Distort, Distract, Divide

Key Point: The Bush Administration is playing its old game of “distort, distract, and divide” at home while it pursues a failed policy in Iraq. Escalating the war will not make America safer or begin to bring this war to an end so our troops can come home. A bipartisan coalition in Congress will give the President’s plan an up-or-down vote.

The failed policy of this president—going to war without a strategy, going to war prematurely—has made America less safe and emboldened our nation’s enemies.

President Bush is escalating the war against the advice of his own military commanders, a bipartisan majority of Congress and an overwhelming majority of the American people. Escalating the war will not make America safer.

Congress will always stand up for the safety of our troops and the security of our nation, and that means standing up for a real change of course in Iraq—we will hold this President accountable with an up-or-down vote.

Democrats have a plan for success in Iraq that will make America safer, protect our strategic interests and honor the sacrifice of our troops and their families.

• Shifting the principal mission of our forces from combat to training, logistics, force protection, and counter terrorism;
• Beginning the phased redeployment of our forces in the next four to six months;
• Implementing an aggressive diplomatic strategy, both within the region and beyond, to help the Iraqis achieve a sustainable political settlement, including amending their constitution.

Noteworthy:

General Petraeus agreed that the debate in Congress does not undermine our troops’ morale. (Senate Armed Services Committee, Tuesday, January 23, 2007)

GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, I think I stated earlier how important I think free and open debate, the marketplace of ideas and all the other great qualities that our country has achieved are, in fact, to our country. I think some of the soldiers will be out there saying yeah, go get them. Some will be saying what’s that all about. And some will just keep their head down and go about their mission.

SEN. BAYH: So what you’re saying, General, is that our men and women who wear the uniform really are a lot like Americans back at home. They’ve got diverse opinions, too.

GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, that’s where they come from.

SEN. BAYH: And they’re probably sophisticated enough to take all this in and accept it for whatever it’s worth.

GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, I think that’s an accurate statement.