Hussein May Be Weapon for Dems

NY Newsday ^ | December 19, 2003 | Ross K. Baker (PolySci Professor at Rutgers)

[presidio9]

George W. Bush has to restrain himself from running victory laps to celebrate the Saddam Hussein capture. Republican leaders are gleeful about facing a Democratic ticket likely led by Howard Dean. So, it may seem odd, even perverse, to suggest that rooting the Iraqi dictator out of his hole might actually be an ace-in-the-hole for Democrats.

For starters, seizing Hussein shifts the focus of the hunt for America's most dangerous enemies from Iraq to the rugged Afghanistan-Pakistan border where Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar, the deposed leader of the Taliban, are said to lurk. As elusive as Hussein was in Iraq, the terrain around bin Laden's lair is far more forbidding and the population, if anything, more hostile to Americans and the chances of success less likely.

While Bush steadfastly maintains that somehow we have dealt the worldwide terrorist network a punishing blow by apprehending Hussein, most experts deny that the Iraqi ever fomented much terrorist activity against this country. The U.S. government itself concedes that an alleged meeting between an Iraqi intelligence agent and an al-Qaida operative in Prague before September 2001 never took place.

The president's boast that snaring Hussein was a major gain could easily blow up in his face if there is another outrage directed against this country. If such an attack were to take place before the 2004 election, it could spell real trouble for Bush and make the capture of Hussein appear less consequential.

[presidio9]

The U.S. government itself concedes that an alleged meeting between an Iraqi intelligence agent and an al-Qaida operative in Prague before September 2001 never took place.

Can somebody please let me know when this formal concession occured?

[VRWCmember]

I think this article is an example of extreme wishful thinking on the part of a deluded democrat in denial.

[talleyman]

Actually, we've already captured bin Laden - we're just waiting until two days before the '04 election to announce it...

[tkathy]

These people are delusional. IMO any and all terror attacks will attract voters to Bush like flies to honey.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Sec. Albright, isn't there something you could be doing right now that would be more productive than FReeping?

: )

[finnman69]

this guy is having a bad case of Saddamfreude

[Bluntpoint]

Saddam to speak at next Democratic Convention.

[blackdog]

One needs to seriously worry about what our senate and congressional intelligence committies might be doing with matters of national security. After all in academia circles and at the DNC, Bush is a greater threat than terrorism hitting our shores. Someone rings a bell at the DNC everytime a body bag for our troops is used like it's a sales quota.

I just do not understand the ground on which the democrats stand? How can they be so treasonous and how can we have a public so willing to blindly follow?

[tbeatty]

Is he really implying that a 9/11 style attack on America would be good for Democrats? He's an idiot.

God forbid another attack happens, but if it does, Americans tend to rally around their leaders. I doubt that Howard Dean, the pacifist, would somehow benefit politically if we were attacked again. Americans will want swift military action, not a UN resolution and world consensus.

The best that the dems can hope for is a dull, dreary year on the war on terror. They lose on the issue of terror and as long as it leads the news, the dems lose.

[sanchmo]

"Come back, Republican! We have you right where we want you!!"

[MamaB]

Isn't that the truth? Some people just do not get it and never will!

[OpusatFR]

"While Bush steadfastly maintains that somehow we have dealt the worldwide terrorist network a punishing blow by apprehending Hussein, most experts deny that the Iraqi ever fomented much terrorist activity against this country."

Minefield Alert!!!

[MamaB]

I've often wondered what people see in the democrats. Do they care about this country? I doubt it.

[presidio9]

They lose on the issue of terror and as long as it leads the news, the dems lose.

If the Democrats want to talk about nothing but Hussein between now and Election Day, that's just fine by me.

[Billthedrill]

There's a reason political science professors are never to be found elected to anything. The fact is that we have an entire political party hoping desperately that evil fanatics who hate Americans will kill a few and pull their party's fortunes out of the garbage disposal. Hoping for disaster is one of those things that sounds great on paper but is ludicrous practical politics.

One simple illustration - say terrorists do whack us again, hard, in the U.S. - who does our professorial friend think the people will prefer to lead them in that event, Bush or Dean? Yeah. Me too.

[presidio9]

There's a reason political science professors are never to be found elected to anything.

Those who can DO. Those who cannot...

[Jim Noble]

I think this article is an example of extreme wishful thinking on the part of a deluded democrat in denial

There is no question that, as long as he is alive, Saddam will be a focal point for a rising tide of anti-American international and domestic protest.

It is also possible that his captivity, if it continues in Iraq, will serve as a beacon to and focal point for violent anti-American resistance.

Kill him now.

[Darksheare]

I sense desperate and wishful thinking on the part of the writer.
As far as I know, no such concession occured except on the part of Dems parroting the DNC talking points.

[TheCrusader]

What this guy is really saying underneath his smoke and mirrors is that the side which controls the media controls "reality". Unfortunately, the liberals control the media.

[TheDon]

Snicker, snicker.... the Demorats have been falling into President Bush's traps from day 1 and still haven't figured it out. They are on the wrong side of history, and will soon become history.