Six Months and One Day

This appears to be a new favorite line for George W. Bush on the campaign trail. I have heard or read transcripts of him using it on at least three separate occasions - once in rather pain-staking fashion. He of course is referring to John Kerry's plan to reduce the number of troops in Iraq within six months should he be elected on November 2. Of course in criticizing this plan, Mr. Bush is overlooking an option that he and most - if not all - of the ranking officials in his administration have overlooked once before: alliances and multilateralism. While Kerry did announce a plan to reduce troops in Iraq within six months (although earlier plans stretched out over the course of a year, and even earlier ones over his entire first term in office) his campaign made it clear that such a plan was contingent on winning over allies that feel betrayed by the current administration once again, as well as training Iraqi troops to help and in some cases replace U.S. troops. I must admit that this particular plan of John Kerry's seems vague and even slightly suspect, but I do believe that George Bush and his campaign are underestimating John Kerry. Thus far Kerry has seemed a bit week in the face of the Bush camp's attacks and has therefore allowed Bush to define him more than any challenger should like to be defined by the opposition. John Kerry needs to take this opportunity to show his strength in the face of George Bush's ridicule and harsh criticism and correct Mr. Bush's accusation that such a plan would send the message to the terrorists to just "wait six months and one day." If he continues to stand-by in the face of such comments, he will continue to send the message that he will not fight when the Bush campaign attacks, criticizes and attempts to define him to their liking. He must show that he is capable of responding with strength and wisdom to the attacks made against him. Otherwise, the Bush campaign and it's supporters will continue to mold John Kerry into the perfect candidate to run against: a beatable one.