Americans want Congress to stop the escalation

From Gallup, via TPM:

PRINCETON, NJ -- The American public is more in favor of Congress passing legislation that would set caps on the number of U.S. troops serving in Iraq and a timetable for withdrawal of all troops than they are in favor of Congress passing a non-binding resolution expressing disfavor with the recently announced troop "surge," while 6 out of 10 Americans oppose the surge. A majority of Americans continue to say that U.S. military involvement in Iraq was a mistake. Many Americans say that their congressional representative's position on the war will be an important factor in their congressional vote next year, but most do not know what their representative's position on the troop surge is.

Overall, the Gallup poll finds that "the increase in U.S. troops in Iraq is opposed by a 60% to 38% margin."

Similarly, a CBS News poll finds that 45% of Americans want Congress to block funding for more troops, and another 8% want to block all funding for the war.

A poll in USA Today shows that 63% of Americans want all troops home by the end of 2008.

While Mike Rogers hasn't explicity stated his opposition to Bush's escalation, he has offered his own alternative plan for success in Iraq. Of course, Congress will not be debating the merits of Rep. Rogers' plan for Iraq this week. Instead, they will be debating the democrats' straightforward resolution:

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That—

(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and
(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 2 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.

Each member of the House will be allotted five minutes to voice their opinons on this matter. We look forward to hearing what Mike Rogers has to say, and are anxious to see how he chooses to vote.

Just remember, as the Gallup poll pointed out:

Many Americans say that their congressional representative's position on the war will be an important factor in their congressional vote next year

We have long memories.