In advance of President Obama’s Tuesday night speech on Iraq, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, was set to remind thousands of veterans attending the national convention of the American Legion that Mr. Obama and other Democrats had opposed the military escalation credited with gains in Iraq, according to a blog in The New York Times.

“This day belongs to our troops, whose courage and sacrifices have made the transition to a new mission in Iraq possible,” Mr. Boehner said in excerpts of the speech he was to deliver Tuesday at the legion’s national convention in Milwaukee.

“Some leaders who opposed, criticized, and fought tooth-and-nail to stop the surge strategy now proudly claim credit for the results,” Mr. Boehner’s speech said.

It was the second time in a week that Mr. Boehner, who is line to become speaker should Republicans gain control of the House next year, has taken on the president in a major speech. In an address last week to the City Club of Cleveland, Mr. Boehner called on the president to fire his economic team and assailed the administration’s approach to trying to energize the struggling economy.

Mr. Boehner hit that theme again Tuesday.

“Stimulus spending sprees, permanent bailouts, federal mandates and government takeovers have failed this nation and have failed our veterans,” he said in his remarks.

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