Common sense conservatism
Posted on 07/17/2007 1:10:06 PM PDT by bnelson44
No matter where my colleagues came down in 2003 about the centrality of Iraq to the war on terror, there can simply be no debate that our efforts in Iraq today are critical to the wider struggle against violent Islamic extremism. Already, the terrorists are emboldened, excited that America is talking not about winning in Iraq, but is rather debating when we should lose. Last week, Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s deputy chief, said that the United States is merely delaying our “inevitable” defeat in Iraq, and that “the Mujahideen of Islam in Iraq of the caliphate and jihad are advancing with steady steps towards victory.” He called on Muslims to travel to Iraq to fight Americans, and appealed for Muslims to support the Islamic State in Iraq, a group established by al Qaeda.
General Petraeus has called al Qaeda “the principal short-term threat to Iraq.” What do the supporters of this amendment believe to be the consequences of our leaving the battlefield with al Qaeda in place? If we leave Iraq prematurely, jihadists around the world will interpret the withdrawal as their great victory against our great power. Their movement thrives in an atmosphere of perceived victory; we saw this in the surge of men and money flowing to al Qaeda following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. If they defeat the United States in Iraq, they will believe that anything is possible, that history is on their side, that they really can bring their terrible rule to lands the world over. Recall the plan laid out in a letter from Zawahiri to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, before his death. That plan is to take shape in four stages: establish a caliphate in Iraq, extend the “jihad wave” to the secular countries neighboring Iraq, clash with Israel – none of which shall commence until the completion of stage one: expel the Americans from Iraq. Mr. President, the terrorists are in this war to win it. The question is: Are we?
The supporters of this amendment respond that they do not by any means intend to cede the battlefield to al Qaeda; on the contrary, their legislation would allow U.S. forces, presumably holed up in forward operating bases, to carry out targeted counterterrorism operations. But our own military commanders say that this approach will not succeed, and that moving in with search and destroy missions to kill and capture terrorists, only to immediately cede the territory to the enemy, is the failed strategy of the past three and a half years….
Those are the likely consequences of a precipitous withdrawal, and I hope that the supporters of such a move will tell us what they believe to be the likely consequences of this course of action. Should their amendment become law, and U.S. troops begin withdrawing, do they believe that Iraq will become more or less stable? That al Qaeda will find it easier to gather, plan, and carry out attacks from Iraqi soil, or that our withdrawal will somehow make this less likely? That the Iraqi people become more or less safe? That genocide becomes a more remote possibility or ever likelier?
Mr. President, this fight is about Iraq but not about Iraq alone. It is greater than that and more important still, about whether America still has the political courage to fight for victory or whether we will settle for defeat, with all of the terrible things that accompany it. We cannot walk away gracefully from defeat in this war.
Too bad this is the only issue MeCain gets right!
Isn't that an oxymoron?
No, an endangered species.
McCain is where he belongs.
It’s too bad that McCain understands Iraq better than the Dims and alleged Republicans, like Richard Lugar, John Warner Lindsay Goober Graham, and Olympia Sbnowjob. It’s a real shame that this stubborn Rino is right and so many Republicans in the senate are drinking Harry Reid’s Kool-Aid.
At least McCain isn’t siding with traitors like Little Dick Durbin.
Blame yourself Johnny boy.
Many on this site are swift to hammer McCain.
He is wrong on many issues but a better spokesman
for the fight of our lives in a must-win situation
is hard to find. Lieberman is a close second.
I saw Olympia Snowe in the airport in Portland, Maine yesterday. She is even more hideous in person than she is on television.
He is doing great work in the Senate on this today, attempting to fend off possibly the worst disaster this country may have ever faced. Credit where credit is due.
My condolences.
If he wants to leave the back door open to our nation, even go so far as inviting them in, then how the heck is he right on this issue?
Either you are serious about defending the nation or you aren’t. He can’t have it both ways.
Same goes for any other politician who blubbers on about the WOT while refusing to defend our borders.
aMEN.
I don’t hear any other candidate coming close to matching McCain’s rhetoric on this issue. He’s spot on, and should be commended for this.
Why cramp my brain when you say it perfectly. I am not a fan of McCain but he fought and suffered horribly for his country. He should be given the respect he's due.
BINGO!
broken clock bump
Thanks Chesty. You might note the admiration for McCain
on his WOT stance is not shared by anti-fans of his
immigration stance.
I just find it hard to see why many find the WOT and the
immigration issue to be one and the same. The real fight
is the WOT and I would be glad to debate what is our
second greatest threat.
I don’t think any of those 9/11 terrorists came across our
southern border.
Graham was called up for active duty during the first Gulf War, is currently a Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves and 100% supportive of VICTORY in Iraq. In fact, he just debated Jim Webb over Iraq on Meet the Press.
See for yourself here:
Jim Webb And Lindsey Graham Face Off On Meet The Press (Video Link)
You're right about Lugar, Warner, and Snowe though. Too bad nobody is bothering to find "primary opponents" for them when they're far worse than Graham will ever be.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.