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November 11, 2006
Still Not Biting

Yesterday, I responded to John at Power Line about holding Democrats accountable for terrorist propaganda statements of delight at the midterm elections. In an update, after kindly linking back to me, John asks this question:

But isn't a reasonable starting point for that engagement the fact that the terrorists are delighted that the Dems have won, and are convinced that the Dems' policies, as the terrorists understand them, will benefit the jihadis? Don't the Democrats have some obligation to face up to the fact that the prospect of our disengagement from Iraq--and if that isn't their "new direction," then what in God's name is?--is viewed with glee by the enemy?

My response is lengthy again, so I decided to make it a separate post.

This is one point where John and I differ. I don't take Abu Hamza at his word, nor Zarqawi before him. Al-Qaeda has made plenty of statements expressing delight that Bush continued to send American troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, enabling the jihadis to annihilate infidels much more easily. I didn't buy that then, and I don't buy this now. The Islamists have made a culture out of spinning massive defeats into sterling victories. If the wind shifted from the north to the east, these people would claim it as a sign of Allah's grace on their jihad even if it blew half of them into the Persian Gulf. They lie for a living and a hobby. It's the only tool they have to garner their benighted followers and convince them to die.

Some readers here rightly point out that the Democrats have spent the last few years trying to play down the idea of a war. I have no trouble criticizing Nancy Pelosi for that (sorry, can't find the link at the moment). As I wrote, we need to be very vigilant about the efforts of Democrats in either fighting the war or not fighting the war, and I don't counsel silence on that point. However, it seems exceedingly silly to point to a terrorist propagandist and take him at his word about people who haven't even submitted their first piece of legislation in the majority.

We often complained about the Democrats not being a "loyal opposition" for the last six years, acting immaturely and selfishly while putting partisan interests ahead of the nation's security. Well, now that shoe is on our foot, ladies and gentlemen. It isn't time for payback, not unless we want to spend a generation in the wilderness, not unless we want to actually rely on American defeat simply for the opportunity to regain power. That's the same thing we accused Democrats of doing, with some justification in some instances. Why would we follow their example?

Like it or not, Congress controls the pursestrings and shapes American policy, and the Democrats control Congress. We're not powerless, but if we want America to succeed, we need to find ways to work with them, while performing the duties of the loyal opposition. That means providing rational and tough criticism to the policies and direction that Democrats provide and not screeching every time a Tokyo Rose and Lord Haw Haw issues another broadcast telling us what failures we have elected.

UPDATE: One more time -- I'm not advising that we let the Democrats do whatever they want. I'm not advising we remain silent. I'm not advising that we stop promoting our own agenda or deviate from our principles. I am advising that we base our criticisms on what the Democrats say and do rather than what Abu Hamza says about them. They have to govern now and be responsible for their agenda, and that responsibility will almost certainly force them towards the center on foreign policy and the war. When they do not act responsibly, then we must act to correct them with all due diligence.

UPDATE II: And a further clarification after Paul's entry into the debate, well-written and provocative as always. I consider John, Paul, Scott (and Ringo!) all friends of mine and don't mean to imply that any of them are "disloyal". In fact, John and I exchanged e-mails at the beginning of this thread, where I invited him to "beat me up" after my initial post. They haven't, of course; they have all been gentlemen, as always.

Paul and a couple of CQ readers have questioned my use of the phrase "loyal opposition", which strictly speaking would only apply if a Democrat occupied the White House. I meant it as a shorthand for being in the minority in both chambers of Congress, so perhaps "loyal minority" would be a better phrase.

Nevertheless, I think Paul is too sensitive to my argument here. I have no problem holding Democrats responsible for their own rhetoric, as my posts have consistently said. I have a big problem with holding Democrats responsible for the rhetoric of terrorists, which is what John did in his original post. Just as George Bush doesn't have to answer Abu Hamza's charge that he is the most stupid President in history nor the AQ chief's request to keep sending American troops to Iraq so AQ can slaughter them, Democrats do not have to answer for Abu Hamza's satisfaction at their election.

Sphere It Digg! View blog reactions
Posted by Ed Morrissey at November 11, 2006 9:36 AM

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» And the Discussion of Partisanship Continues (in a Different Form) from PoliBlog (TM): A Rough Draft of my Thoughts
Let’s set aside the talk radio discussion for a moment, and move to the question of who to tackle the fact al Qaeda has released some propaganda hailing the Democrat’s win on Tuesday. There are various ways to deal with this. I would argu... [Read More]

Tracked on November 11, 2006 11:08 AM

» And the Discussion of Partisanship Continues (in a Different Form) from Outside The Beltway | OTB
Let’s set aside the talk radio discussion for a moment, and move to the question of how to tackle the fact al Qaeda has released some propaganda hailing the Democrat’s win on Tuesday. There are various ways to deal with this. I would argu... [Read More]

Tracked on November 11, 2006 11:21 AM

» For America To Succeed from Gulf Coast Pundit
Like it or not, Congress controls the pursestrings and shapes American policy, and the Democrats control Congress. We’re not powerless, but if we want America to succeed, we need to find ways to work with them, while performing the duties of the ... [Read More]

Tracked on November 11, 2006 12:14 PM

» The Fight On The Right from Blue Crab Boulevard
Growing kerfluffle on the right side of the 'sphere. The discussion today is on the rush to praise the Democrat's victory on Tuesday by self-avowed enemies of the United States. My take on this is that if the Democrat's stances an... [Read More]

Tracked on November 11, 2006 3:11 PM

» The Fight On The Right from Blue Crab Boulevard
Growing kerfluffle on the right side of the 'sphere. The discussion today is on the rush to praise the Democrat's victory on Tuesday by self-avowed enemies of the United States. My take on this is that if the Democrat's stances an... [Read More]

Tracked on November 11, 2006 3:12 PM

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