The Neo Con: The Bush Defense Record by the Numbers (PDF)

[Lasher]

In this report, Third Way analyzes the Bush Administration record and measures its success or failure. Vice President Dick Cheney and Senior Advisor Karl Rove have repeatedly argued that "everything changed on 9-11" and that America must have a "post-9-11 worldview." We hold the Administration to its own words and measure success or failure in the post-9-11 world across seven key national security indicators: Iraq, terrorism (broadly), Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, the condition of the American military, and China.

In this report, the evidence leads us to conclude that the Bush Administration has failed. The number of terrorist attacks and recruits are up worldwide; many of our enemies are stronger; their reach is greater; their weapons of mass destruction are more developed, plentiful and available. At the same time, American influence with our allies has weakened: our "friends" are not with us in Iraq. And a prolonged and troop-intensive war in Iraq has stretched our military and has left America less able to project power in troublesome hot spots than before 9-11.

The data leave little doubt that incompetence on the part of senior members of the Bush Administration has helped lead us to this dangerous situation. The data also suggest that the Bush Administration has failed in a more fundamental strategic sense. This Administration has underestimated our enemies, walked away from the negotiating table with would-be nuclear powers, selectively interpreted intelligence to suit prescribed solutions, fallen deeply in debt with one of our nation’s toughest competitors, watched helplessly as allies ignored or shunned America’s leadership, burned out the military, and put the capture and execution of one of the greatest
mass murderers in American history on the back-burner. The numbers don’t lie—the Bush strategy is not working.

http://www.third-way.com/data/product/file/58/The_Neo_Con_9.5.06_final_electronic_version.pdf

The full article provides specifics, citing references with footnotes. It is a very good reference to use when refuting right wingers' claims that the Bush junta is doing a heckova job on national security.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Thanks. Saved a copy of the complete report to read later.

[Lasher]

2. More on this

This is on the DU front page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2053615