The Experts Have Failed

Looks like the Democrats haven't found any Generals worth listening to lately:

Democratic policymakers searching for a winning argument for why it's time to get out of Iraq have ditched expert advisers - and appealed to the public for help.

Rank-and-file supporters have been asked to explain to the party why the troops should be brought home. And the best grass-roots tacticians could replace politicians as the public face of the Democrats.

"We want people like you to explain why it's time to end the war and bring our people home," party spokeswoman Karen Finney said in a circular sent to members.

One significant problem the Dems have with experts is their near unanimous view of the hell hole Iraq will become if the US were to withdraw on their timetable, and the implications of that for the region and the rest of the world.

Here's what happened the last time the Democrats tried to consult experts. Fortunately, reporters were able to keep most of this information under wraps, and the "listen to the Generals" lie is still alive and well.

Here's another expert they won't want to hear:

Q: "What would you like to say to those who want American troops to leave Iraq tomorrow?" A: "I can only imagine the tragic consequences that would follow...and the blood... and the price we'd have to pay....a disaster..."

That's via Marc "Armed Liberal" Danziger's Victory PAC:

I'm a liberal Democrat (pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, pro-progressive taxation, pro-equal rights, pro-environmental regulation, pro-public schools) who supported and supports the war in Iraq. As I tell my liberal friends "Did I miss the part where it was progressive not to fight medieval religious fascists?"

I've been waiting for four years for the White House to start really explaining the war to the American people, and to do anything sensible at all to maintain the political capital necessary to keep America in the fight - to keep us from withdrawing because the war is too messy, or too long, or just plain makes us feel bad.

During that time I was blogging about the war and issues around it at Winds of Change.NET, felt I was doing my part, and hoped that the leadership of the country would wake up and realize that public support for hard things - like wars - must be earned and maintained.

I've given up, and decided that it's up to each of us to start doing more. To that end, I've decided to start a PAC that will offer support to Congressional candidates of either party who support a foreign policy that doesn't involve wishing problems away. Not necessarily support for the invasion of Iraq, or blind allegiance to White House policies - but some plan that's better than taking our ball and going home, leaving the country to become a bloodbath. All I ask is that they have some clue as to what we should do about violent radicalism in the Islamic world other than surrender, withdraw, and hope for the best.
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What we'll be doing is - among other things - running short videos that I'll be getting from friends in Iraq - I've asked them to simply film a message they would send in responses to Americans who want to withdraw right now.
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Next up will be videos from former troops, military families, and experts on the Middle East.

Once we get over this hurdle, I intend to build a web community of support that candidates we support can use for fundraising, finding volunteers, and reaching out to surrogates - veterans, military families, and experts on the Middle East.