John Edwards announced his plan to fight terrorism today.

In a speech at a New York hotel, the former North Carolina senator called for doubling the military's recruiting budget, close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and centralize the U.S. security budget.

"We need a smart national security strategy to shut down terrorists, not a cynical political strategy to shut down debate," he said.

Edwards also called for banning torture, restoring habeas corpus to foreign nationals, raising recruiting standards and meet with military leaders.

He also gave further details on the "Marshall Corps" plan leaked earlier today. He said the 10,000-member force, modeled on the reserves, would focus on stabilization and humanitarian missions in countries at risk for becoming havens for terrorists.

John Edwards will propose a "Marshall plan" for terrorism today.

According to an advance excerpt of a speech on a New York Times blog, the former North Carolina senator will call today for the creation of a 10,000-member "Marshall Corps."

I recognize what our military commanders have made clear – military action is only one of the tools we have to stop terrorism; we have to supplant the lure of violent extremism with the hope of education, opportunity, and prosperity.

In recent weeks, Edwards called the "war on terror" a bumper-sticker slogan, facing criticism from Sen. Hillary Clinton and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, among others.

He will give the speech at the Sheraton New York at 1:30 p.m.

The state Republican Party will choose a chair for the next two years Saturday.

So far, two major candidates have signed up, current chairwoman Linda Daves and executive committee member Marcus Kindley.

The N.C. Republicans site, which is not affiliated with the state party, has a helpful questionnaire comparing the two here.

Daves, a retired teacher who has held the position since December, opposes illegal immigration, supports the war on terror and says Republicans have to "come back to our roots as the fiscally and socially conservative party."

Kindley, a Guilford County stockbroker, opposes growth of state and federal spending, stresses that America is "a Christian Nation" and says Republicans should not ignore "the drumbeat of negative stories about the war in Iraq."

The party will choose at its convention in Charlotte this weekend. The position lasts for two years.