I've often accused -- with good reason -- Democrats (Joe Lieberman excepted) of not being serious when it comes to terrorism and national security. The Democrats' recent "demand" on President Bush to:

(1) transitioning the U.S. mission in Iraq to counter-terrorism, training, logistics and force protection; (2) beginning the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq before the end of this year; (3) working with Iraqi leaders to disarm the militias and to develop a broad-based and sustainable political settlement, including amending the Constitution to achieve a fair sharing of power and resources; and (4) convening an international conference and contact group to support a political settlement in Iraq, to preserve Iraq's sovereignty, and to revitalize the stalled economic reconstruction and rebuilding effort. These proposals were outlined in our July 30th letter and are consistent with the "U.S. Policy in Iraq Act" you signed into law last year.

The sad truth is that aside from the point 4 (why is an international conference the "solution" to everything?) Bush was already doing all of that before the Democrats wrote their letter. Apparently, the Democrats don't read the newspapers.

National Review's Byron York makes a good point in a Thursday column in Capitol Hill's Roll Call.

Ask yourself this question: What actions, or series of actions, could President Bush and GOP leaders in Congress have taken in the war on terror that would cause Democratic leaders to say, seven weeks before mid-term elections, “We are all united in a common effort to defeat the enemy. President Bush and Republicans in the House and Senate have brought us together like never before. We see no need to change leadership.”

Can you argue, with a straight face, that there is there any set of circumstances imaginable today, five years after September 11, that would lead to such a statement?

Well? If you can answer that, I encourage you to post your answer in the comments. There are plenty of things that Bush could've done better, quicker or differently, but is there really any doubt that Democrats would not find something to criticize no matter what?