Former Senator Bob Kerrey’s recent Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal has attracted a lot of attention. (http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010107)

The article speaks to a truth Democrats must face if they wish to attract independent voters. Democrats must have a coherent and consistent message on National Defense and Homeland Security that provides voters a sense of reality and comfort. Simply being opposed to the policies of Republicans is not enough. Republicans have certainly shot themselves in the foot with their conduct of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their image as stalwart, steely-eyed war fighters has morphed to one of blame-dodging, shifty-eyed war losers. But Democrats’ reputation in this area, like it or not, is not the best. The fact that Republicans may longer claim supremacy in this area does not automatically vault Democrats into the lead.

To reiterate, Democrats must face the primacy of this issue. Other electoral issues of concern that would normally be primary because national security was taken as a given (and which might have been a Democratic strength) can no longer be counted on for electoral victory. In a sort of metaphor of Mazlow’s Hierarchy of Needs, both parties must acknowledge that if someone is beating you fiercely about the head and shoulders with a lead pipe, then you are not interested in talking about whether ballet or opera is a superior form of entertainment. Similarly, caring about social and economic issues as a voter is extremely difficult when your primary concern is whether your government can keep you safe and ensure your way of life will not be taken over by terrorists.

One interesting aspect of Kerrey’s article towards the end is a quote by Senator James Webb of Virginia. Webb says, “You do not have to occupy a country to fight the terrorists who are inside it.” To me, this is an acknowledgement of the timeless teachings of Sun Tzu, who wrote that: “The acme (peak) of war fighting skill is to win without fighting.” War is fought on many levels and the military is just one of those levels. Economics, politics and diplomacy provide other levels of war fighting capability which can minimize the degree to which the military component is required.

Here’s hoping our elected officials will learn to use this multi-level approach with greater skill and aggressiveness.