Democrats are taking House Minority Leader John Boehner to task for calling U.S. troop deaths in Iraq “a small price” to pay for achieving U.S. goals there. Bohener made the comments during an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

Wolf Blitzer: “Here’s the question: How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out $2 billion a week or $3 billion a week, as some now are suggesting the cost is going to endure — the loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month? How much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment, is going to be — is going to require?”

Rep. John Boehner: “I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We’re making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here, because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we’re making today will be a small price if we’re able to stop al-Qaeda here. If we’re able to stabilize the Middle East, it’s not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids.”

Democrats are calling on Boehner to retract his statement and apologize.