"Now what the Dems need to do is hold a National Security Summit, ...

[understandinglife]

... acting as if they were already in power, so that when we take back the House and Senate in November we will hit the ground running. At the summit, Iraq, of course will be at the top of the agenda. The Dems need to develop, "A Democratic Plan for Honoring and Protecting Our Troops." Bush misled us into war, now the Democrats will be the ones to bring them back with dignity.

The plan should incorporate Jane Harmon's proposal to declare to the world, "No permanent U.S. bases in Iraq." We already have bases in Kuwait and Qatar. If we're not occupying Iraq to steal their oil then there is no excuse for those permanent bases. That declaration will be one step in getting the bull's eye off our soldiers' backs.

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More of Trey Ellis' "You're not protecting this nation competently, Mr. President. Here's how we will." at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trey-ellis/youre-not-protecting-th_b_18122.html

I think it is also essential for every Democratic Party leader to address what Bu$h is attempting to do to this man and "Iraqi Democracy":

Christoph Bangert/Polaris, for The New York Times

Facing growing pressure from the Bush administration for him to step down, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari of Iraq vigorously asserted his right to stay in office today and warned the Americans against undue interference in Iraq's political process.

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From Iraq's Premier Asserts His Right to Stay in Office by Edward Wong:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/international/middleeast/30baghdad.html?hp&ex=1143694800&en=7393acda217e0e74&ei=5094&partner=homepage

They can begin by reminding Bu$h and everyone else of the following:

George W. Bush, Iraqi Kingmaker

President Bush, 3/10/06:

One of the keys is going to be to get a unity government up and running, a government that reflects the diversity of the country. … We want the Iraqis to make that selection, of course. They are the ones who got elected by the people. They’re the ones who must form the government.

New York Times, today:

“Mr. Khalilzad said Mr. Bush ‘doesn’t want, doesn’t support, doesn’t accept’ Mr. Jaafari as the next prime minister, according to Mr. Taki, a senior aide to Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the head of the Shiite bloc. It was the first ‘clear and direct message’ from the Americans on a specific candidate for prime minister, Mr. Taki said.”

Thanks to Think Progress for making Bu$h's deceit and hypocrisy, on yet another issue, crystal clear:

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/29/george-w-bush-iraqi-kingmaker

So, in addition to protecting America with the variety of plans enunciated by the Democratic leadership, today, a central topic of the proposed "National Security Summit" should be - We will not interfere in the internal governance of any sovereign Nation. We will not wage war of aggression.


If You're pro-Bu$h, You're Anti-America

[understandinglife]

1. After Iraq, Arabs Wary of "Western" Democracy

After Iraq, Arabs Wary of "Western" Democracy

By Meena Janardhan

Dubai - In the evolving debate on reforms, Arab intellectuals and common people continue to emphasize the need for culture and region-specific democratic reforms in the Middle East, and strongly oppose the imposition of Western models.

Highlighting the difficulty of implementing a Western tailor-made process without heeding local and regional circumstances, Omro Hamzawi, senior fellow at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: "The availability of a democratic model that can be exported everywhere is nonsense and has no moral credibility because of the US tragedies and disasters in Iraq."

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More at the link:
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32669

Our "National Security" might better be served if our actions were more closely aligned with the law -- international and our own (particularly, our Constitution).


Peace.

[understandinglife]

2. DNC "flash" page for the "Democratic Security Plan"

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/real_security_t.php#flash

And, Senator Reid has posted The Democratic Record on Real Security Vs. The Bush Republican Record of Dangerous Incompetence:

http://democrats.senate.gov/agenda/real_security


Peace.