"Yeah, that was before the "surge", that was before it was demanded of Congress that they stop giving the president the money for war, and that was before this all started to go down hill rapidly."

The "surge" began as proposal sometime in late '06, and started to be implemented early '07 and as far getting these troops to Iraq, this was completed around mid-June and is currently being done.
So yes, the surge encompasses this time frame of declining congressional approval. And it's fair to say that previous congress was leaving as the surge was suggested as a course of action and that the current Congress supported the surge. Just as current Congress approved of a new Sec of Def and the new commander in charge operations in Iraq. So, it's fair to say that current congress "owns" the surge.

Now, your point about "that was before it was demanded of Congress that they stop giving the president the money for "war" is unclear as to what you mean- particular the part of about "before it was demanded".
Now, an effort to defund this war began before the war started [including the war in Afghanistan] but so far even with Dem leadership the Congress has been unwilling to do this- though a few members have been willing from the beginning- and of course as Kerry said he voted against it before voted for it [or was it for it before he was against it- but needless to say some of them have been flip flopping around and doing various political moves].

And I don't know what to make of your statement of:
"What you see as an excuse; I see as blame."