Third Way Products
Iraq
-
Message Memo
Reckless and Out of Touch: President Bush’s Speech at National Defense University
President Bush’s announcement that he will keep troops in Iraq rather than deploy reinforcements to Afghanistan highlights his reckless and out of touch approach to America’s security interests in the Middle East. Progressives have a tough and smart approach to Afghanistan and Iraq focused on taking the fight to our enemies and preventing an attack against the United States.
-
Memo
Taking the Fight to Our Enemies II: Responding on the “Success” of the Surge
The surge in Iraq has become a political football, with John McCain and his allies accusing those who opposed the surge of a failure of vision. We conclude that the real question is not if the surge “worked,” but rather if devoting extraordinary resources to Iraq while ignoring the rising dangers in Afghanistan and the deepening strain on the Army was a smart strategy. We argue that the answer clearly is no.
-
Memo
Taking the Fight to Our Enemies: A 50-50-50 Plan for American National Security
If advocates for a change of course in Iraq make it clear that their approach reflects a hard-headed, clear-eyed view of what it takes at this moment to keep America safe, they will effectively rebut conservative attacks on their patriotism, resolve in the war on terrorism, and support for our fighting men and women.
-
Message Memo
Backfire: Bush vs the Commanders
The Petraeus/Crocker Hearings and the New Rift between Bush and His Military Commanders
-
Memo
The Blunted Spear III: The Iraq War and US War-Fighting Ability
Covers General Richard Cody's recent testimony about the extremely degraded war-fighting capability of the Army due to the strain of the Iraq War and offers messaging ideas for Congress on the eve of the Petraeus/Crocker testimony.
-
Memo
The Blunted Spear II: The Army at the Breaking Point
The United States Army, the most powerful fighting machine in human history, is at the precipice. After nearly seven years of abysmal stewardship by the civilians in the Bush administration, the Army is, as retired General Barry McCaffrey said last week, “on the verge of unraveling.”
-
Memo
The Blunted Spear: General Casey, Iraq and American Security
A memo in response to Army Chief of Staff George Casey's testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.
-
Report
A Growing Threat: Al Qaeda and Its Allies on the Move
An update of the analysis of al Qaeda's strength first done in Beyond Bush.
-
Report
Security First: A Strategy for Defending America
A report summarizing the Bush failures on national security and offering a new path forward for America's next leaders.
-
Memo
An Independent Assessment of the President's Surge
A new idea for holding the President accountable on Iraq.
-
External
Third Way Co-Hosts Senator Reid
Third Way joined the Wilson Center in co-hosting a speech on Iraq by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
-
Memo
America's Role in the World - Results of a New Poll
A message memo based on a new Third Way poll on national security/foreign policy.
-
Memo
Pressing the President on Ending the War in Iraq
A short memo outlining an idea for Congress: demanding that the President provide a plan for ending America's combat operarations in Iraq.
-
Memo
Winning the National Security Debate: Lessons From a New Poll
A memo on national security providing insights from a new national poll and providing a four-step plan for progressives to win on national security.
-
External
National Security Poll: September 2006
A September 2006 poll on national security, focusing on Iraq, terrorism, the terror amendments currently before Congress.
-
Report
The Neo Con: The Bush Defense Record by the Numbers
This report examines the data behind the Bush claim that he has made America safer and concludes that "the numbers don't lie - the Bush strategy is not working."
-
Memo
Addressing Iraq in a Charged Political Environment
This memo lays out how progressives should approach this debate and offers some concrete policy ideas for handling the catastrophe in Iraq.
-
Message Memo
Tough and Smart: A Winning National Security Strategy
An eight-point strategy for progressive candidates on handling national security issues.
-
Report
Boots On The Ground: Increasing the Size of the Army To Meet The Missions of the 21st Century
Reveals the enormous strains on today's Army and the danger that, unless it is made substantially larger, the Army will be unable meet its current and future missions.
-
Module
Restoring Military Equipment after Iraq
This module addresses the equipment shortages the military will face after Iraq and recommends funding to restore our Army, Marines and National Guard.