This is my idea for the Democratic candidates' framing, or rhetoric, regarding the U.S. military and the threats we face abroad. (Note: I do not say, regarding the war in Iraq, as the focus needs to be, as I see it, somewhat different. See below the fold).
- Ready
The U.S. armed services are currently a depleted force. They have been worn down by the years of callups, and re-callups, and deployments, and re-deployments, and re-re-deployments, etc. The U.S. Army, in particular, is in need of repair. Before we can do anything, we need to patch up the military. That means longer leave times, better equipment, including armored vehicles and body armor, and other things as well. It means better medical care. And better training. Most of this entails just going back to how we were doing things in the Clinton years, but still it would be a major advance just to get back to those halcyon days.
- Aim
The powerful spear of the the U.S. military is currently pointing at an ill-defined enemy in Iraq, predominantly. This despite the fact that few of the Iraqis are enemies of the U.S. when it ISN'T engaged in destroying their country. We need to recognize who our real enemies are. Here's a partial list: Saudi Arabia; Waziristan; the Taliban; the major oil companies. We need to recongized who are enemies are NOT. Here's a partial list of those: the Iraqi people; the religious factions, of all stripes, in Iraq; Iran; the Democratic Party.
- Fire
Once we have revived the health and spirits of our military, and identified actual enemies, then we need to send them out against those adversaries in the most vigorous way possible. The Taliban and al Qaeda (the original, not the "in Iraq" version) should be confronted militarily whenever possible, unless they surrender. We must use all the tools at our disposal, including most importantly our diplomatic competence (assuming we have any left).
If we implement this policy, we will thereby stop digging deeper the hole we currently are in. If not, God help us, because we certainly aren't helping ourselves.
Just my opinion.