EUREKA!. How Dems can use bombing arrests to UNDERMINE GOP terror spin

[Armstead]

The common political reaction on our side to this week's news about the apparent foiling of a plot to bomb airplanes has been to assume that it bolsters Bush and the GOP. In fact, the GOP has been trying to use it that way.

But this morning it struck me. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE.If you look at this week's news from a different angle, Dems now have a powerful argument against the whole premise of the Bush version of the War on Terror, and the Rove spin about how ineffectual the Democrats would be.....It is much more solid than our usual response of "Bush hasn't caught Osama yet"

This week Rove, Bush and their minions have trotted out the usual dog-and-pony show to amp up the fear while taking credit for this latest victory: "See? We told you that there are evil people out there who want to kill us. But the liberals and the Democrats don't believe there is a need for a War on Terrorism. These arrests prove that you need the Republicans to protect you."

One of the favorite memes used by Rove and his echo chamber has been "The Democrats are weak because would treat terrorism merely as a crime. This is foolish because this is a war, and the only way to defeat terrorism is to treat it as a war."

And the Media has been dutifully echoing this by saying it could "change the outcome of the 06 election by handing the Republicans a major advantage. After all, the war on terror has been Bush's major strength."

Welllll, the Democrats now have an easy answer to that. How was this latest bombing plot discovered and (apparently) prevented? IT WAS HANDLED AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION AND TREATED AS A CRIME.

If you extend this out, it actually bolsters the position that the most effective way to combat the threat of terrorism is as a crime -- not as a "war." And that focused investigative efforts to stop terrorism are much more effective than behaving like bulls in a china shop.

And furthermore, contrast this apparent success of the criminal approach to terrorism to the total failure of the "war" approach. The administration's military adventures have only made the situation in the Middle East much worse, and it has made the US less safe.

Also, this does not contradict a concern for civil liberties. It does not require the administration to have the authority to overturn our existing rights because we are at "war." Investigations such as those carried out by the Brits do not have to be in contradiction to the Constitutional rights in the US. There is nothing preventing such an investigation by US authorities within the framework of the existing criminal justice system. It is similar to the way the US went after the Mafia.

If the Democratic leadership and the rest of us can hit home this point that the most effective way to combat terrorism as a criminal matter -- not as a "war" -- we could erode the position that the right wing has been successfully pounding into the heads of Americans since 9-11.

[greenman3610]

1. nice.

very good point and well made.

[annabanana]

2. Policework will protect us from terrorism.

Armies aren't the right tool.
Bring the troops home.

Kerry was right.

[Armstead]

3. I remember how Rove attacked Kerry on that basis

The GOP belittled Kerry by demeaning the law enforcement approach.

This is the answer to that, IMO.

[Amonester]

4. Right on!

And imagine if just 1/10th of the money the Reptiles squandered on their unnecessary Iraq disaster based on lies had been used to maximize Interpol's abilities and effectiveness...

Interpol Official Site:
http://www.interpol.int/

[bananarepublican]

25. Also, what if some of the defence/intelligence billions were spent on...

... real foreign aid.

If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times, incompetence should be rewarded with a reduced budget allocation! With Bush, the more you foul up the greater your career prospects.

[Octafish]

5. Agree. Turn the War on Terra into a DEM positive. How? The Truth.

The Truth is: The Democrats know how to defeat Al Qaeda: a combination of intelligence, police work and military action.

The London plot was foiled because of a police informant -- they got a tip a year ago and broke into a house and found evidence and names.

The DEMs also should make clear to the American public:

We Democrats certainly wouldn't have let bin Laden escape at Bora Bora and we certainly would not have ignored the threats around the world since then.

We Democrats certainly wouldn't have spent the last five years twiddling our thumbs making the Indiana Corn Festival safe from the terror threat while ignoring the real security needs of the nation.

We Democrats certainly wouldn't sell control of America's ports to Dubai Ports World.

Given the truth, we Democrats wouldn't wouldn't have spent the last five years stuck in Iraq, the greatest strategic blunder in our nation's history.

And that, rather than stating we'll work together with the Republicans which got our nation into this sorry state of affairs, is the message the Democrats should be giving the American people.

[Armstead]

7. Yes we should stop enabling the Republicans

The Republicans are obviously not willing to work with Democrats, so we should call them on the BS.

[Toots]

6. You are right and throw in Democrats aren't afraid of terrorists because

we are strong advocates for Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies which are the things that foiled this plot not killing people in Iraq. Democrats have been strong supporters of these agencies and for "first responders" as the Clinton "One Hundred Thousand Cops on the Street" Program shows. These "Cops on the Street" are our "first responders" if per chance some crazy did complete an attack. The first thing Republicans did when they gained control was cut that program. They have consistantly cut funding for "first responders" and areas in dire need of protection. Democrats are very strong on these matters but are not in the majority. We will make sure American can sleap well at night and not be afraid of these bogemen because we will insure that our Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies have what they need (within the law) to maintain a constant vigil. We want our resources spent in this manner instead of killing people in a foreign land that only want their country back. Not a single Iraqi was involved in the 9-11 attacks and Saddm is gone. We won let's go home and take care of America...

[abluelady]

8. Those Have Been My Thoughts from the GetGo

I have never understood how the belief is Repukes are strong on defense. Our army is in Iraq; terrorists come from all over. Billions are being spent fighting ???? (I still don't know who we're fighting in Iraq) while monies are being cut that would fight terrorism. It just seems so obvious to me that we are less safe now than we were pre 9/11. Why can't we get that message out?

[Armstead]

10. Probably the modern American belief in overkill

In some ways, we seem to be a nation incapable of moderation. Everything has to be big.

So when we go after terrorism, we have top do it in a biogger way.

But hopefully, we can get the counter message that Bush has been a Big Failure in terms of defeating it.

[abluelady]

11. You are Kind

It seems to me we are a country full of non-thinkers. If you look at issues thoughtfully, our way of thinking seems so much more logical to me.

[Armstead]

12. I'm trying to give America the benefit of the doubt

But that's hard when you look at the boneheads we have put into power.

[timontheleft]

9. Point well made . . .

and we need to drive it home.

The War (Occupation) on (in) Terrorism (Iraq) did nothing to stop the terrorists from organizing and planning an attack.

It also had nothing to do with preventing the attack from happening.

So, why are we spending billions of dollars on the War (Occupation) on (in) Terrorism (Iraq)???

K&R

:dem:

[OregonBlue]

13. Correct and it was the Pakistanis who discovered this plot and

informed the Brits. If it was not for Pakistan, this would have succeeded. So just how effective are these guys really? We should be afraid. With this incompetant bunch of loosers in office, we are not safe!!

[Armstead]

15. Too busy tracking down the enemy in Iraq....Whoever the enemy is

[jean]

14. Repubs UNDERMINE law enforcement & US/International law at every

opportunity. They do it in their sleep. It is their natural inclination. They will do anything to get their way and have total disdain for law and order.


Let's make some looong lists - I'll start:

Republicans undermine Law Enforcement

• Tax cuts for ultra-rich force cities/states to cut law enforcement personnel
  

Republicans undermine U.S. and International law

• bush signing statements
  
• indicted Republicans as far as the eye can see
  
• Geneva Convention abuse
  

[Armstead]

22. Republicans support Torture

[renate]

16. have you sent this to Harry Reid?

:applause:

[Armstead]

18. I'm hoping they figure it out

[ComerPerro]

17. Yeah that is a really good point

[gulliver]

19. Ultimately that will be effecive, I think.

We should be using it right now, and we aren't. The GOP was handed an anchor and they used it as a flotation device.

[sutz12]

20. Good thoughts....but the hard part....

is getting the media to publish/air the comments, and getting people to believe it. It does appear that many Americans are starting to come out of the fog of denial they have been in and might be ready to listen to this argument.

Repubs will really hate this one, because it will lead to the conclusion that Clinton was right. His 100,000 policemen initiative would prove to be an effective detterent to terrorism. ;)

[Armstead]

21. Yes the media would try to spin it....But that shouldn't stop it

Unfortunately, these days the lazy spitting out of the GOP conventional wisdom by the Ho's in the media is an accepted reality.

But that shouldn't stop the Dems from fighting back and repeating truths. Some of it has to seep through the wall.

[bleever]

23. "This is a military, not a law enforcement problem" has been

one of their key talking points from Day One.

I think you make a very powerful point here.

[Armstead]

24. Yes, if they had any sense of shame they'd be eating crow right now

But they don't. Soi they'll continue on their brazen path.

[femmedem]

26. I just sent this to my favorite local op-ed writer. Thanks. n/t