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Politics : THE VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (4535)	11/30/2003 12:37:45 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 6358

Bush displays needed resolve in Iraq Paul Crespo (archive) November 29, 2003 \| Print \| Send President Bush’s historic surprise visit to war-torn Baghdad on Thanksgiving was much more than just a morale boost for the troops or an election year campaign stunt. Bush’s dramatic trip vividly underscored America's commitment to promoting democracy and fighting terrorism in Iraq. Braving portable surface-to-air missiles that had recently downed military helicopters and a civilian transport jet -- the president showed remarkable courage and provided a needed assurance to the Iraqis – both friends and enemies -- that despite the challenges and casualties America will stay the course and finish the job. Bush, the first US president to visit Iraq, promised that terrorists and insurgents testing America's resolve will not be rewarded with a US retreat. "We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost of casualties, defeat a ruthless dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins," Bush confidently assured the enthusiastic troops. Though many in the United States and elsewhere fail to understand this basic concept, the United States is engaged in a long-term war of wills with anti-American zealots and Islamist fanatics. The president however does clearly realize that the Iraq campaign is simply part of a global war on terror and tyranny. Bush’s dramatic commitment to success in Iraq comes at a critical juncture as many fear steadily mounting casualties and election-year politics is affecting troop morale and could weaken American resolve to stabilize Iraq. Sadly, difficult conditions in Iraq, compounded greatly by the constant drumbeat of negative press and criticism back home, does erode the morale of US forces in Iraq and encourages the Iraqi insurgents. In Senate testimony the week prior, Pentagon officials acknowledged reports of morale problems in some units serving in Iraq and said the Army Reserve had fallen short of its goals for re-enlisting existing soldiers. Meanwhile, former Saddam loyalists and Al Qaeda terrorists watch the international press to gauge their own success. Unfortunately, in contrast to Bush’s steely resolve, cynical Democratic Party opponents who provide few concrete alternatives to Bush’s effort, continue to criticize the president and the war. In response to the Bush trip a spokesman for Democratic presidential front-runner, Howard Dean said: "It's nice that he made it over there today, but this visit won't change the fact that those brave men and women should never have been fighting in Iraq in the first place." According to the Dean campaign US troops killed in Iraq have died in vain. These are welcome words to the ears of Iraqi insurgents and certainly demoralizing to US forces in a war zone. Another presidential contender, Senator John Kerry, a Vietnam War veteran who voted in favor of the Congressional resolution that authorized Bush to use force against Saddam Hussein, echoed the defeatist Democratic theme stating: “When Thanksgiving is over, I hope the president will take the time to correct his failed policy in Iraq that has placed our soldiers in a shooting gallery.” But Kerry especially should understand that soldiers will be killed in any war, especially in a counter-insurgency campaign such as the one in Iraq. And while every individual US casualty is tragic, the 400-plus American casualties in Iraq -- by any historical standard -- are still militarily insignificant. The United States loses several hundred troops annually just in peacetime training accidents. While US troops in Iraq gained support, they were not the only ones energized by the Bush visit. Within hours pro-American Iraqis held a much needed massive demonstration in Baghdad denouncing terrorism. As ordinary Iraqis become convinced of the US commitment, we can expect more similar public displays. This is the key to turning things around in Iraq. The United States is accelerating the political transition of power to the Iraqis while also rapidly rebuilding Iraqi security forces. But Bush’s visit should emphasize that this does not mean America is withdrawing from its commitment. As planned troop rotations scheduled for the new year demonstrate, substantial US forces will remain in Iraq as long as it takes to bring security. Ultimately, victory in Iraq can be the only exit strategy. Paul Crespo is a public policy consultant and writer in Miami and Washington, DC. A former member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board, he now writes a regular column for The Herald on politics, military affairs and diplomacy. A former Marine Corps officer and military attache', he is also an adjunct professor of politics at the University of Miami. This column first appeared in Tiempos del Mundo. ©2003 Paul Crespo

To: calgal who wrote (4535)	11/30/2003 12:37:59 AM
From: calgal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6358

Senate Democratic Plumbers Robert Novak (archive) November 29, 2003 \| Print \| Send WASHINGTON -- Chairman Orrin Hatch angered fellow Republicans last week by opening Senate Judiciary Committee Republican e-mails to investigators probing leaks of Democratic e-mails. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist ordered full cooperation in the investigation of how Republicans obtained the committee's Democratic e-mails, which detailed the strategy for blocking President Bush's judicial nominations. Hatch responded with his order to open GOP e-mails to investigators. The Republican chairman also put one staffer on administrative leave. The investigation was triggered by Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the assistant Democratic floor leader who received some of the more important leaked e-mails. Rank-and-file Republican senators grumble that Frist and Hatch have permitted Durbin to obscure the substance of the e-mails, which showed left-wing special interest groups behind the filibusters preventing judicial confirmations. THE GENERAL RISES Retired Gen. Wesley Clark's influential New York liberal supporters, who were disappointed by the shaky start of his Democratic presidential campaign, were cheered by his performance in last Monday's Iowa debate. Clark's backers felt that for the first time, the former NATO supreme commander effectively presented his military credentials. They view that as his strongest asset against the Democratic front-runner, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. A footnote: Rep. Richard Gephardt's operatives claim that the fight for the Democratic nomination is a two-man race in which Gephardt is the only viable alternative to Dean. To counter that claim, Clark's supporters admit he must finish better than third in either Iowa on Jan. 19 or New Hampshire on Jan. 27. CHALLENGING DASCHLE? National Republican strategists have grown more optimistic that former Rep. John Thune will run against Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota next year. Thune was thought inclined not to run for the Senate again after being narrowly defeated last year by Sen. Tim Johnson. However, he has been convinced that the South Dakota Republican turnout will be much better in 2004, with George W. Bush heading the ticket, than in 2002. National Democratic strategists consider South Dakota a cinch for Daschle's re-election unless Thune runs. IMMIGRATION AND MEDICARE Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California conservative who often violates Republican discipline, supplied the decisive vote to pass the Medicare bill in the House after being misled on federal health care for illegal aliens. As late as 3 a.m. last Saturday (two hours before the bill passed), ex-Ronald Reagan speechwriter Rohrabacher was ready to break party lines and vote against the bill because it expands health care for illegals. The Republican leadership won his vote by promising to put in the catchall appropriations bill a provision requiring hospitals to report to border control the names of illegals that they treat. When that massive spending measure became public Tuesday, however, Rohrabacher found no such provision. A footnote: Rep. Ernest Istook of Oklahoma, one of the most conservative House members, voted for the bill Saturday after casting a "present" vote on the less liberal bill adopted by the House in June. Istook accepted the Republican leadership's claim that a more liberal measure would be passed if this one failed. LIFE FOR MEDICARE The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) is moving toward making a congressional vote for the Medicare bill a plus on the organization's anti-abortion rating for members of Congress. An "advisory" sent out by NRLC Tuesday said it has "received assurances" that the bill's final version protects senior citizens from government-imposed rationing of health care, which it considers "a dangerous form of involuntary euthanasia." NRLC said it is checking the complicated bill itself before deciding whether to score the bill on its tally card. The possibility of such a rating angers conservatives who voted against the Medicare bill and do not want that to become a stain on their perfect anti-abortion record. It particularly concerns pro-life Rep. Pat Toomey, who is challenging pro-choice Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Republican primary. ©2003 Creators Syndicate, Inc.