I'm dumbfounded by what I've been hearing during the debates and in interviews with prominent Democrats following President Bush's Sunday speech requesting $87 billion for the military and the reconstruction of Iraq.

More than one Democratic presidential candidate at Tuesday's debate suggested that they would approve the portion of the $87 billion allocated for the military, but would withhold the portion for reconstruction in Iraq. Other Democrats in Congress have made similar pronouncements.

Democrats, once upon a time, used to complain that Republican presidents didn't want to spend money in foreign aid. Republicans, likewise, used to say that the cash was better spent here at home.

How times have changed.

Democrat threats to shortchange Iraq are not mere disagreements over spending priorities, they are an effort to turn their "quagmire" rhetoric into reality. As Maj. Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division has said: "Money is ammunition."

A lack of funds to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure only raises the level of discontent among the population. A lack of funds to put Iraqis back to work only threatens the welfare of our soldiers -- idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Democrats say they support our troops, but voting against funding to rebuild Iraq puts the lie to that claim.

If Democrats truly want the United States to succeed in Iraq...

If they want a stable, peaceful Democratic Iraq...

Then the talk of Bush administration "lies," "quagmire" and "failure" need to stop.

Unfortunately, that won't happen. Today's Democrat party is more concerned with politics than with America.