Democratic defeatism

David Gelernter has a fine piece in the LA Times today, arguing that America will abandon the Democrats before it abandons Iraq. Patrick "Leaky" Leahy told the Senate that the U.S. military cannot defeat the insurgency: "It has become increasingly apparent that the most powerful army in the world cannot stop a determined insurgency."

That is unequivocally defeatism, and it is the most serious problem the left faces today. Appeasement ranks next. Gelernter briefly discusses the Vietnam situation, then notes the following:

Many observers have noticed that Democrats of the left speak of Iraq as another Vietnam. Few have explained why: Because Democrats of the left want Iraq to be another Vietnam. Not that they took pleasure in Vietnamese suffering, but they rejoiced in the left-wing power surge that transformed the United States in the aftermath. Naturally, they hope to repeat that experience: to humiliate Republicans, moderate Democrats and the military by pinning the label "bloody failure" on another foreign war.

It's not going to happen.

Iraq is nothing like Vietnam, and the public knows it. In the recent referendum, 63% of Iraqi voters cast ballots. Each vote screamed defiance at terrorism and defeatism. Each vote told the world that terrorism will lose and democracy will win, that Iraqis trust the United States to help protect them against vengeful insurgents bent on murdering whoever dares to hope and care and vote.

An impressive 78% voted "yes" on the new constitution. Sunni Muslims said no, but many said it at the ballot box. The referendum made clear that ordinary people everywhere do want to govern themselves. Democracy could have worked in Vietnam too.

This nation will abandon the Democratic Party before it abandons Iraq.

I am encouraged by Gelernter's optimism, but I honestly don't know realistic his analysis is. Despite the power of the alternative media, the MSM and the Dems still have a lot of pieces on the board of vocal influence. It's a lot easier--and more emotionally appealing--to angrily denounce the perceived failures of the Republicans than what the Republicans must do to maintain support--joyously hold high their successes. It's an undeniable fact of human nature: negativism is the easiest of emotions.

Can it be done? Will America realize that the fight for democratic ideas is a long-term one, with commitments that will inherently span multiple congresses and presidents? I hope so.

democrats, defeatism, Patrick Leahy, David Gelernter, Iraq, democracy