GOP video skewers Dems' 'Retreat and Defeat'

GOP video chastises Democrats for 'Retreat and defeat' strategy

The Republican National Committee has posted a video on its website that shows a white flag of surrender waving over images of Democrat leaders commenting on the war in Iraq.

The video features controversial remarks earlier this week by Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts suggesting the U.S. can't win the war in Iraq and that American soldiers are "terrorizing" Iraqi children.

Asked to comment, a Democratic strategist told the Drudge Report, "This is way over the top, but we have no one to blame but Dean, Kerry and others who continue to pander to the anti-war activists within our party."

The video begins with text on a TV screen saying, "Democrats have a plan for Iraq. Retreat and defeat." After clips of comments from three Democrats, the screen says, "Our Country Is At War. Our Soldiers Are Watching. Our Enemies Are Too." The camera view then widens to reveal a soldier watching the screen, and the video concludes with the text, "Message to Democrats: Retreat And Defeat Is Not an Option."

A Republican strategist familiar with the ad told Drudge, "The Democrats, especially Howard Dean have a way of trying to turn the tables and say 'that's not what I meant' – its just those 'evil Republicans.' This video will make them crazy – it reinforces what they really believe with what they actually said – and that is devastating for the Democratic Party."

The video leads off with a clip from Dean's interview Monday with a San Antonio radio station in which he said the U.S. cannot win the war in Iraq.

The "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong," Dean said on WOIA.

He predicted the Democratic Party would come together on a proposal to withdraw National Guard and reserve troops immediately and all U.S. forces within two years.

"I've seen this before in my life. This is the same situation we had in Vietnam," said Dean. "Everybody then kept saying, 'just another year, just stay the course, we'll have a victory.' Well, we didn't have a victory, and this policy cost the lives of an additional 25,000 troops because we were too stubborn to recognize what was happening."

The video also includes Kerry's remarks Sunday to CBS "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer, asserting U.S. soldiers were "terrorizing" Iraqi children.

"And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the – of – the historical customs, religious customs," Kerry said Sunday. "Whether you like it or not ... Iraqis should be doing that."

Previous stories:

Dean: America can't win in Iraq

Kerry: 'U.S. soldiers terrorize kids'

Special offers:

Avoid the crowds – finish shopping from home at WND's Christmas Store!

More great Christmas ideas from WND