THE DEMOCRATS’ PLAN FOR IRAQ: LOSE, LEAVE AND WAIT
LOSE: Democrats want to cut-and-run and dishonor the sacrifices of the soldiers who are doing such a great job and sacrificing so much;
LEAVE: They want us to leave, signaling to the world that the United States no longer stands for freedom, democracy and the defense of human rights in the face of terrorism;
WAIT: They prefer the French model-wait for the terrorists to bring their murder and destruction to the home-front.
THE RHETORIC OF DEFEAT:
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA): “I Believe Before The Iraqi Elections, Scheduled For Mid-December, The Iraqi People And The Emerging Government Must Be Put On Notice. The United States Will Immediately Redeploy.” [CNN’s “Live Event,” 11/17/05]
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): “I Respect The Opinion [Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)] Expressed … What He Said Was That Under The Present Plan, The War Is Unwinnable.” [Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Press Conference, 5/20/04]
Pelosi: “Each Passing Day Confirms That The Iraq War Has Been A Grotesque Mistake.” [Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Congressional Record, 6/16/05, p. H4569]
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY): “[The Iraq War] Is The Biggest Fraud Ever Committed On The People Of This Country. … This Is Just As Bad As The 6 Million Jews Being Killed.” [Lloyd Grove, “Rangel In ‘Holocaust’ Firestorm,” New York Daily News, 6/9/05]
WHAT DO THE GENERALS THINK ABOUT THIS STRATEGY?
From today’s Washington Post, “General Decries Call For Timetable in Iraq“:
Army Maj. Gen. William Webster: “Setting a date would mean that the 221 soldiers I’ve lost this year, that their lives will have been lost in vain,” said, whose 3rd Infantry Division is responsible for security in three-fourths of Iraq’s capital.
Making up the bulk of Task Force Baghdad, the 3rd Infantry patrols some of the most dangerous turf in Iraq, encountering massive bombs and suicide assaults in attacks that Webster said average 35 a day in the city.
Iraq’s armed factions would likely take a cue from a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal to lie low, gathering their strength and laying plans for renewed conflict when theAmericans leave, Webster said.
While the United States has an exit strategy from Iraq, Webster said he believed leaders had yet to fix a plan setting dates for phased withdrawals. “I think it’s a recipe for disaster,” he said of the demands for such deadlines.
“Setting a date is a loser.”
THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN:
“Our strategy is to clear, hold, and build. We’re working to clear areas from terrorist control, to hold those areas securely, and to build lasting, democratic Iraqi institutions.” [President Bush, Bolling AFB, 10/25/05]
PROGRESS IN IRAQ:
- As of October 31, 2005, a total of 210,400 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have been trained and equipped. This number includes 99,600 Ministry of Defense forces and 110,800 Ministry of Interior Forces including police and highway patrol.
- 36 Army battalions and three combat support battalions are leading the fight in their areas, a 71% increase since March.
- A total of 2,939 new police officers graduated from basic police training courses throughout Iraq and Jordan on October 27. To date, more than 50,800 Iraqi police have completed the basic training course.
(Source: House Armed Services Committee)
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