Read the New York Times Analysis on the new MoveOn.org Ad. The ad is the third in MoveOn’s series of “betrayal” ads that began last week with a print ad that called Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of American forces in Iraq, “General Betray Us.” The second is a 30-second spot starting today on CNN criticizing President Bush for not reducing the number of troops to pre-surge levels. The “Betray Us” ad elicited a ferocious response from Republicans, including Rudolph W. Giuliani.

Analysis courtesty of the New York Times:

PLACEMENT: The 30-second spot is available at: pol.moveon.org/giuliani. MoveOn has bought $50,000 of television time to air the spot in Iowa starting Wednesday.

ON THE SCREEN: The spot opens with Mr. Giuliani gripping hands with President George W. Bush. It cuts to a hearing room with the Iraq Study Group. It then shows a small empty room with an empty chair, which is then stamped with “AWOL” in big red letters. “AWOL” is stamped again over pictures of Mr. Giuliani on the campaign trail. The scene then cuts to a silhouette of soldiers carrying a comrade on a stretcher. It ends with a black-and-white photo of Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Bush, with the words: “Giuliani: A Betrayal of Trust.”

THE SCRIPT: “Rudy Giuliani has always been a big fan of George Bush’s war in Iraq. Yet when Giuliani had the chance to actually do something about the war, he went AWOL. After skipping important meetings of the Iraq Study Group, he quit. And gave speeches. For money. Republican voters should ask: “Giuliani: where were you when it counted?” “Rudy Giuliani. A betrayal of trust.”

ACCURACY: The facts asserted in the spot are correct, although it uses the term “AWOL” loosely. Mr. Giuliani urged pre-emptive action in Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein. He was appointed to the Iraq Study Group but quit after two months. He did not attend any of the meetings during his tenure in 2006, according to Newsday, and was given an ultimatum to show up or quit. Explaining his absences, Mr. Giuliani cited “previous time commitments,” which Newsday said were lucrative speeches. After the study group’s report was released in December, Mr. Giuliani said he had left because he was running for president and thought the group should be non-political.

SCORECARD: The spot is a direct hit on Mr. Giuliani and could severely undermine his argument that he is the best person to lead the nation in a time of war. It also fuels the escalating rancor between MoveOn.org and its Republican critics with its deliberate and repeated use of the inflammatory word “betrayal.” It is a searing ad, especially when it shows the silhouetted image of the soldiers, with the voiceover: “Where were you when it counted?” A possible beneficiary of the spot among his Republican primary opponents is Senator John McCain, whose military credentials are solidly intact. If Mr. Giuliani becomes the Republican nominee, this spot will no doubt re-emerge to the benefit of the Democratic nominee.