Ask a Werewolf: Iraq and Terrorism

By Neil the Ethical Werewolf

Sometimes werewolves get letters from Democratic Senators. Other times, they don't. The following is a letter I didn't get, but the answer, below the fold, is something I did write.

Dear Werewolf,
I'd like to earn some respect from the Democratic base for criticizing Bush's war in a way that other Senators haven't. However, I don't have the guts to call for withdrawal from Iraq, and I want my criticism to be something that most Americans already agree with. What should I say?

--No Guts, Some Glory (D-Somewhere)

Dear NGSG (D-S),

Why don't you attack Bush for putting us at a greater risk of terrorist attack in the future? Back in June, a 52-47 majority agreed that the Iraq War hadn't made us safer. Given the way that the American public has disconnected from Bush over the last month -- driven in large part by Bush's abysmal Katrina response -- the numbers might be even better now. For the first time, a 51-43 majority disapproves of how Bush is handling terrorism. It's time for Senators to start piling on.

Of course, the facts are entirely on your side. According to separate studies by Saudi intelligence and an Israeli think tank, the vast majority of foreign terrorists in Iraq were radicalized by the Iraq War itself, and weren't militants previously. The burgeoning alliance between Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the Sunni minority will allow him to train a large number of potential terrorists. Every suicide bombing is testament to the fact that Iraq has become a university of terrorism, where young men can study and learn for a few years before they go out into the world to blow up bigger and better things.

Remember how Kerry's poll numbers shot up after the foreign policy debate? It wasn't just the fact that Bush was always grimacing and smirking -- it was the fact that Kerry finally got up and squarely addressed some foreign policy issues in front of everyone. It's time for you to do the same. With luck, you'll win some cred for being smart about fighting terrorism. More gutsy people calling for withdrawal will benefit too, since your criticism of the war benefits their cause. You don't have to present anything as big as a plan for Iraq -- the average American really doesn't know what to do about things, and at this distance from the next election, a Senator is allowed to earnestly say that he's still trying to figure out what the best option is. So go out and fight hard, in your own gutless little way!

Arrrooooo,
--Werewolf