Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger

Herman Goering, at the Nuremberg Trials.

Appearing in the Rose Garden yesterday with Iraq's interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi, Bush said Kerry's statements about Iraq "can embolden an enemy." After Kerry criticized Allawi's speech to Congress, Vice President Cheney tore into the Democratic nominee, calling him "destructive" to the effort in Iraq and the struggle against terrorism.

From the Washington Post.

...terrorists are going to throw everything they can between now and the election to try and elect Kerry...Democrats are consistently saying things that I think undermine our young men and women who are serving over there.

Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah) speaking on Fox News.

His words embolden the enemy.

GOP Senatorial candidate John Thune about John Kerry, speaking on Meet the Press.

...at the same time young Americans are dying in the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation is being torn apart and made weaker because of the Democrats' manic obsession to bring down our commander in chief.

Zell Miller, speaking at the Republican National Convention.

See the Post article for documentation of the quotes.

I do not object to the argument that Kerry, if elected, will pursue wrong-headed national security policies and thus make the US vulnerable to attack. That is an incorrect but perfectly legitimate claim to make in a democracy. But the statements made by the administration & Republicans in Congress go way beyond that to claim that Kerry's criticism of the President is undermining our troops and helping terrorists. And if that's not what Goering was talking about, I don't know what is.

(found via legal fiction)