That John McCain believes a long term occupation of Iraq could provide
stability to the region is sufficient evidence that John McCain does
not understand the world around him.
What's worse is that, even taking his formulation at face value,
McCain is claiming a willingness to keep our troops in Iraq, no matter
the loss in life, for however long it takes to eventually have no more
loss of life.
The silenced names on the Vietnam Memorial know the value of such a
policy.
From The Guardian, 5/15/08:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/dylan_loewe/2008/05/mccains_iraq_fantasy.html
McCain's Iraq fantasy
The Republican candidate now says US troops will leave Iraq by 2013 -
a disingenuous ploy that is as unrealistic as his previous position
Dylan Loewe
After yet another crushing special election loss for the GOP, and with
Obama's national numbers building strength against his rival, John
McCain has realized the need to take a new direction, beginning today
with a horrifyingly disingenuous speech.
McCain has consistently opposed even the slightest notion of setting a
timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.
It had been the drumbeat that walked his weak candidacy to the
doorstep of the Republican nomination.
He has even, to his dismay, suggested that we may stay in Iraq for 100
years, a quote that has made its way into Democratic stump speeches
and commercials.
McCain has argued that the characterization is unfair, that in fact,
he was describing a scenario akin to Germany or Korea, in which the
United States has a peaceful presence in Iraq, in the absence of the
kind of violence to which we have all become accustomed.
Of course, such a formulation demonstrates a dramatic divergence from
reality.
Iraq has never been, nor will it ever be, analogous to Germany or
Korea, neither of which had the kind of deep-seeded sectarian violence
that we see in Iraq.
Moreover, it is our occupation of the Middle East that has served to
increase the level of violence, as well as the recruiting aims of
al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations.
Our presence is the underlying cause.
That John McCain believes a long term occupation of Iraq could provide
stability to the region is sufficient evidence that John McCain does
not understand the world around him.
What's worse is that, even taking his formulation at face value,
McCain is claiming a willingness to keep our troops in Iraq, no matter
the loss in life, for however long it takes to eventually have no more
loss of life.
The silenced names on the Vietnam Memorial know the value of such a
policy.
_________________________________________________
Harry
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