Presidential hopeful Howard Dean greatly mischaracterized today the meaning of Saddam’s capture by those who see it as a good thing.
“I think the Democratic Party has to offer a clear alternative to the American people. The capture of one bad man doesn’t mean the president and Washington Democrats can declare victory in the war on terrorism,” he said. “The question is what is right, not what is popular.”
I challenge him to dig up a statement in which one has declared an end to the War on Terror with Saddam Hussein’s capture. It’s quite the straw man. Dean is arguing that any declaration of an end to terrorism is premature. He’s right. However, he conveniently forgets that it’s an argument not being made.
President Bush has made it clear on many occasions that the capture of Saddam is not the be-all end-all to terrorism, nor would any sane man contend so. Dean would do well to in the future accord his criticism to the real debate out there, not conjuring up opposing viewpoints that are easier to knock down.