KEN BLACKWELL COMMENTARY: Democrats Bet On Losing

The conservative Republican commentator and former Ohio Secretary of State argues that Democrats are playing with fire when it comes to Iraq: "The Iraq War may have helped the Democrats win Congress in 2006, but now developments both in Iraq and here at home are putting the Democrats -- and especially Hillary Clinton -- in a position where they might try to redefine 'victory' and 'defeat' to help their political fortunes at the expense of our national interest, to our nation's shame.....American progress in Iraq has painted Democrats into a corner. House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid have unequivocally said the war is lost, and that we must withdraw troops now. They say that President Bush and Republicans have lost, and all we can do now is admit defeat and leave. Doing so, though, would turn a young country over to terrorists or Iran and Syria. The Democrats realize the problem they face with Iraq is the fact that it is improving. The House Majority Whip, James Clyburn, said that if General Petraeus brings positive news from Iraq it would, 'be a real big problem for us.' That's just awful for a politician to say that military victory is bad news."

Mr. Blackwell continues his commentary: "This is especially dangerous for Senator Clinton. The far Left of her party is now ferociously anti-war. If middle America is again willing to see this through, she runs the risk of either pandering to her base and losing swing voters, or supporting the troops and alienating her base. Neither is good. Look for Democratic leaders — maybe including Mrs. Clinton herself — to start to redefine victory. They will cease to measure military progress and start demanding Iraqi political unity. Our troops will win while their politicians bicker. This would enable Democrats and their presidential candidate to continue ranting that we’re losing the war, beating Republicans over the head with it, even if it's not true. Such a strategy would be so shameful as to be disgusting, but when you tie your hopes for victory to the defeat of your own countrymen you have little choice when they actually start winning."