From Reuters:

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush called on Tuesday for a responsible election-year debate on Iraq and said Americans should demand a discussion “that brings credit to our democracy, not comfort to our adversaries.”

…Bush made clear he was girding for battle with Democrats in the run-up to the mid-term congressional election in November, when he will try to keep the U.S. Congress in the hands of his Republican Party.

“There is a difference between responsible and irresponsible debate and it’s even more important to conduct this debate responsibly when American troops are risking their lives overseas,” Bush told the veterans organization.

Americans know the difference between honest critics who question the way the war is being prosecuted, “and partisan critics who claim that we acted in Iraq because of oil, or because of Israel, or because we misled the American people,” said Bush.

Bush was not specific but was clearly talking about Democrats who have questioned his motives in attacking Iraq and who have been demanding a timetable for a withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq.

Dear Democrats;

The upcoming elections are important, sure. But you can campaign all you want and still be a loyal, patriotic, honest American. Here’s how!

You want to be an “honest critic,” don’t you? You don’t want to comfort or aid our enemies, do you? And you don’t want the upcoming elections to be all about partisan politics, do you? Americans don’t want the war we’re currently fighting to be politicized by politicians who are running for office so that they can have influence over events like… well, like the war. Do they? No.

Anyway, it’s important to have groundrules. So let’s look at the rules that the President laid out. Learn ‘em. Live ‘em. Try not to be unpatriotic. Because it’s okay to say things about the war. But only certain things. Other things are irresponsible. Got it? Good.

1) No questioning the motives. Was oil a factor? Was Israel a factor? Was revenge a factor? Was a longstanding and well-documented neocon commitment to “transforming the region” by going to war with Iraq a factor, and did those documented essays make frequent references to Israel and oil?. These are the questions that give aid and comfort to our enemies. Our motives were the motives that we said were our motives when we went to war: WMD’s, Terror, Freedom.

2) No questioning the honesty. Okay, so we were wrong about the WMD’s thing. And the Terror thing. But it was an honest mistake. Or, at least it was the result of hundreds and hundreds of honest mistakes. But calling the honesty of our leaders into question gives aid and comfort to the enemy. Might as well send ‘em blankets! [Just kidding. Don’t send the enemy blankets, please]

3. No questioning the mission. As the President said today, “When our soldiers hear politicians in Washington question the mission they are risking their lives to accomplish, it hurts their morale.” What? You want to say that you think our soldiers’ presence in Iraq might be making the situation worse in some cases? Saying that is what makes it worse, even if you think it’s “true.”

So some of you might be thinking: What does that leave you with? What can a challenger in the upcoming elections say that would be patriotic and productive? Plenty!

a) Demand a timetable for withdrawal. Not enough Democrats are doing this. It’s a stupid idea, yes, becuase it tips our hand and anyway any timetable would be contingent about what our approach to victory actually is (but don’t talk about that (see #3, above)). But Democrats should feel free to demand a timetable.

b) “Question the way the war is being prosecuted.” Just like the President said. The President is relying on the best advice from the military commanders on the ground (except for the ones who have been fired or are just plain wrong). Democrats should feel free to sit on their asses back home and recommend alternate strategies, as long as they don’t question the essential mission or the motives of those behind it or the need to stay and win. So you can say things like “The President took us into Iraq with honest motivations based on the best intelligence available and for a just cause, but maybe the 506th Regimental Combat Team ought to focus more of its efforts in the eastern portion of the Karradah district.” That would look good on a campaign button, wouldn’t it?

c) Hold a bake sale for our soldiers. None of the above restrictions prevent you from holding a bake sale, or even sending actual cookies to our fighting men and women in Iraq. It’ll show the electorate that you care, and that you respect our Commander in Chief and our Congress and our way of life. That always makes voters happy. Think about it!

So, there are the groundrules. Feel free to be creative. Have fun! And good luck in the ‘06 elections!

Best,

Brian Jeurgens
Deputy Assistant Advisor
White House Office of Political Affairs