PNAC: Kerry not scaring people enough.

[Renew Deal]

Enjoy:

August 11, 2004

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: GARY SCHMITT

SUBJECT: "Get our troops home" - Part II: Is Kerry undermining the effort in Iraq right now?

Sen. Kerry's recent emphasis on getting our troops home - "where they belong" - not only has implications for the broader war on terror but also for the current conflict in Iraq. With his repeated promises to "bring the troops home," Kerry may be damaging international efforts to reconstruct and stabilize Iraq right now.

Experts in counterinsurgency know that the key to defeating an insurgent force is gaining and keeping the support of the population in which the insurgency operates. And the key to gaining that public support is not only providing the people with a reasonable level of personal security now, but also convincing them that they will continue to enjoy security and stability in the future. Only when a population is no longer intimidated by insurgents in their midst, and only when a population thinks the government and allied forces will eventually win, will an insurgency begin losing the cover it needs to survive.

Sen. Kerry's repeated assertion that he will bring American forces home in his first year in office may be undermining the effort to stabilize Iraq even today. For Kerry is signaling both our friends and enemies in Iraq that the U.S. may not remain in Iraq for as long as needed to create stability, that the United States may be short of breath and looking for the exits. It does not help for Kerry to make airy promises about bringing other international forces into Iraq to replace the American forces he plans to withdraw. No Iraqi, friend or foe, can believe the French or Germans are on their way to Iraq next year, even if Kerry is president. Under the circumstances, suggesting that other states will step in to help carry the burden when no one believes that is likely just reaffirms in Iraqi minds that Kerry may want to pull the plug on our operations in Iraq and thus abandon the goal of creating a decent, stable and representative government in Iraq.

Sen. Kerry seems to be vacillating, almost on a daily basis, between an impulse to be responsible on such issues as Iraq and a tendency to play to the left-wing isolationism now rampant in the Democratic Party. We would urge him to take the responsible course now on Iraq and stop talking about pulling out the troops if elected. After all, Kerry might actually find himself in the White House, and then he will reap the consequences if his campaign rhetoric undermines international efforts to secure a stable Iraq.

http://newamericancentury.org/defense-20040811.htm

I didn't see anywhere where Kerry promised to bring the troops home now or early. But that second paragraph looks like it's saying people aren't afraid of the "insurgents" enough.

[xray s]

1. well...this article proves how badly Bush has fucked up

Bush was the one who did not listen to his military commanders and put far to few troops in Iraq to provide security after the invasion.

So...this is a damnation of Bush's Iraq policies.

Thanks PNAC!

[BootinUp]

2. Kerry would tie any force reduction to achieving stability

I didn't see it in his latest speech/Press release, but that is his Iraq plan as far as I know. I'm sure it would be on his website. This article is ignoring Kerry's real position, and doing more damage to the image of our country's resolve than Kerry is.

[mike_c]

5. that's why I oppose his candidacy....

I'm one of those left wing rampant isolationists. "...our country's resolve"? Wrongheaded resolve is not a noble characteristic.

[BootinUp]

6. But by international laws

We are responsible to clean up the mess. What I believe should happen is we deal in as many other countries as possible, including Arab nations and remove ourselves as quickly as possible.

Kerry's position is not that much different than Kucinich's. I am talking about now, not prior to invasion. And I do not believe we would be in there if Kerry or Gore where President immediately after 9/11.

[mike_c]

8. by international law and by U.S. treaty...

...we should not have made the mess in the first place. The treaties that prohibited the invasion, e.g. the U.N. Charter, should take precedence. The U.S. should not be a part of "cleaning up the mess" because our presence there is the reason the mess exists-- and continues to get worse.

[BootinUp]

9. Interesting point of view

As I recall, based on intelligence that was in hind sight way off the mark, the UN did pass a resolution allowing for the invasion.

Your point about our presence in Iraq is much better, not saying I disagree with that one, but I would like to see if better leadership can make a difference, both in the coalition and in the eyes of the Iraqis themselves.

[wtmusic]

3. I got the opposite out of it

but this is more nonsense aimed at blaming Kerry for "campaign rhetoric undermines international efforts to secure a stable Iraq" after he's elected.

left wing isolationism vs. right wing imperialism

hmm. We live in interesting times.

[Safi]

4. Bump

because its a damn good catch.

-Safi

[Zhade]

7. Just how wrong can one article be?

First off, the PNAC klan and its pawns will never be able to force the Iraqi people to accept occupation and domination.

Never.

Secondly, this states a lie - that Kerry will bring troops home within a year. He has promised no such thing. The closest is his vague promise to maybe pull out most of the troops by the end of his first term (no word on the 14 permanent military bases, though) if a whole slew of conditions are met.

Many of those conditions can't be met. As mentioned elsewhere on DU today, Germany and France say they will not send troops, period. Nor will Spain do so. No troops from Russia - our being pinned down in Iraq and Afghanistan is a form of sweet revenge for them. More countries are pulling out of Iraq, due to domestic pressure. Doubtful these countries will change their minds and send troops back.

As far as "left-wing isolationism", what this traitor is speaking of is nothing more than a desire to keep America out of illegal wars of conquest.

[Renew Deal]

10. kick

:kick:

[Renew Deal]

11. kick

one more time. I think this is interesting.