America's interests can never be served when relentlessly repeated lies, deceptions, and distortions are allowed to shape public opinion. Much to America's detriment, "Bush lied, people died" and related epithets have acquired widespread credibility and acceptance.

Sadly, Third Reich propagandists couldn't have done it better.

Despite positive developments on the ground in Iraq - which Al Qaeda has repeatedly described as the "frontline" in its battle with western civilization -as long as George Bush is president, self-serving Democratic elites will be invested in America's defeat and, thus, Al Qaeda's victory. They will spare no legislative effort to ensure this result. The party's "New Direction" means nothing more or less than America's retreat and surrender, while our troops overwhelmingly remain committed to victory and America is finally on a winning course.

Spanning both the Clinton and early Bush administrations, prewar intelligence from virtually every intelligence agency in the world, inclusive of the United Nations, confirmed the existence of WMDs in Iraq. This, in addition to the justifications enumerated in the Iraq War Resolution, necessitated the invasion. Only when this truth seeps into the anti-war, anti-Bush mindset can there be hope for an intellectually honest discussion.

There has never been a straight line to victory in any war. Only after a series of nearly disastrous military setbacks did Abe Lincoln understand that he needed to replace incompetent commanders in the field. With his appointment of General Grant, the tide of battle turned and the Civil War was won. The hope now, of course, is that in General Petraeus our president has found General Grant's equivalent in Iraq. That is not a hope shared by many on the left. Why? Those who deceive often become the unwitting victims of their own deception.

Finding our way through the left's obstructionism, distortion, and propaganda requires a willingness to eschew ideology in favor of truth. Absent this approach, America's security will hang precariously in the balance.

Especially in matters of national security, it should always be our duty to strive to be intellectually honest. As patriots and neighbors in this great land, none of us should expect anything less of our political leaders or of ourselves.

JIM DELANEY, GREECE