It is vitally important that Democratic candidates for Congress and that the Democratic rank and file understand the need for victory in the Global War on Terror, (GWOT).
The 9/11/01 attack on Washington and NYC demonstrated American vulnerability to a massive and terrifying attack against our most secure and powerful institutions.
Thousands of ordinary people lost their lives in this attack, and an attack of similar magnitude would shake the confidence of the American people in the government, result in large loss of life, massive financial losses and could be the catalyst for the implementation of measures that not merely threaten, but destroy our democracy.
"Five years after U.S. President George W. Bush declared a war on terror, attacks and fatalities from terrorism are rising around the globe. The United States may be footing much of the costs for the campaign, but the rest of the world is paying with their lives." From FOREIGN POLICY's September/October 2006 Issue
GOP activists may be content with stating that the US is safer because of Bush, but it must be clear even to them that terrorism is becoming more prevalent and dangerous in the rest of the world.
It must also be clear to the GOP as it is to you, the reader, that the Iraq invasion is a key contributor to the increase in the acceptance of terrorists among the Arab masses and in the terrorists learning and deploying effective counter measures against our security arrangements.
It is a simple fact the Bush Administration failed to deploy sufficient forces to establish an effective occupation in Iraq and that this basic failure in strategy, which still has not been rectified, has cost us victory in Iraq.
While we have lost in Iraq, there is ample evidence showing that the international force operating in Afghanistan and international diplomatic and law enforcement efforts to reduce terrorism have been effective.
The question that is on most people's minds is why the President doesn't drop the losing policy and concentrate on the winning strategies that he has devised. These policies enjoy bi-partisan support domestically and are widely supported abroad.
Why has the President and the GOP highlighted and persisted in the most UNSUCCESSFUL aspect of our anti-terror policy?
Democrats who oppose the War in Iraq, must also come out strongly for continuing and strengthening the treaty system that has provided international cooperation in the banking system to track terrorist funds.
It is not enough just to strengthen the technical aspects of these operations to assure effectiveness, we must assure that they are implemented in ways that protect businesses and individuals from unwarranted government intrusion and surveillance.
We should strengthen or create a system that provides professional, disciplined and adequate forces to intervene in trouble spots and protect people from genocide in failed states. Such forces are essential to peace and security here as well as abroad, but America should not bear this burden alone.
Instead of over-reliance on military force we should encourage disparate actions and initiatives aimed at understanding and lessening of tensions between peoples.
Such actions could range from children's church groups sending school supplies to children in war torn Bosnia to major multi-national diplomatic and economic initiatives to help Pakistan combat terrorism within her own borders.
Democrats must not allow the dimensions of the failure of the War in Iraqi to overwhelm the effective aspects of anti-terror policy.
Robert Chapman is greatly interested in developing political awareness among as many people as possible.
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