The Republicans have accused the Democrats of proposing a 'slow bleed' strategy: 1) "designed to gradually limit the administration's options" and 2) "to block further relief and reinforcement for American troops, leaving them exposed and unable to succeed." (See Weekly Standard)
I would agree with the first definition and fight like hell against the second one. However, it seems to me that the Republican bloviating is designed to draw attention from the own 'fast bleed' strategy...
- Bleed the American treasury dry as fast as possible. BushCo came into office and their eyes lit up at the golden goose of the full treasury left by Clinton. They must have thought, 'It's wrong to have all this money in the government's hands. We have to transfer this to private hands.' And that has been the great accomplishment of the Bush administration -- to bankrupt the American taxpayer to enrich the multinational corporations.
- Bleed the military of its capability so that 1) the US will increasingly rely on private-sector mercenaries and b) need to expend taxpayer funds (i.e. transfer money to the private sector) for a decade to come to revitalize its governmental military capacity.
- Bleed Iraq of its oil. (enough said)
- Bleed Iraqi society of all human value, both as an act of vengeance and to promote the destruction of Middle East peace and initiate the 'rapture.'
In a nutshell, the Republican fast bleed strategy:
1) Bleed the treasury dry
2) Bleed American soldiers for oil
3) Bleed Iraq to avenge Bush Sr.
4) Bleed the Middle East to keep the region in conflict.
Republican also have their own cut-and-run strategy:
Cut the checks and run their mouths...cause they sure as hell can't run the government.