Five years after September 11, 2001, as experts predict that Afghanistan could slip back into chaos and Osama bin Laden is still on the loose, President Bush today tried to divert attention from the fact that his administration has virtually ignored Afghanistan while escalating the war in Iraq.

“The Bush Administration took its eye off the ball in Afghanistan, leaving a deteriorating situation to worsen and Osama bin Laden on the loose more than five years after 9/11,” said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton.

“While ignoring Afghanistan, President Bush has focused on escalating the war in Iraq and in the meantime, his failed policies have stretched our troops too thin and sent them to war without the proper life-saving equipment and training. Now he is also escalating his rhetoric against Iran. Democrats are holding President Bush accountable for his foreign policy failures, whether it’s his efforts to escalate the Iraq War or his failure to properly equip our troops or fight the real war on terror.”

Afghanistan Could “Slip Back Into Chaos”; Five Years After 9/11 “Still Embroiled In War, Drug Trafficking And Instability.” “While President Bush and Congress argue over Iraq, experts warn that Afghanistan could slip back into chaos. U.S. commanders are bracing for a spring offensive by Taliban insurgents that will test the staying power of the fragile U.S.-backed Afghan government. In a sign of the administration’s concern, President Bush will deliver a speech today highlighting plans for a dramatic increase in military and economic aid, but skeptics fear that the renewed focus on Afghanistan may be too little and too late. … Administration officials and U.S. military commanders agree that Afghanistan is grappling with potentially crippling challenges. Five years after U.S. troops ousted the Taliban regime and its al-Qaida allies in retaliation for the Sept. 11 attacks, Afghanistan is still embroiled in war, terrorism, drug trafficking and instability. The government of President Hamid Karzai has a shaky hold on power; the Taliban and al-Qaida continue to launch attacks from their haven along the Afghan-Pakistan border; and opium production has increased dramatically. Attacks by Islamic extremists spiked last year, making 2006 the deadliest year since the U.S. invasion.” [McClatchy, 2/15/07]

Outside the Beltway Traffic Jam

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Here’s info from the official press release from the Democratic National Committee (DNC):

Citing the Denver host committee’s strong bid and growing Democratic gains in the Rocky Mountain West, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Howard Dean today announced that Denver will host the 2008 Democratic National Convention Monday, August 25 to Thursday, August 28.

Howard Dean issued the following statement:
“I am delighted to announce that the city of Denver will host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. I congratulate Governor Ritter, Mayor Hickenlooper, Senator Salzar and the members of the Denver Host Committee for assembling an outstanding bid that demonstrates the community’s commitment to organizing a first-rate national convention that will put our nominee on the path to victory in 2008.

“There is no question that the West is important to the future of the Democratic Party. The recent Democratic gains in the West exemplify the principle that when we show up and ask for people’s votes and talk about what we stand for, we can win in any part of the country. Additionally, we have a number of strong Democratic leaders in the West who will be a part of showcasing the vision of Democratic leadership for America as we introduce the next Democratic President in the Rocky Mountains.

“New York is a wonderful city but in the end, it was the strength of Denver’s bid that made it the best choice. From the state-of-the-art facilities to the commitment of community leaders to hosting an outstanding event, Mayor Hickenlooper and the host committee made clear that the Denver convention will be a great one. We thank the team for its hard-work during this process and look forward to working with them over the next year and a half to put on the best Democratic convention in history.”

“I would like to thank Mayor Bloomberg, the members of the New York Host Committee, and the rest of the team who organized New York City’s bid to host the convention. Together, they made this an enormously difficult decision. I know how hard they worked, and appreciate all of their efforts.”

Source: Democratic National Committee

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