Taking the Fight to Our Enemies: A 50-50-50 Plan for American National Security

SUMMARY

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.

Progressives should critique the Bush/McCain strategy of massing forces in Iraq and spreading ourselves thin elsewhere as reckless, using two principle proof points. First, America’s security is at risk because we have not devoted sufficient resources to defeating Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Second, America’s strength is at risk because our ground forces are critically overextended. In addition to laying out this sharp critique, progressives should offer a new way forward with what we call the 50-50-50 Plan: increasing to 50,000 troops in Afghanistan, decreasing to 50,000 troops in Iraq, and expanding the Army and Marine Corps by 50,000 troops for the future.

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