FIGHTING DEMS NEWS SERVICE

September 13, 2006
Vol. 1 No. 10
Published Weekly

THE ARTICLE SUMMARIES AND LINKS

COOKING THE BOOKS ON IRAQI DEATHS
U.S. officials, seeking a way to measure the results of a program aimed at decreasing violence in Baghdad, aren't counting scores of dead killed in car bombings and mortar attacks as victims of the country's sectarian violence. That has allowed U.S. officials to boast that the number of deaths from sectarian violence in Baghdad declined by more than 52 percent in August over July.
Full Story At: http://tinyurl.com/jvjoa

THE GOP'S ANTI-COUNTERTERRORISM RECORD
In January Karl Rove laid out the strategy for this year's election at a meeting of the Republican National Committee: Make terror the issue and paint Democrats as soft, weak and incompetent on it. However, in terms of the historical record it is Republican leaders who could not only be painted as soft, weak and incompetent but also willing to subordinate national security to domestic politics. Their record, in fact, starts in the 1990's when they drastically weakened legislation aimed at setting up security programs that might have prevented 9/11.
Full Story At: http://tinyurl.com/jh7ry

HOW BUSH IS LOSING AFGHANISTAN
Despite the fact that President George W. Bush proclaimed victory over Afghanistan terrorism in June of 2004, a resurging Taliban is now in functional control of the southern half of the country with an advancing front line, says a respected international group that closely monitors that country and it places much of the blame on what it considers various strategy blunders in Washington.
Full Story At: http://tinyurl.com/hczrt

PAKISTAN: AL-QAEDA IN, U.S. OUT
Pakistan, frequently touted by President George W. Bush as one of our top allies in the war on terror, has in effect amnestied members of al-Qaeda and will provide protection for them.
Full Story At: http://tinyurl.com/ktc9y

A DEMOCRATIC VICTORY WITH NATIONAL SECURITY
President George W. Bush and Republican leaders have made so much of claims they will do anything necessary to protect the country that voters react harshly (against the GOP) when they are presented evidence that the administration has subordinated national security imperatives to "political interests or financial self-interests," says a recent memorandum by Democracy Corps.
Full Story At: http://tinyurl.com/lyowp

QUOTABLE
"One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."
President George W. Bush
Sept. 6 Interview with CBS' Katie Couric

THE ARTICLE SUMMARIES AND LINKS

WHAT GEORGE BUSH DIDN'T SAY ABOUT GUANTANAMO
If we had to rely solely on the word of George W. Bush about the progress in the war on terrorism and the value of information obtained from Muslim prisoners in U.S. custody we would be in trouble. Bush's speech last Wednesday from the White House was both self-serving and misleading. I give the President credit for one thing--he's a great propagandist.
Viewpoint By Larry C. Johnson At: http://tinyurl.com/fo7m3

HOW DO WE WIN? TAKE THE BATTLE TO THEM
I come from the JFK school of winning. When I was a very young Senate aide, my bosses were JFK guys and would take me periodically to the old Mayflower Hotel where the great Kenny O'Donnell would hold court and talk about JFK and Bobby. They knew how to win, they played to win, and they won because they always took the initiative, they always took the offensive, they believed in striking first, and striking hard, and taking the fight to the other guy. Qualities modern Democrats have largely lost and must regain.
Viewpoint By Brent Budowsky At: http://tinyurl.com/fwefr

FIGHTING DEMS NEWS SERVICE
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Publisher: Noel Schultz
Editor: Randy Risener
Associate Editor: Fred Seamon
Contributing Editor: Brent Budowsky
Contributing Editor: Larry C. Johnson
Contributing Editor: Hale Stewart
Webmaster: Rich Westcott

The Fighting Dems News Service FDNS is published weekly by Fighting Dems at www.fighting-dems.com. We are a candidate and campaign support service focused on providing news and analysis primarily in the areas of national security, foreign affairs, military and veterans' affairs that are somewhat under the radar or from angles that might be being overlooked or otherwise of potential value to our readers. FDNS' circulation is email direct to all Fighting Dem candidates, on the website, through free subscription at the website and through selected listserves.