Terrorism: What Should the Democrats' Message Be ??

[welshTerrier2]

9/11, the Twin Towers, 3,000 Americans killed and our troops are sitting ducks in Iraq because bush is "bringin' 'em on ..."

Only recently have Democrats started speaking out about bush's lack of cooperation (can you say coverup?) with the 9/11 commission. And we're all critical of bush's failure to find bin Laden (bin forgotten?) ...

But Democrats need to do more than criticize bush's obvious failures ... we need a clear, positive message that the American people will respond to ... we need them to know that Democrats have real solutions to the problem.

I realize most of you are "candidate addicts" but please try to provide a little analysis with your poll response.

What should the Democrats' primary message on terrorism be ?? If more than one answer seems good, please choose the more important one.

[JackSwift]

1. We have nothing to fear but fear itself

we can fight and defeat those who have attacked our cities, and we need not abandon our beloved liberties to do it. Our country has lacked brave leadership since the attacks. We need brave leadership, leadership that is not afraid to look at the causes and our own failures. Only by examining the causes and failures will we understand where to find our enemies and how to defeat them before we strike again.

But we must be free to do these things: we must not hide behind so much security that the will of the people is not heard. Only the will of the privileged has been heard in this country during the past 3 years, and the people ache for a voice.

[sweetheart]

2. other.

Terrierism ;-) is a direct result of cross breeding... ok, seriously... it is caused by american foreign policy support for government systems that are not democratic, as well as interventions in foolishly thought out coups, and finally due to the poorly conceived war on drugs.

Bad governments (read dictatorships) supported by US, actively opposed to american-syle liberalism:
Saudi arabia
pakistan
china
russia
egypt

between them, the source for most all of the 9/11 terrorists.

Badly conceived interventions that still-today cost america lotsa grief:
1. israel
2. lebannon - us starting a civil war by slighting elections
3. iran - US overthrowing democracy
4. guatemala, elsalvedor, nicraragua - GOP mess

War on drugs messes:
1. mexico
2. columbia
3. panama
4. THE carribean nations

To end terrorism, end prohibition of drugs, and devote those resources towards a generous "carrot" programme for dictatorships to move towards constitutional democracy or risk losing all trade and political relationship with the US.

Join the international court, create a UN sponsored anti-terrorism police force and hold public trials of caught bad guys to make an example that the USA stands for international justice, even if its detractors do not.

Clearly an end to the palestine mess is also in order... 1967 borders 2 states... done.!!!

[MercutioATC]

3. #4 and illustrate it by showing that there have always been terrorist

acts. They just usually weren't perpetrated against the U.S. Israel, yes. Ireland, yes. Various banana republics? Yes.

The common theme in terrorist attacks is the presence of a very powerful, heavy-handed faction and the presence of a weak, impoverished faction for whom there exists no way to rebel except through acts of terror (no implication of right or wrong on either side).

[LiberalBushFan]

4. it really depends on the candidate

certain people are more credible on certain things