Washington—Beginning what is expected to be a weeklong public relations blitz, House Majority Leader John Murtha yesterday released a comprehensive document detailing Democrat successes in the foreign policy arena since taking over the majority in January.

“The only reason I ran for Majority Leader was to end our destructive interference in the world, and our misguided actions in the War on Terror,” Murtha said. “And I am proud to say that, after only eight months, we have accomplished more than I could ever have hoped for.”

Because they are still subject to President Bush’s veto pen, the Democrat majorities have made their biggest mark in foreign policy with funding decisions.

For example, the Democrats zeroed out any money for the President’s missile defense program.

“The ability to shoot down missiles launched from North Korea is clearly provocative,” House International Relations Committee Chairman Tom Lantos said. “If developing a system to shoot down those missiles is provoking them, then we shouldn’t do so. Diplomacy is the answer.”

The once-feared NSA Surveillance Program has been disbanded as well, after its funding was cut to zero.

“This program was a clear violation of due process,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers said. “I don’t care how many attacks it might have stopped. Even if there really are sleeper cells in this country, we have a careful and deliberate process to stop them. Yes, it might take a bit longer, and we might not get every single bit of information, but that’s a small price to pay.”

The President’s veto is also ineffective against matters in which the Congress has the prerogative, like reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act.

“It’ll never even come up,” one House leadership source said. “The Patriot Act is dead.”

There are other symbolic victories that Murtha pointed to.

For example, Harry Reid followed up on his 2006 comments that force was not an option in Iran by introducing a Sense of the Senate measure that the United States would not take any offensive military action against the Iranian government.

“That kind of thing makes a difference,” foreign policy expert Matt McKay said. “It doesn’t have the force of law, but it sends a message around the world about our intentions, and what we will and won’t do.”

In addition, House leaders have promised hearings on a wide array of issues, including scaling back interrogation techniques used against accused terrorists.

“These harsh methods to force them to talk is not what we should be about,” one Democrat staff source said. “Whatever happened to good old-fashioned interrogation methods that we’ve used for years against common criminals, like good cop/bad cop?”

Republicans have protested that the Democrat policies are endangering American security, but Murtha dismissed the complaints.

“Elections have consequences,” the Majority Leader said.