Defining the Democrat's Message In '06

Representative Jack Murtha (D - Pa.) gave a speech today on his redeployment plan for the Iraq war. Here is the text:

We should embrace change, especially when it is in our national interest to do so!

As many of you know, I introduced a Resolution to the House of Representatives to redeploy our troops from Iraq.

Some critics have described my recommendation as “defeatist,” others have characterized it as “cut and run.”

They couldn’t be more wrong! Nothing could be further from the truth!

My recommendations are a clarion call for a victory against the international terrorist movement.

It is a three step process.
(1) Redeploy. It is time that our military “footprint” in the region is converted from a pervasive presence inside Iraq to a powerful quick-reaction force outside of Iraq. Over three years after we implemented a policy to “liberate” Iraq and bring democracy, with the claim we would be welcomed with rose petals, almost one out of two Iraqis believe it’s OK to kill Americans. Our presence in Iraq is generating more recruits to the radical movement. Our departure would put tremendous pressures on the major factions within Iraq to have some semblance of a political settlement. I believe that upon our departure, Iraqi nationalism would force many Iraqis to turn on the foreign fighters.
(2) Reallocate. I believe we should reallocate much of the funds saved by redeploying.
(3) Reengage. In the wake of 9/11, America had overwhelming support around the world in the fight against terrorism. There was global support for ourwar in Afghanistan. Sadly, the diversion to the war in Iraq has frittered away much of that support and we must reengage with countries around the world to conduct a more effective war on terrorism. I believe our redeploying troops from Iraq will help considerably in that goal.

The President is using fear to keep our troops in Iraq. Fear of what might happen if we leave Iraq. He is saying we should have an open-ended commitment to stay in Iraq, yet he has NO plan. His plan is to cross his fingers and hope that the Iraqis will form a unity government. But hope is not a plan. And for as long as he continues down this vague, open-ended path, more American lives will be lost, and billions of more dollars will be spent.

It is time to change direction. We should fear only our failure to change. Iraq today is not stable and is not safe. The Iraqis must decide that stability and safety are worth fighting for. An all out effort must be made by the Iraqis to solve the problems and challenges that are facing them.

Today our military is unsurpassed in terms of strength, training and technology. We thought our military could do anything, but we found something we could not do. They are not a world police force. They are trained to destroy an enemy, which they do very well. But they are not trained to be policemen, or nation builders, or diplomats, and yet that is what they are being asked to do every day.

Let’s talk more about my plan:
First, my plan will strengthen, not weaken the military. My plan will strengthen and not weaken our nation.
What do I mean by Redeployment to the periphery? Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Turkey and/or Qatar.

How many? 1 Division

In addition, we must replace the people responsible for the failed plan. We will not be able to get international help without it. It must be seen as a change in direction.

I do not believe things will be completely peaceful when we re-deploy, but a democracy and a seated government does not guarantee complete peace either. There may be additional sectarian strife, but our troops will not be caught in the middle of it. We will have a quick reactionary force available to deploy if necessary.

In the meantime we can be rebuilding and strengthening our military and our nation and can begin taking care of the problems our war fighters will be facing when they return home.

--- i'll leave my whining about war crimes and the administration's misleading accusations that sent us to war in the first place for another post. Right now that's irrelevant. We need to think of a solution to end this conflict as soon as possible. The President's plan is 'to leave the burden of the war to future presidents'. Clearly the only strategy his administration has for Iraq is and always has been to just hope that everything works out in the end; forget leadership, forget diplomacy. Iraqi's have grown increasingly hostile, almost exponentially in the last year alone. It's time to try something different because this isn't working.