Hey! The Dems FINALLY Get Behind Withdrawing from Bush's Unpopular War – Sort of
by Rick Klein, Boston Globe
[Blog for Iowa comments are between brackets.]
WASHINGTON – After months [um, YEARS?] of trying unsuccessfully to
develop a common message on [Bush's War], Democratic Party “leaders”
are beginning to coalesce around a broad plan to begin a “quick”
withdrawal of US troops and install them elsewhere in the region, where
they could respond to emergencies in Iraq and help fight terrorism in
other countries. [Can we just get away from this GOP meme that our ARMY
or even ANY army can “fight terrorism?” It's like saying we don't
have a plan to “win the peace.” What peace, for heaven's sake?]
The concept, dubbed ''strategic redeployment,” is outlined in a slim,
nine-page report coauthored by a former Reagan administration assistant
Defense secretary, Lawrence J. Korb, in the fall. It sets a goal of a
phased troop withdrawal that would take nearly all US troops out of
Iraq by the end of 2007 [and this is considered quick?] …
Howard Dean, Democratic National Committee chairman, has endorsed
Korb's paper and begun mentioning it in meetings with local Democratic
groups. In addition, the study's concepts have been touted by the
senator assigned to bring Democrats together on Iraq – Jack Reed of
Rhode Island – and the report has been circulated among all senators
by Senator Dianne Feinstein, an influential moderate Democrat from
California. [Well, at least they are trying to look like they're
organized.] …
Many leading Democrats say the Korb plan represents an answer to
Republicans' oft-repeated charge that Democrats aren't offering a way
forward on Iraq [because, if Democrats DO offer a way to get out of
Iraq, the Republicans call them disloyal and unpatriotic and
traitors. Go figure….]
''We're not going to cut and run – that's just Republican propaganda,”
Dean said in a speech Feb. 10 in Boston. ''But we are going to redeploy
our troops so they don't have targets on their backs, and they're not
breaking down doors and putting themselves in the line of fire all the
time. . . . It's a sensible plan. It's a thoughtful plan. I think
Democrats can coalesce around it.”
[For heaven's sake, Howard – CUT AND RUN! What are we doing there
in the first place? How many more of our loved ones have to
die? How many more Iraqis do we have to murder in their beds?]
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