The Democrat's strategy for defeat

Jules Crittenden:

First, let me congratulate my Democratic friends. We’re Euro-stylin’ now!
The . . . whatever it is in Iraq . . . is no longer a war, it’s a “problem,” House Speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi says. Abandonment enthusiast John Murtha, in the running for majority leader, is less ambiguous about it. George Bush “is not going to go on with this war in Iraq.” Murtha wants a Vietnam in Iraq. Chaos and mass murder in Iraq. A victory for terrorism in Iraq. An end of America’s relevance in the world, compliments of Iraq.

So much for the party of FDR, Truman and JFK. This is the party of Jimmy Carter.
Bush, meanwhile, is moving toward appeasement. With the cautious choice of Robert Gates for the Pentagon, Bush wants to work with the Democrats for success in Iraq. He’s waiting for the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, which has signalled it wants talks with Iraq’s terrorist-backing neighbors in Iran and Syria.
For all the complaints that Donald Rumsfeld took us to war with insufficient forces, we have yet to hear our leaders express a desire to correct that with sufficient forces. A big stick to carry while speaking softly in Tehran and Damascus. To influence Iraq’s meddlesome neighbors by inflicting defeat on their proxies in Iraq. To give Iraq’s elected government some breathing space.
So much for the party of Ronald Reagan. We’re back to Gerald Ford.
Tell me I’m wrong about this. I remain optimistic, despite 1972 abandonment enthusiast George McGovern’s new popularity, that the Democratic leadership will recognize America’s place in the world and stiffen its spine. Barring that, that Bush will remember he is still president, develop a robust strategy for Iraq and give the Democrats enough rope to hang themselves in 2008.
America is unique in history, a world power that spent precious blood and treasure not to subjugate but to liberate. The United States is the standard bearer of liberty, democracy and free enterprise - the greatest nation the world has ever seen.
How many times can a great nation retreat from inferior forces and remain great? If its people won’t fight for what they believe in, then of what worth are that nation’s values?

...

Islamic extremists are ascendant among the world’s 1 billion Muslims thanks to their successes, which are nothing more than our failures. American voters, whether they realize it or not, have chosen the path of Europe, of Canada - wealthy, smug democracies that profess concern for the oppressed but will do little for them, little even in their own defense.

...

This time we should challenge their defeatism loudly and often. Their is too much at stake to let them takes down the road to defeat.