White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton pulls out the big guns on SM Harry Reid (from Drudge, h/t Blogs For Bush) with a letter that refutes the Dems "plan for Iraq." B4B highlights this line:
Your letter recites four elements of a proposed “new direction” in Iraq. Three of those elements reflect well-established Administration policy; the fourth is dangerously misguided.
The fourth being
On the fourth element of your proposed “new direction,” however, we do disagree strongly. Our strategy calls for redeploying troops from Iraq as conditions on the ground allow, when the Iraqi Security Forces are capable of defending their nation, and when our military commanders believe the time is right. Your proposal is driven by none of these factors; instead, it would have U.S. forces begin withdrawing from Iraq by the end of the year, without regard to the conditions on the ground. Because your letter lacks specifics, it is difficult to determine exactly what is contemplated by the “phased redeployment” you propose. (One such proposal, advanced by Representative Murtha, a signatory to your letter, suggested that U.S. forces should be redeployed as a “quick reaction force” to Okinawa, which is nearly 5,000 miles from Baghdad).
But that one was the red meat for the Defeatocrats, with the other three as just wrapping paper around the rotting fish. Todays Democrats would love to repeat their "victory" in surrendering to the North Vietnamese in a war Democrats started!
Regardless of the specifics you envision by “phased redeployment,” any premature withdrawal of U.S forces would have disastrous consequences for America’s security. Such a policy would embolden our terrorist enemies; betray the hopes of the Iraqi people; lead to a terrorist state in control of huge oil reserves; shatter the confidence our regional allies have in America; undermine the spread of democracy in the Middle East; and mean the sacrifices of American troops would have been in vain. This “new direction” would lead to a crippling defeat for America and a staggering victory for Islamic extremists. That is not a direction this President will follow. The President is being guided by a commitment to victory — and that plan, in turn, is being driven by the counsel and recommendations of our military commanders in the region.
The President's vision of victory is quite different from that of Harry Reid and the Braying Asses. W sees victory as a free and safe Iraq, which will help spread democracy and freedom throughout the Middle East. He sees this as one means to reduce the power of extremist islam.
The Democrats see victory as regaining Congress, at the expense of everything else. They see the defeat of the USA in Iraq as a means to regaining the Congress. They see cavorting and providing aid and comfort as a means to regaining the Congress. They see using terrorist talking points as a means of regaining the Congress.
Sad isn't it?
