Kerry should promise that, as President, he'd go to Iraq.
Not just one trip, several trips. As many trips as he can make.
He should stake out a claim as the one candidate responsible enough, experienced enough, and especially brave enough, to face the real situation in Iraq.
The contrast with Bush couldn't be more clear. All at once, the promise alone would accomplish multiple goals.
And those are all nice and bullet-pointed after the break...
Kerry's promise to go to Iraq would:
* Revive the story of Bush as an irresponsible, privileged, cowardly wastrel during his TANG days.
* Revive the story of Kerry as the bold soldier during his Vietnam days.
* Illustrate that only one candidate has the courage to face the reality of our nation's gravest problem, and to do something about it.
* Establish Kerry as a man of the common soldier.
* Establish Kerry as a man who wouldn't ask any soldier to do anything he wouldn't be willing to do himself.
* Show Bush as a lightweight for having gone to Iraq once--for a photo op.
* Cement Kerry, once and for all, as the only candidate with any bona fide toughness.
And this is more than just campaign talk. For my part, I believe the Iraq situation calls for a leader on the scene. What kind of leader wouldn't direct from the front lines if at all possible? Having a leader on the scene cuts through red tape, establishes priorities, and inspires the people working for change with the knowledge that their job is important. Kerry should not only promise, but actually go to Iraq. Our country faces no greater issue for the next four years than how we clean up the mess Bush has made for us. Four years...oh my, I reveal myself as a dreamer. More like twenty.
What's that I hear? Iraq is too dangerous for Kerry to visit?
So was machine gun fire from the bank of a Vietnamese canal. I seem to remember reading how certain captains discovered that that turning the boat into the fire and rushing the shore was the best way to shut it down.