Majority of NM Congressional Delegation Skeptical On Sending More Troops to Iraq

Are the realities on the ground in Iraq FINALLY penetrating even the minds of Republicans? According to an Albuquerque Journal article, the entire New Mexico congressional delegation, except for Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM-02), is voicing serious concerns about Bush's proposal to send up to 30,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq:

Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM):
"It's not going to do any good to send 30,000 more troops and equipment unless we know what we'll have them do. This war is taking a toll on many people. It's dragging on. I'm very hopeful that the president will come up with something better than this idea of a surge (in troops).

Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM):
"Putting more troops in Iraq is at odds with the recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Iraq Study Group, and some top military leaders on the ground. I have very grave concerns about pursuing this option."

Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM-01):
Rep. Wilson "believes we need to clarify the mission and objectives before sending additional forces into Baghdad," said Enrique Carlos Knell, Wilson's communications director. "Over the last three weeks, Rep. Wilson has been meeting with experts inside and outside the government on the situation in the Middle East. She expects to have more to say in early January."

Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM-02):
"The United States must do whatever it takes to achieve victory in Iraq. Increasing American troop levels could significantly help the security situation, which must improve for freedom and democracy to have a chance. More troops would demonstrate America's consistent resolve ... in the Global War on Terror."

Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM-03):
In an interview, Udall called for an immediate pullout of U.S. troops in Iraq with redeployment to other strategic locations in the Middle East. Udall said that option would take at least six to nine months. "I don't think this (proposed surge in troops) is a good idea," Udall said. "We should begin a phased redeployment of our troops outside of Iraq now."

... He said he is unsure if the new Democratic Congress will shut off the Iraq war's spending spigot. "I think it's too early to tell on that," Udall said, adding that Democrats will insist on "very specific" benchmarks and instructions for future Iraq spending.

Latest Polling:
According to the latest CNN poll, only 11% of those polled support sending additional troops to Iraq. Moreover:

Only 32 percent said they would support keeping U.S. troops in Iraq "as long as necessary" to hand over control to a new Iraqi government. By comparison, 21 percent said they wanted to see Americans leave immediately, and 33 percent said they wanted to see a U.S. withdrawal within a year.

And according to a McClatchy Newspapers article:

Bush's overall job-approval rating hovers in the mid-30s, but support for his handling of Iraq has plummeted to the low to mid-20s, with disapproval around 70 percent, according to three national polls in mid-December. Fully 62 percent said it was "a mistake" to send U.S. troops to Iraq, according to a CBS poll taken Dec. 8-10.