Dems New War Strategy - Release 4/1/10

Democrats' New War Strategy Revealed; Exclusive Memo drafted by White House Chief of Staff by Karen Plateau, guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 31 March 2010

A memo drafted last week by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel recommends a shift in strategy for Democrats discussing wars and the military. Emmanuel urges Democrats to claim credit for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and points out that shortly before this November's congressional elections, Democratic congresses will have funded and overseen more of the Iraq War than Republicans. Some excerpts from the memo, addressed to Democratic members of Congress, follow:

"Democratic presidents, historically, have engaged in war more than Republicans, and yet we have always been denied the credit. Only by claiming ownership of the current wars can we take away Republicans' advantage on national security. The Republicans will not argue that wars make us less secure even if the wars belong to Democrats. They will cheer for the wars even if the wars belong to us. But no one will cheer for us if we speak about wars as activities we engage in with reluctance. . . ."

"It's the economy, stupid. Weapons production is our leading industry and needs to be discussed in terms of job creation and economic stimulus. . . ." "Think ahead. By 2012 the permanence of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations will be unavoidable. This cannot be made to appear a failure or a deception. It must be owned and claimed as a success, a glorious success critical to our national security, and one that former president Bush recklessly opposed by agreeing to a complete retreat from Iraq by 2011. . . ."

"It is critical that we draw comparisons between the number of soldiers killed during Democratic years and the number killed during Republican years, and that we highlight the successes of our innovative use of unmanned drones to kill the enemy without Americans having to die. We must cease shying away from claiming victory in terms of the numbers of enemies killed in war. We must also claim credit for the glory of those Americans killed during our years. . . ."

"There is no funding to be raised by talking about peace. The largest peace organizations did not shut down when Iraq was invaded or when Bush signed his treasonous treaty with Maliki. They shut down in November 2008 because President Obama had been elected. If President Obama tells the remnants of the peace movement to jump, they will ask 'How high?'

"The Progressive Caucus is completely under control, and its leaders understand that by passing healthcare we have created the understanding that we want to care for people at home, but that we absolutely must establish our willingness and enthusiasm to do what needs to be done abroad."

Asked for a response to Emmanuel's memo, Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said "The role of Republicans and of President Bush in beginning these wars will never be forgotten. We were piling up body bags when Barrack Hussein Obama was giving speeches at antiwar rallies. The only people who will fall for this latest White House spin live on the coasts, so if you believe in global warming this debating may be irrelevant." House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said, "Democrats' enthusiasm for war is a central element of our plan to create jobs and stimulate the economy. We are working on a program to create tens of thousands of permanent jobs in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and in a number of other nations."

NOTE: This is supposed to be an April Fools joke. But who can tell anymore??