Democrats Find Iraq Alternative Is Elusive- - Party's Elite Differ

[papau]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/04/AR2005120400965.html

Democrats Find Iraq Alternative Is Elusive
Party's Elite Differ on How to Shift U.S. Policy

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 5, 2005; A01



Around the country, many grass-roots Democrats are clamoring for a quick withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. On Capitol Hill, Democratic politicians have grown newly aggressive in denouncing the Bush administration's war strategy and outlining other options.

But among the Democratic foreign-policy elite, dominated by people who previously served in the top ranks of government, there are stark differences -- and significant vagueness -- about a viable alternative.<snip>

The difficulty that the Democratic foreign-policy elite has in coming together around a crisp alternative to the Bush administration has consequences that echo beyond the warren of think tanks, universities and consulting shops where most of its members now bide their time. On complicated policy questions, candidates and elected officials usually turn to respected and experienced policy experts to fashion their own platforms.

Highlighting the lack of consensus, some Democrats advocate withdrawing apace to change the dynamics in Iraq and the Middle East -- and to avoid getting bogged down or discrediting the United States. Others argue that it is a mistake to even talk about a timed drawdown. In between, still others propose an initial cut, while keeping a sizable force in Iraq or the region to promote stability and avoid repeating the Afghanistan debacle of the 1990s that helped produce Taliban rule.
<snip>


Zbigniew Brzezinski is emerging as the most outspoken Democratic policymaker with an unambiguous alternative. He says it is time for Washington to "bite the bullet" and withdraw U.S. troops "rapidly," no later than the end of 2006. A more prolonged disengagement would jeopardize remaining U.S. troops.<snip>

[emulatorloo]

1. "DEMOCRATS-IN-DISARRAY" - registered trademark, late 2005

I'm tiring of that one. . .wonder what the gop and media will come up w next?

[papau]

2. They will use whatever the GOP give them as focus group tested.

:-(