Sirota:OP-ED: In '06, Who Must Answer for 9/11?

[cal04]

The Washington Examiner today published a new op-ed of mine that uses the Ohio Senate race to explore how the GOP is playing with fire in their new Rove-esque attempts to attack Democrats on national security. As I point out, the national security equation has dramatically changed - and the more Republicans go down this route, the better Democrats' chances are in 2006.

This is especially true if Democrats have the courage to stand up and stay on the attack when the GOP barrage comes. Rather than hide from the issue or try to embrace the GOP in more me-too-ism, Democrats have a chance to redefine the national security debate on their own terms - and on terms that relate to reality.

For too long, foreign policy elites in Washington of both parties have defined national security "strength" as willingness by politicians sitting in their comfortable, well-guarded Beltway offices to indiscriminately bomb/invade foreign countries, with little regard for why the military action is taken, or the wider ramifications of the action on America's long-term security. That definition of "strength" also includes politicians' total obedience in handing over more and more money to an intelligence/defense apparatus, even if that money is not going to address the most imminent security threats America faces.

Now, with both Iraq and 9/11, Democrats have the chance to actually tell the truth, and further, win elections by telling the truth. On Iraq, the invading-automatically-equals-strength paradigm has clearly been exposed as a fraud. That strategy hasn't strengthened our security - it has severely weakened it, and polls show the American public fundamentally understands this truth. The real definition of strength is building sturdy international coalitions and having a real plan for victory - one where politicians hiding behind their security details don't spew "bring it on" rhetoric while indefinitely leaving American soldiers as targets in a Baghdad shooting gallery. By those metrics, today's GOP and the D.C. foreign policy gliterrati that back up their exremist policies are among the weakest national security actors in American history.

more
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/24/132916/927
http://www.examiner.com/a-189310~David_Sirota__Who_must_really_answer_for_Sept__11_.html

[chill_wind]

1. K&R nt

[TrogL]

2. Reality?!?!? You've got to be kidding

I've got the perfect campaign slogan.

"Seen the price of gas lately?"