Republicans Plot Pro-War Strategy to Win in November

The New York Times reports that Republicans are strongly embracing the Bush Administration's war in Iraq in "an effort to turn what some party leaders had feared could become the party's greatest liability into an advantage in the midterm elections." In a strategy meeting "White House officials including the national security adviser, Stephen J. Hadley, outlined ways in which Republican lawmakers could speak more forcefully about the war. Participants also included Mr. Bush's top political and communications advisers: his deputy chief of staff, Karl Rove; his political director, Sara Taylor; and the White House counselor, Dan Bartlett." The NY Times article makes no mention of the new group Vets for Freedom, an apparent client of the Republican consultanting firm Donatelli Group. It has been attacking John Murtha and other Iraq war critics while heavlily promoting Bush's pro-war position. Vets for Freedom could be very helpful in the Republican pro-war PR strategy to keep control of Congress and the Senate.