This week, the Senate is considering a bill that would cut off the funding for our troops serving in Iraq. On four previous occasions, the Senate has rejected similar measures to cut troop funding.

The Courier-Journal covers Sen. McConnell's comments on the Senate floor.

... [Senator Mitch McConnell] decried two bills by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wisc., one that would direct the administration to produce a new strategy within 60 days for defeating al-Qaida, and the other imposing a troop withdrawal deadline.

"Congress needs to stop considering this war in fits and starts and through piecemeal debates," McConnell told his colleagues in a Senate floor speech. "We need to understand that our interests in the Persian Gulf and Iraq are longstanding, and will not vanish just because we have a presidential election in November. We can't wish the dangers away."

The Senate GOP leader said "it would be irresponsible to cut off funds for troops in the field."

"We will not pass a bill that does so," McConnell said. "...We are ready to provide all of the resources required to defeat al-Qaida, to include: quick passage of the Defense Appropriations Supplemental, full funding of the 2009 Defense Appropriations Act, and passage of a FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) bill that will allow our intelligence community to hunt terrorists."