Posted on 03/17/2008 9:49:35 AM PDT by SmithL
The presidential election presents a clear choice on the Iraq war. Republican Sen. John McCain vows to stay. Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama promise to begin a withdrawal.
Still, when asked in New Hampshire if they would promise to have all U.S. troops out by the end of their first term, Obama and Clinton both refused.
Since the invasion five years ago, Iraq has delivered enough surprises and overturned enough certainties - and the candidates have left themselves enough wiggle room - that there is reason to believe the United States could still be in Iraq five years from today if a Democrat wins the White House.
Few anticipate a 21st century replay of Vietnam, where former presidents misled the public. Richard Nixon turned out to have a secret plan not to end the war, and Lyndon Johnson attacked Republican Barry Goldwater as a warmonger only to escalate the war himself. Yet voters today must make that same leap of faith.
"There's an old saying in war that the initial war plan never survives contact with the enemy," said Michael Mandelbaum, head of the foreign policy program at the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies. "I would say of the Democrats, neither of these peace plans is going to survive contact with reality."
Even McCain, he said, may not stay the course if the war threatens to ruin his presidency.
"I have to believe and take them at their word," said Rep. Barbara Lee, an Oakland Democrat and Obama backer adamantly opposed to the war. "It's ... up to people to make their president, like they should make their members of Congress, accountable."
Recent scuffles have raised doubts. Former Obama adviser Samantha Power resigned after calling Obama's withdrawal plan a "best-case scenario."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Hell, any bold action on Iraq will take balls, and they just don’t have them. Those spineless wimps couldn’t even get a non-binding resolution asking the president for a timetable.
Heck I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dims actually lose the House and Senate in 2008.
Exactly but the information must be communicated properly to the public... If McCain discusses in detail I think America will grasp the consequences of withdraw....
The Rats have been playing politics on Iraq and to his Credit Bush never folded....
Somebody should remind Carolyn Lochhead, Barack Obomination, Hillary Clinton and the rest of the donks that the US is still in Germany. Has been for decades.
“Somebody should remind Carolyn Lochhead, Barack Obomination, Hillary Clinton and the rest of the donks that the US is still in Germany. Has been for decades.”
They know, those soldiers aren’t getting killed.
They count on soldiers dying, they use it for propaganda to help fuel the hate left.
Notice how quiet they have become about Iraq since the surge worked?
If the dems win it will be a good thing. The war in Iraq will come to an end and our troops can come home from fighting an illegal war. Perhaps, then we can finally get some things done for our own country.
Withdrawal is something their fathers should have done years ago.
CC
If the dems win it will be a good thing. The war in Iraq will come to an end and our troops can come home from fighting an illegal war. Perhaps, then we can finally get some things done for our own country.
Have you read World War 4 - until you have, you do not have a clue of what you are talking about. 9/11 cost the economy 1.5 trillion and that was just 4 buildings in NY and Washington. A nuke attach would kill the economy.
Also it was never an illegal war as it was sanctioned by the UN and the Senate( also do not bother with the WMD lie nonsense- China- Russia- Germany- UK and our very best friend at the time, France, all stated SH had them and had used them)
Have you actually listen to the “Giant Give Away” that both Hillary and Obama are offering. Lets see- The Rich will be taxed as they are not paying their fair share( the upper 1% paid 38% of the Income Tax while the lower 49% paid nothing). We will cut the military budget castigating our defense - Oh yes that is how we will pay for all of our promises.
I'm sure you just accidently surfed over here. Troll.
Activists often insist on the vague because the devil is in the details. "Establish peace" sounds great. (So, for that matter does "demolish the IRS"). A withdrawal from Iraq that fulfills a campaign pledge satisfies the activists because they can always blame the results on the predecessor and wash their hands of the affair. But the rest of us have to pick up the pieces, and that includes the elected candidate.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Zulu Oscar Tangoed.
I love it when you talk like that.
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