It was going to happen, a Republican "agreement" from
AP:
The White House and rebellious Senate Republicans announced agreement Thursday on rules for the interrogation and trial of suspects in the war on terror. President Bush urged Congress to put it into law before adjourning for the midterm elections.
Our Dem leadership in Congress doesn't know what disaster it is waiting in store if it does not come out strong and takes on Republicans on this move reminiscent of 2002 Homeland Security.
From the beginning the Democrats have been foolish to rely and think that three Republicans were going to do the right thing for the country rather than their own party. McCain, Warner and Graham played a good role of foil for the president, making his terror proposal sound liked it was moderated. Democrats will be left without bipartisan criticism and once again "too weak" to take on the evil-doers. Unfortunately for the Democrats like you and me, our leadership learned the wrong lessons from 2002 Homeland Security debacle in this obvious election-year maneuver by Bush and Republicans. It also has the lack of foresight and expediency of all and we will all pay for it.
Here is what should have been there waiting for this eventuality (or hopefully will be there tomorrow):
1. Warner, McCain and Graham gave up their objections to save the Republican Party an embarassing election-year debate. Their objections show their loyalty lies with their corrupt and ineffective party rather than with the American people and our soldiers who face retaliation for our abandonment of principles.
2. This is an attempt to make Bush's reinterpretation of the Geneva Accords look moderate. It will do nothing to keep our soldiers and civilians safe when in enemy hands.
3. Democrats understand that terrorism is a struggle that will ultimately last longer than any engagement in the Middle East and we will need to deal with it regardless of the source. Therefore, a permanent intelligence gathering infrastructure and interrogation regime must be set and Democrats will do that without letting the political expediency of election-year debates force us to compromise on torturing suspects and changing the definitions of the Geneva Convention.
Unfortunately, All Democratic leaders want to do is wait and move when it is too late, more fromthe AP:
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday that Democrats were "on the sidelines watching the catfights" among Republicans on terrorism legislation. He said they had little choice until the GOP settled on its position.
Democrats may attempt to amend the detainee legislation should it reach the floor of the House or Senate, and they say they will defend their record on national security. But it is unlikely party leaders will make much noise this election season to ensure terror suspects are afforded legal rights.
Influencing their strategy are memories of the 2002 defeat of Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., who was ousted by Republican Saxby Chambliss following a TV ad campaign that attacked Cleland's patriotism. Cleland, a severely wounded Vietnam veteran, had voted against creating the Homeland Security Department.
And then we see the "brilliance" of this strategy, more from the AP
Once Democrats do weigh in, their strategy is to show there is no daylight between the two parties on fighting terrorism, Democrats say.
Ahhh... A refreshing Republican-lite position. Wonderful, we all saw how much that worked for Iraq.
We must demand an aggressive campaign to call this move by the Republicans for what it is and show what Democrats will do to get the information our agents need to protect us without torture and reinterpretation of the Geneva Conenvtion.
Unless Democrats do this, all dissatisfaction with Iraq, Katrina, and torture will fade as we near election day and the chorus of fear from the Republicans. They will attempt to force Americans to consider once again who will drop the ball on protecting America, a Democratic Congress without an idea of how to fight our enemies or a regime who might bend the truth, tortures (just as our enemies do), and is corrupt and inefficient in almost everything. In the end America will choose those who have an idea of what to do, no matter how terrible. That is the power of fear.