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Dean: War winnable with new plan
Associated Press
Published December 10, 2005
LAKE BUENA VISTA - As Republicans released an ad saying Democrats' plan for Iraq is "retreat and defeat," Democratic national chairman Howard Dean said Friday the war is winnable.
"We can and we must win the war on terror," Dean told the Florida Democratic Party convention. "A smarter, more honest strategy that respects our troops and our military leaders is possible. And I believe our course is far more likely to defeat terror than the Bush administration's failed policy in Iraq."
Dean called for bringing home all 50,000 National Guard troops stationed in Iraq within six months, redeploying 20,000 troops from Iraq to Afghanistan and assigning several thousand antiterror troops in countries around Iraq.
"Strategic redeployment addresses a broader battle against global terrorist networks. We need to re-engage our allies and a military realignment of our troops will make our forces stronger and save American lives," Dean said.
His remarks came as Republicans continued to criticize Dean for a statement Monday that the United States can't win the war. Dean on Thursday said the remarks were taken out of context; he meant the war was not winnable under the current strategy.
On Friday, many in an enthusiastic crowd said they agreed with Dean's statements.
"If you go in and attack like a bully, you won't win," Valerie Guenther of Charlotte County said before Dean spoke. "Our greatest strength as a nation is we're solution finders, and I don't think we are right now."
Dean repeatedly accused President Bush of lying to the nation and to troops.
"Policies which are built on truth, on honest dealings with our soldiers, our citizens and our allies are much more likely to succeed than policies built on the quicksand of deceiving the American people. Our troops deserve better," he said.
Dean's remarks came at the convention's opening reception. The Republican National Committee released a Web ad Friday showing Dean's previous remarks with a white flag superimposed over his image.
[Last modified December 10, 2005, 00:50:10]
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