for Iraq and region.

Read the rest of this article on the cfr.org website.

Copyright 2007 by the Council on Foreign Relations. This material is republished on GlobalSecurity.org with specific permission from the cfr.org. Reprint and republication queries for this article should be directed to cfr.org.