Yesterday we saw John Edwards respond to Rudy’s attacks on the Democrats’ views on national security. (Somebody wrote an entire book on the political vulnerability of the Democrats on this issue.)
Here’s a line of attack some enterprising Republican candidate could exploit:
Nancy Pelosi, in April, speaking after meeting with Syrian dictator Bashir Assad: “We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace.”
The Wall Street Journal, today:
Syria is seen heightening its military preparedness against Israel in the Golan Heights, while arming Hezbollah and a growing number of Palestinian militias operating inside Lebanon. “There are so many triggers” that could spark fresh conflict, a senior Israeli defense official says.
U.S. and Arab strategists remain divided over Damascus’s intentions. Some believe President Assad seeks to force stalled Syrian-Israeli peace talks by taking an aggressive stance. Others see Syria as joining a wider Iranian-led effort to deter any potential military strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
The speech pracitically writes itself: “And this is why America can’t trust Democrats with national security. Jimmy Carter trusted the Soviets, and they invaded Afghanistan. Bill Clinton trusted Yassir Arafat to make peace, and Arafat walked away from the table at Camp David in 2000 and launched the second intifada, killing innocent civilians in our ally Israel. Nancy Pelosi went to Damascus and trusted Syria’s dictator, and he turned around and continued helping Hezbollah, threatening Israel, and protecting Iran’s nuclear program. They keep extending their hands to these people, no matter how many times the bad guys try to bite it off.”