In an April 24 article, the Greeley Tribune repeated almost verbatim a press release from U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) that was critical of a Democratic-sponsored Iraq funding bill conference report passed by the Senate. In nearly identical wording to Allard's press release, with the exception of some misspellings, the Tribune reported that “U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., has expressed his desdain [sic] today for the supplemental troop funding bill conference report approved Monday evening, calling the legislation 'a surrender document' and demanding that Congress stop playing political games and pass a funding measure for soldiers in the field.” The Tribune, however, failed to provide a Democratic response to Allard's criticisms or seek comment from Colorado's other U.S. senator, Democrat Ken Salazar.

From the April 24 Greeley Tribune article “Allard calls for 'clean Iraq bill' ”:

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., has expressed his desdain today for the supplemental troop funding bill conference report approved Monday evening, calling the legislation “a surrender document” and demanding that Congress stop playing political games and pass a funding measure for soldiers in the field.

[...]

“Many members have extolled the virtues of the General [David Petraeus] -- his education, his leadership, his commitment to his soldiers. Unfortunately, we are still confronted with the reality that some want to tie General Petraeus' hands. Confusingly enough, they want to reject the strategy General Petraeus has proposed in Iraq, even before he has been given the full opportunity to perform his mission,” Allard said.

“Why would we support him and recognize his stellar career with a unanimous nomination vote, but not give him the means to get the job done? For what reason did my colleagues agree to send him to Iraq as the commander of our forces? His strategy in Iraq was made very clear, both publicly and privately, and yet we are not willing to support it,” Allard said.

“I ask my colleagues to reject this bill, and let us craft a 'clean' funding bill that will meet the priorities and needs of our men and women in Iraq,” he said.

From Sen. Wayne Allard's press release “Allard calls supplemental spending bill 'Iraq surrender document' -- Allard: 'Congress Should Pass Clean Bill and Let General Petraeus do the Job We Confirmed Him to Do' ”:

April 24th, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) took the floor of the U.S. Senate today to express his disdain for the supplemental troop funding bill conference report approved Monday evening, calling the legislation “a surrender document” and demanding that Congress stop playing political games and pass a funding measure for our soldiers in the field.

A portion of Allard's comments are below:

“Many members have extolled the virtues of the General -- his education, his leadership, his commitment to his soldiers. Unfortunately, we are still confronted with the reality that some want to tie General Petraeus' hands. Confusingly enough, they want to reject the strategy General Petraeus has proposed in Iraq, even before he has been given the full opportunity to perform his mission.

Why would we support him and recognize his stellar career with a unanimous nomination vote, but not give him the means to get the job done? For what reason did my colleagues agree to send him to Iraq as the commander of our forces? His strategy in Iraq was made very clear, both publicly and privately, and yet we are not willing to support it.

We need to avoid micromanaging the war from the floor of the Senate, let our commander-in-chief perform his duties, and let our military leaders do their jobs. If we don't support them fully in the Supplemental bill, then I must continue to vote against any legislation that sets arbitrary deadlines and thresholds in Iraq -- and plead with my colleagues to do the same.

[...]

I ask my colleagues to reject this bill, and let us craft a 'clean' funding bill that will meet the priorities and needs of our men and women in Iraq.”

As Colorado Media Matters has noted, the U.S. Senate on March 29 passed a spending bill that provides funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and also mandates that U.S. troops begin redeploying from Iraq within 120 days of the bill's passage, with a nonbinding goal of ending combat operations there by March 31, 2008. Salazar voted in favor of the bill, while Allard voted against it. The U.S. House of Representatives passed an emergency supplemental spending bill on March 23. The Senate and House are expected to reconcile the bills in conference and send a final version to the president for his signature. President Bush has promised to veto any bill if it includes a timeline for the redeployment of troops from Iraq.