Pentagon think tank advocates LAW ENFORCEMENT approach to counter Terrorism & NOT a Military one

[npincus]

This kneecaps every Republican National Security talking point I can think of, and every GOP rationalization for our idiotic prosecution of the "war on terror"... and sticks a shiv in the McCain campaign.

Will the phrase "war on terror" just go away and die now?



http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/pentagonlinked_think_tank_at_o.php

The McCain campaign has repeatedly attacked Barack Obama as weak on terror, accusing him of a "September 10th mind-set" and hitting him for favoring a law-enforcement approach to terrorists as "criminals," rather than seeing the campaign against terror as a war.

But a study released today by a think-tank that does research for the Pentagon concludes that a law-enforcement approach, rather than a "war on terror" framing, is precisely what's needed to effectively counter terrorism -- a position that's squarely at odds with that of the McCain campaign.

From a summary of the study by the Rand Corporation...

Current U.S. strategy against the terrorist group al Qaida has not been successful in significantly undermining the group's capabilities, according to a new RAND Corporation study issued today...
In looking at how other terrorist groups have ended, the RAND study found that most terrorist groups end either because they join the political process, or because local police and intelligence efforts arrest or kill key members. Police and intelligence agencies, rather than the military, should be the tip of the spear against al Qaida in most of the world, and the United States should abandon the use of the phrase "war on terrorism," researchers concluded.

McCain, of course uses the phrase "war on terror" on the campaign trail almost as often as he giggles (though in fairness, Obama uses the phrase from time to time too).

And here's what the study's author has to say about how to confront terror groups: "In most cases, military force isn't the best instrument."

[Hamlette]

1. It's about time....it was the argument from the beginning. NOW they get it. n/t

[SoonerPride]

2. Tomorrow McCain will support this idea. Saturday he'll be against it.

Just watch.

[Historic NY]

5. But will he remember just what he supported?

[BadgerKid]

3. Time to buy some TASR stock. n/t

[whistle]

4. Swat teams, lots of firepower and tasers to use on the children

[MercutioATC]

6. I never liked Kerry, but didn't he say something like that?

More "law enforcement" than military action?