Do we need to Retool our message on Terror?

[Perky]

I honestly think that we have to have more of a response than blathering on about Iraq. I think back over the last several months and I do not honestly think I have heard a liberal/progressive or even a DLCer say the war against Islamist radicals needs to be waged.

Now hear me out. They have attacked us, they will try and attack us again. The threat is real BUSH's RESPONSE IS COMPLETELY WRONG but the threat is real.

It does us little good IMHO to continue to harangue current policy to the exclusion of going after the real threat. Now albeit we need to reduce dependence on MIddle East oil big time and we need to get our infidel troops out of their holy lands. But the two are linked and that is not a short term fix. Taking a conciliatory tact or simply blaming Bush does bit defeat terrorism or the GOP. That tact allows the RW to paint us as soft on terror or having our head in the clouds or in the sand. That is just the political reality

How do we recognize the need to for justice and the need for the use of force without being accused of being the Lieberman.
MY guess is that the first Dem who comes up with a cogent policy will be the front-runner in 2008. Is there anyone in the party who has credibility on the issue

[mike_c]

1. I disagree COMPLETELY and UTTERLY....

I cannot adequately express my disgust for the strategy you've proposed. I want nothing to do with the war on terror scam. I want to change American foreign policy. I want to END the WOT, not discuss how best to fight it, not waste breath over whether if should be a military or a police action, and most of all not let the neocons dictate talking points for the left. The WOT is marketing for the PNAC and an American empire. National security is a problem because of what American is doing, not because of what "they" are doing.

[Perky]

4. That is fine but you have to admit that

most americans absolutely believe that the war is real. This is not a philosphical disgreement just the cold hard political reality. To act in the political realm as you suggest is political suicide.

[mike_c]

11. only as long as we buy the arguments being made by the neocons....

When we reject that logic we're left with two choices-- lie and cheat just to dupe the voters with WOT propaganda (the republican solution) or work to educate the folks that the neocons have already duped. Really, which side would you rather be on? Is winning elections a good enough reason to discard your humanity?

[Perky]

14. You still are not dealing with the politics.

To do s you suggest it quixotic. AS it does not ring true with the reality of the twin towers fallng.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Sounds like you don't support the Death Tax.

[patrice]

2. Did you see George Will's recent column saying John Kerry,

by way of Lawrence Wright, was right on this issue?

I'll find a link for you.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401163.html

[Monkeyman]

3. The Message is what have Republican done to seure America since

9/11. Nothing at all 9/11 Commission report should be used to hit them over the head time and time again
http://DemocraticLeader.house.gov

[Perky]

6. The argument of making us safer at home works. but

is there an argument about militaty action that does not being and end with criticism of current policy?

[Cleita]

7. You can't wage war on a noun.

It describes a state of intense fear, not an enemy. Once we take our language back maybe then we may figure out whom we should be at war with, and if we even need to be at war.

[globalvillage]

8. The threat is real because we've abandoned diplomacy.

Diplomacy, law enforcement, intelligence.
We've been saying it. Sen Kerry's been saying it for more than a decade.
People have to listen. If the media would do their job and get the message out, they might.

[pooja]

9. I disagree with the War on Terror. There is no terror but what you

create in your mind. There are people who believe (or have been lead to believe) in a cause so strongly that they are willing to wage a destructive battle in order to become powerful. You have to realize that the rich are the one's waging the war's. Religion is often used to bring righteousness to a cause. But its all about the power, control, and money. When people realize that they hold the real power, then peace will ensue.

[Just Me]

10. Focus on what creates it: poverty, desperation, hopelessness.

Our government creates "terror" by the way it treats its constituents (that WOULD be you and me). They advantage themselves of US. It's suppose to be vice versa. They are suppose to serve us.

Terrorism is a word historically utilized by those who themselves wreak terror on others.

[muntrv]

12. DNC message should be WHY IS OSAMA STILL AT LARGE? Or

ARE YOU SAFER TODAY THAN YOU WERE 5 YEARS AGO?

[Monkeyman]

13. Bingo we have a winner

[Perky]

15. Maybe a close runner-up

The answer is no....but then what is the next line? That is what trips us up.

[The Jacobin]

16. What I want.

(1) I want the open border closed. Force all the traffic and people to be screened when entering and leaving.
(2) I want the ports of entry secured. Scan inbound cargo and people when entering and leaving.
(3) I want every thing that goes on any commercial aircraft screened.
(4) I want more cops and prosecuters here and less national guard troops in Iraq.
(5) I want this son of a bitch dead.

[Perky]

17. That is the message,,,,Now who can sell it in 2008?

[mike_c]

then you have already lost....

You want a security state.

[Just Me]

19. Excellent means of perpetuating political putrid. But, hey,...

,...better to play the game rather than rock the boat of reality. Yes? Yes.

Hence, we continue to spiral down the same damned, I repeat DAMNED path.

hmph

[patricia92243]

18. Agreed. But I'm not sure who that will be or exactly what their plan of a

action will be. But definately needs to be addressed as a big part of our platform. As it is now, we have let it be a Republican issue, but it is an AMERICAN issue.

[Poiuyt]

20. We need to focus on making our shores safer instead of fighting wars

and nation building. Wouldn't it be nice to have our National Guard here guarding our nation? I heard that for what we spend in 5 days in Iraq, we could inspect every container coming into this country (or was it 3 days?). Bush tried to cut funding for airport devices that would detect explosives being loaded onto airplanes (Congress overruled him). There are many examples like this. Bush and his people are just plain weak on national security. All they care about is invading Iraq.

We also need to look into why radical Islamists hate us so. There was a great thread yesterday on an article interviewing the former CIA chief of the bin Laden unit at the Counterterrorist Center from 1996 to 1999. He stated that they don't hate us for our freedoms, but for our actions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1967211

[Name removed]

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