McCain’s Iraq Problem
Posted at 12:59 pm on Thursday, July 31, 2008, in Uncategorized, and tagged 2008, bush, iraq, mccain, obama.
John McCain is in a tough spot politically in the war on terror. With Bush announcing improvements in the security conditions in Iraq, this plays directly into Barack Obama’s hands. If conditions have improved, let’s bring the troops home.
Counter to that, McCain has stated unequivocally that the U.S. should remain in Iraq for generations to come. Any change to that stance, even a slight one, is seen as a nod to, if not an affirmation of, the Obama plan for Iraq. Obama’s plan has always been more nuanced. Obviously if conditions do not allow it, any reasonable voter would conclude, the troops will not be able to leave. But for five years now, the president has said, “As the Iraq troops step up, U.S. troops will stand down.”
There is no doubt that McCain would like for the troops to come home — I would not attempt to allege otherwise — but it is not politically opportune for that to happen until after the election.
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July 31st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Joe Klein’s column in last week’s “Time” explained the frustration which McCain must be experiencing concering Iraq: McCain thinks himself correct in supporting the “surge” and now desperately wants Obama to admit that he (Obama) was wrong, something ing the senator from Illinois will not do. So, McCain is in meltdown mode, resorting to name-calling and Karl Rove-type tactics. It deserves to backfire on the Arizona senator!
August 1st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
nice point chuck. I’d like to see it blow up in his face. His recent accusations are almost comical and make him appear very desperate. It will be interesting to see the debates between these two. It should be a complete blow out by obama. Only problem, as history serves….Kerry destroyed bush in the debates and still lost. This world is a mystery
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Obama’s plan has always been more nuanced. Obviously if conditions do not allow it, any reasonable voter would conclude, the troops will not be able to leave.
this statement troubles me. i feel like the public could care less what the conditions are; they just want out. despite my enormous personal disagreement with that mindset, it does seem that americans have decided that the issues in iraq are the iraqi’s problems to deal with, so eff ‘em.
point being- if obama is elected, the expectation among voters, i believe, is that withdrawl will begin immediately, regardless of the climate at the time.
my 8 cents.
August 4th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Obvious is a dangerous word to use.