Ezra at Pendagon has a great plan for Kerry -- really for anyone -- to engage the issue of Iraq.
I'd suggest holding a two day, press-covered symposium on Iraq (much like Clinton and Bush did with economic issues). Pack it full of soldiers, academics, diplomats and experts and let Kerry moderate, listen, explain and learn. The end of the symposium should come with Kerry bringing out a new and utterly comprehensive plan for winning the peace in Iraq. One that takes into account more than just the international community; it also cares for our soldiers, is tough on the insurgents, and is a realistic and honest assessment of how we need to win.
I also agree with his idea of tripling the pay of soldier who are forced to stay beyond their original return dates, as the 1st Armored is now being ordered to do. Of course, their pay should probably be tripled in the first place.
Kerry does have to get tougher. He's kept a kind of low profile lately, but all I hear from him is pretty standard anti-Bush rhetoric, and a lot of sound bites that sounds way too much like sound bites. He should really spend a weekend sitting down and watching tapes of Clinton campaigning.
