Democrats To Unveil "Real Security" Plan

by georgia10
Wed Mar 29, 2006 at 07:53:39 AM PDT

This afternoon, Democratic leaders will unveil their national security agenda, a "comprehensive Democratic plan to protect America: Real Security." (Press release here, New York Times article here, WaPo article here ) Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will stand side by side (along with others, including Wes Clark and Madeline Albright) to present the Democratic vision for our national security--real security:

"We're uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart and will provide the real security George Bush has promised but failed to deliver," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday.

Two key items of the plan are (1) eliminating Osama bin Laden (yes, the Democrats use the word "eliminate") and (2) and a "responsible redeployment of U.S. forces" from Iraq in 2006. Aspects of the plan include doubling the number of special forces and adding more spies to reinvigorate the hunt for Osama bin Laden, finishing the War in Afghanistan where security is deteriorating and the Taliban may be resurging, declaring energy independence by 2020, implementing all of the 9/11 Commission recommendations, modernizing the military, increasing funding for port security and homeland security in general, and much more.

With this all-out offensive by a party that has literally closed the gap in national security polls, it's no surprise Republicans are scrambling to minimize the impact of the plan in the media. Senator John Kyl (R-AZ) claims the plan offers "nothing but platitudes." Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO) tried to dismiss the plan, claiming "It's taken them all this time to figure out what we've been doing for a long time." And designated spinmeister for the day, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), writing for National Review Online, says "These are all efforts that the administration and Republican Congress have implemented, or that Democrats have delayed or otherwise blocked."

The problem for Republicans, of course, is that they haven't been doing it, they haven't offered Americans anything in terms of real security. The Taliban that we attacked as a response to 9/11 is still alive and well in Afghanistan, with Taliban insurgents yesterday launching a massive attack on coalition bases there, killing two soldiers, one American, one Canadian. In a government sting operation, radioactive dirty bomb materials were able to be smuggled into the United States. And one need look no further for evidence of a failed diplomacy strategy than the emaciated list of the "Coalition of the Willing."

Many in the press, including in the Washington Post, note that these proposals for security are the same ones advanced by Democrats before. That's true. Many of the proposals reflect what Democrats have presented in the form of bills and resolutions which have languished in committee or died on the floor. Yet the very fact Democrats have tried to implement their proposals before proves that claims of "lip service" or "empty platitudes" are simply false.

If they want to talk about Democrats implementing their ideas, they just need to glance at the the supplemental spending bill passed two weeks ago.
Democrats offered amendment after amendment after amendment to increase funding for Homeland Security by billions of dollars, especially in the areas of border and port security, chemical security, emergency preparedness and first responders. The same Republicans that are now scoffing at the Democrats' "Real Security" plan voted down each and every one of those amendments.

This plan, which will be unveiled at 1 PM ET today, puts the Republicans on the defensive. Democrats hold a historic 15 point lead in generic congressional ballot polls. They have, in recent polls, eliminated the "national security gap" between Republicans and Democrats. This plan for real security, as it is explained to the public and as Americans understand its effectiveness, may very well push the Democrats ahead of Republicans in the national security polling. And if that happens, Republicans will be struggling to secure their majority status in November.