John Burns, the Baghdad bureau chief for the New York Times, has said the troop surge in Baghdad is making a difference. Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-highest ranking Democrat, was recently interviewed on CNN and said the surge is making real progress. Several other Democrats have given similar assessments.

Yet Tom Allen, a single-issue candidate, supports legislation to cut funds to force the President to return the troops. Apparently Rep. Allen made up his mind before he went to Iraq. Other Democrats, Tim Mahoney, Jerry Monterey, Carl Levin, Jack Reed and Bob Casey, have all acknowledged military progress in Iraq.

Rep. Tom Allen seems to be showing his liberal philosophy.

Tom Fox, Sabattus