FIGHTING DEMS NEWS SERVICE

January 17, 2007 

Vol. 2 No. 1      

 

THE NEWS HEADLINES

 

Iraq Surge Hurts Afghan Chances

Iraqis Rebelling Over Bush Policies

Democrats Divided Over Iraq Surge Response

Short & Sweet

 

THE OP/ED HEADLINES

 

Why We Can't Win Militarily In Iraq

The Great Democratic Landslide Of 2008

Will Their Deeds Live Up To Their Words

 

About Fighting Dems News Service

 

THE ARTICLE SUMMARIES AND LINKS

 

IRAQ SURGE HURTS AFGHAN CHANCES
Even as U.S. ground commanders in Afghanistan are clamoring for more troops President Bush's Iraq troop surge strategy will include redeployment of an Army battalion in Afghanistan to Iraq at a time when the Taliban are expected to launch a major campaign to cut the vital road between the capitol, Kabul, and the country's second largest city, Kandahar.
FDNS Report At: http://tinyurl.com/23krcg

 

IRAQIS REBELLING OVER BUSH POLICIES
The White House expected Democrats to rebel at President Bush's Iraq troop surge plan but the revolt from Iraqi leaders themselves wasn't anticipated.  Not having Iraqi leaders on the same page jeopardizes whatever chances the troop surge plan might have had since the whole strategy depends heavily on the Iraqis.  And one of the big disputes between the Iraqis and Washington has to do with Iran and Syria.
FDNS News Analysis At: http://tinyurl.com/ypqd3c

 

DEMOCRATS DIVIDED OVER IRAQ SURGE RESPONSE
Not long after Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) delivers the Democratic response to President Bush's State of the Union speech Tuesday night the Senate is expected to pass a non-binding bipartisan resolution opposing President Bush's current Iraq policies.  But Democrats are divided over how far to go in opposing Bush's Iraq plans.
FDNS Report At: http://tinyurl.com/26ywfo

 

SHORT & SWEET

 

Webb Keeps His Promise

 

Fighting Dem Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia made a promise to American veterans during his campaign and he kept it on his first day in the Senate with the introduction of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007.  Unlike the present G.I. Bill program which requires contributions by low-paid troops, Webb's legislation calls for a monthly stipend of $1,000 and also would cover the costs of books, tuition and fees without the troops having to invest money while on active duty.

 

This structure returns the program to a form it took following WW II.  Later the Vietnam G.I. Bill was far more restrictive in terms of benefit.  Webb, whose son is a Marine in Iraq, said that enactment of the bill would not only be "the right thing to do for our men and women in uniform, but it also is a strong tonic for an economy plagued by growing disparities in wealth, stagnant wages and the outsourcing of American jobs."

 

Additionally "better educated veterans have a more positive readjustment experience," said Webb.

 

Webb served as Secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan and is a Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

 

Internal Political Attacks On Ahmadinejad

 

Iran's fiery President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is under increasing political attacks from inside Iran.  Only weeks following Ahmadinejad supported candidates lost several critical elections moderate conservatives have joined reformers in criticizing him publicly for his confrontational handling of the standoff over Iran's nuclear program reports AFP, the international French news service.

 

Although all Iranian political forces are committed to the nuclear program as a national right, Ahmadinejad's bombastic tirades against the West are coming under fire from other political leaders who feel that they are counter-productive and needlessly compound Iran's problems.

 

The newspaper, Hamshahri, said "At the very moment that the nuclear issue was about to move away from the UN Security Council, the fiery speeches of the president have resulted in the adoption of two resolutions [against Iran]"

 

Mohammad Atrianfar who is a former executive of the now banned newspaper Shargh said "The foreign policy of the government ended in the adoption of two resolutions against Iran.  These two articles show that officials have learned the lessons of failure and want to avoid a more serious crisis.

 

"They want to exert more control on the president in order to prevent an aggravation of the situation," he said.

 

Behind The Troop Surge:  A Hardliner's Hardliner

 

His name is anything but a household word but the man who headed the interagency task force that came up with President Bush's Iraq troop surge plan has been described as a "hardliner's hardliner."

 

One of Vice President Dick Cheney's favorite Neoconservatives J.D. Crouch II has, in the past, advocated military action against attacking Cuba and North Korea, advocated withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty and, going outside conventional thinking in Neoconservative circles,  blamed the 1999 Columbine High School killings in Colorado on "30 years of liberal social policy."

 

Crouch's expertise in national security matters has been in the area of arms control although many of his critics would say that it is in undermining arms control.

 

Crouch was on the board of advisors for the Center for Security Policy (CSP), an organization that advocates very hawkish policies and and is supported by many defense contractors and political operatives tied to Israel's right-wing Likud Party.

 

With a background in nuclear forces, technology security policy, arms control and missile defense, Crouch seemed an odd choice to head a task force charged with developing policy recommendations regarding a ground war in the Middle East.

 

This has led to widespread suspicions that his only mission with the interagency task force to to ensure that a certain policy would be proposed.

THE OP/ED SUMMARIES AND LINKS

WHY WE CAN'T WIN MILITARILY IN IRAQ
The Bush surge is not about "Mission Creep", it is "Mission Leap".  Every justification for going to war in Iraq has been exhausted and repudiated.  Finally, with the execution of Saddam Hussein, we have jumped the shark.  Yes we have deposed Saddam and his regime, we have certified that there are no WMD's in Iraq, and have helped the Iraqi Shia create a fledgling Shia-led government.  Go get that "Mission Accomplished" banner and let's start the celebration.  It is time to send our combat forces home.
Contributing Editor Larry C. Johnson At: http://tinyurl.com/yosdyd

 

THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC LANDSLIDE OF 2008
George Bush will go down in history as the new Herbert Hoover for the Republican Party, creating momentous changes in American politics that will lead to a realignment as powerful as the FDR coalition.  Democrats have an extraordinary opportunity in 2007 and 2008 to lead the Nation to a post- Bush America and inaugurate a new era of historic patriotic reform in the tradition of FDR and JFK.
Contirbuting Editor Brent Budowsky At: http://tinyurl.com/2h98rh

 

WILL THEIR DEEDS LIVE UP TO THEIR WORDS
On Thursday, (January 4, 2007) I watched the swearing in ceremonies for the new Congress.  I am happy to report that Democracy is safe and it appears our Republic will last at least another two years.  I haven't seen such a love-fest since the Grateful Dead played a concert in Golden Gate Park.  That was yesterday.  Today, the smiles disappear and we get down to business.  We have new Chairmen on the Veterans' Affairs Committees.
Guest Column By Larry Scott At: http://tinyurl.com/ysb9cj