Mehlman to deliver these talking points at GOP bean dinner in Indiana

Remarks by RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman to Allen Co. Republican Party Bean Dinner

11/11/2005 5:40:00 PM

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Tracey Schmitt of the Republican National Committee Communications Staff, 202-863-8614

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman will address the annual Allen County Republican Party Bean Dinner in Fort Wayne, Ind. tonight.

(As prepared for delivery)

For almost a generation, terrorists have declared war on free nations.

The learned that they could declare war on democracy without fearing war in return.

That war came to America on September 11, 2001.

And on September 12, under the leadership of George W. Bush, the terrorists got war in return.

While we fight to spread freedom, the terrorists' strategy is clear: American forces recently intercepted a letter from Osama bin Laden's number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, saying that al Qaeda is waiting for America to pull out of Iraq, just as we pulled out of Vietnam.

A Vietnam-like pullout would not be a stalemate or an 'exit strategy' - it would be an unambiguous victory for the terrorists.

We cannot not leave Iraq at the mercy of murderers.

We cannot once again send a signal that the reward for violence is capitulation.

Yet amazingly, some people here in this country would prefer for us to do exactly that, even those Democrats who once claimed to understand the threat.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton ordered four days of intensive bombing in Iraq because, as he said in a televised address to the nation, "Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his (A) Political Press 12 - TV List 2neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons."

He was not alone.

81 Democrats in the House of Representatives and a majority of Democrats in the Senate voted to authorize the war.

Senator Evan Bayh, a member of the Intelligence Committee, explained why he and so many Democrats supported removing Saddam Hussein from power: "The question is, do you want Saddam Hussein having chemical weapons, having biological weapons, possibly one day having a nuclear weapon?"

In 2002, Howard Dean said "There's no question Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies."

Senator Carl Levin said "The war against terrorism will not be finished as long as (Saddam Hussein) is in power."

Amazingly these same Democrats who looked at the same intelligence as the President and came to the same conclusions now want an investigation.

Maybe this investigation will reveal that they were brainwashed.

Or that, like John Kerry, they were for the war before they were against it for short-term political gain.

Either way, this kind of political doublespeak sends exactly the wrong message to our troops, to the Iraqis and to our terrorist enemies.

And that is not the only message they are sending to the terrorists.

John Kerry just made a major speech calling for 20,000 U.S. troops to leave Iraq before the end of the year.

Ted Kennedy and Russ Feingold have called for even more extensive troop withdrawals.

As has MoveOn.org, which has run ads calling for an immediate drawdown of American troops.

But we will not cut and run.

We will stand by our principle of peace through strength, as Ronald Reagan did - and we will prevail against the terrorists.

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A "bean dinner" is the right place for all that gas.

Should have put up the storm windows. Rats.

You know, Larry "Bud" Mehlmann. Did he quit going by "Bud?":wtf:

hasn't been out there 24 hours!!

You're passing gas out of both ends.