Posted on 05/12/2008 10:43:34 AM PDT by Bob J
Bolster Troops on the Ground
A greater military commitment now is necessary if we are to achieve long-term success in Iraq. John McCain agrees with retired Army General Jack Keane that there are simply not enough American forces in Iraq. More troops are necessary to clear and hold insurgent strongholds; to provide security for rebuilding local institutions and economies; to halt sectarian violence in Baghdad and disarm Sunni and Shia militias; to dismantle al Qaeda; to train the Iraqi Army; and to embed American personnel in Iraqi police units. Accomplishing each of these goals will require more troops and is a crucial prerequisite for needed economic and political development in the country. America's ultimate strategy is to give Iraqis the capabilities to govern and secure their own country.
Implement New Counterinsurgency Strategy
For most of the occupation, military strategy has focused on securing all of Iraq by establishing bases and conducting short operations from them. Ultimately, this secured only small areas of the country. John McCain believes the current force structure and power vacuum persisting in many areas of the country demands a more robust counterinsurgency strategy. Iraqi and American forces must not only use force to clear areas occupied by insurgents but to stay and hold these areas to deny them as a base for insurgent forces and allow economic and political development to occur in a secure environment. By emphasizing safety of the local population, this strategy will create strongholds in which insurgents find it difficult to operate.
Strengthen the Iraqi Armed Forces and Police
Building a capable Iraqi army is a central requirement for ensuring Iraq's ability to govern and protect itself long after American forces have withdrawn. The U.S. must accelerate the training and equipping of Iraqi armed forces and police to enable them to play a key role in securing Iraq. Only in a secure environment will the development of Iraq's political and economic institutions have a chance to succeed. Ultimately, Iraq's future lies in the hands of its people, government, and armed forces, and strengthening them is an essential requirement for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq. Until Iraqi forces are ready, however, a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would condemn Iraq to civil war and intervention by its neighbors and energize al Qaeda and other jihadists across the globe. This would gravely jeopardize American security.
Create the security necessary for political progress and stability
John McCain believes that only by controlling the violence in Iraq can we pave the way for a political settlement. But once the Iraqi government wields greater authority, it will be incumbent upon Iraqi leaders to take significant steps on their own. These include a commitment to go after the militias, a reconciliation process for insurgents and Baathists, more equitable distribution of government resources, provincial elections that will bring Sunnis into the government, and a large increase in employment-generating economic projects.
Accelerate political and economic reconstruction in a secure environment
While it is crucial to focus military efforts on insurgents, particularly against Sunni fighters using violence to strengthen their political position, John McCain believes there must be a greater emphasis on non-military components promoting economic development and representative, accountable governance.
In territories newly secured by the "clear, hold, and build" counterinsurgency strategy, many of the critical steps to succeeding in Iraq can begin to be implemented. Massive reconstruction can go forward without overwhelming fear of attack and sabotage. A substantial employment program can begin to give hope and opportunity to Iraqi citizens. Political meetings and campaigning can take place more freely. Average Iraqis will be more secure as militias and terrorists are reigned in and violence reduced. All of this will help civil society to emerge and deepen.
"In Iraq our national security interests and our national values converge. Iraq is truly the test of a generation, for America and for our role in the world. Faced with similar challenges, previous generations of Americans have passed such tests with honor. It is now our turn to demonstrate that our power, ennobled by our principles, is the greatest force for good on earth today. Iraq's transformation into a secure democracy and a force for freedom in the greater Middle East is the calling of our age. We can succeed."
-Senator John McCain
Iraqis need to see tangible improvements in their daily lives or support for the new government will falter. Sunnis need to know that if they abandon violence they will have a role in the political process, and the Shia need to know that security will be provided by coalition and government forces - not by private militias. Kurds need assurance that their gains will not be jeopardized by sectarian violence. All Iraqis must be able to look forward to a future of growing security and prosperity overseen by a competent, representative government free of corruption and sectarian conflict.
Keep Senior Officers in Place
The Pentagon has adopted a policy of rotating our generals in and out of Iraq almost as frequently as the rotating of troops. John McCain believes this to be a deeply flawed practice. If these are, in fact, the best leaders for the task, they should remain on the job as long as possible. These generals and other senior officers with experience possess critical situational awareness and expertise necessary to prevail.
Call for International Pressure on Syria and Iran
John McCain believes Syria and Iran have aided and abetted the violence in Iraq for too long. Syria has refused to crack down on Iraqi insurgents and foreign terrorists operating from within its territory. Iran has aided the most extreme and violent Shia militias, providing them with training, weapons, and technology that they have used to kill American troops.
The answer is not to enter into unconditional dialogues with these two dictatorships from a position of weakness. The answer is for the international community to apply real pressure to Syria and Iran to change their behavior. The United States must also bolster its regional military posture to make clear to Iran our determination to protect our forces in Iraq and to deter Iranian intervention in that country.
Win the Homefront
If efforts in Iraq do not retain the support of the American people, the war will be lost as soundly as if our forces were defeated in battle. A renewed effort at home starts with explaining precisely what is at stake in this war to ensure that Americans fully understand the high cost of a military defeat. The war in Iraq is at a crossroads and the future of the entire region is at stake - a region that produced the terrorists who attacked America on 9/11 and where much of the world's energy supplies are located. Success is essential to creating peace in the region, and failure would expose the United States to national security threats for generations. Defeat in the war would lead to much more violence in Iraq, greatly embolden Iran, undermine U.S. allies such as Israel, likely lead to wider conflict, result in a terrorist safe haven in the heart of the Middle East, and gravely damage U.S. credibility throughout the world.
The American people also deserve to know that the path ahead will be long and difficult. They have heard many times that the violence in Iraq will subside soon - when a transitional government is in place, when Saddam is captured, when elections are held, when a constitution is in place. John McCain believes it is far better to describe the situation just as it is - difficult right now, but not without hope. The stakes for America could not be higher.
John McCain on Leadership
"Increasing U.S. troop levels will expose more brave Americans to danger and increase the number of American casualties. When Congress authorized this war, we committed America to a mission that entails the greatest sacrifice a country can make, one that falls disproportionately on those Americans who love their country so much that they volunteer to risk their lives to accomplish that mission. And when we authorized this war, we accepted the responsibility to make sure those men and women could prevail. Extending combat tours and accelerating the deployment of additional troops is a terrible sacrifice to impose on the best patriots among us, and they will understandably be disappointed when they are given that order. Then they will shoulder their weapons and do everything they can to protect our country's vital interests in Iraq."
The anti-McCain crowd consistently state that there is no difference between McCain and Obama/Clinton, which is simply ridiculous. There are points where the difference is less stark than others but to make a sweeping claim such as that, IMO, demonstrates the hsyterical lengths some will go to try to get others to stay home or vote third party on election day.
Now McCain wasn't my #1 candidate as he wasn't for most FReepers, but he will be the GOP nominee and a realistic analysis of his positions free from rhetoric and hysteria is important to gaining a full understanding of what to expect from him if he were towin the election.
In the interests of having a rational discussion and attempting to soberly define where McCains stands on the issues and whether or not there is a "difference" between him and his opponents, I will post one new McCain issue standpoint a day.
To those "one issue" voters, please don't muck up these threads by bringing up the other issues not being discussed this day, you're chance will come.
They forgot to list “Close GITMO”
So you want total surrender and withdrawal with Obama? Fine. It sucks to have only two choices, but I’ll go with McCain. Pick your choice.
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Pace, wants Guantanimo closed but what does he know about things military compared to you. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wants Guantanimo closed but he’s pert near a communist.
I'm a bit uncomfortable with explaining Iraq in those terms. It sounds like "Saddam did 9/11" and "War for Oil." This is exactly what the liberals frenzy upon.
Just explain Iraq for what it is and that it was a Regime that never honored the cease fire agreement which kept us a war with them throughout the 1990s and into 2003.
The only thing you got right in your comment.
McCain's Iraq policy is sound and solid. He had it right on the surge, while most here were still cheering Rumsfeld/Casey (two honorable men, with bad strategies) for whatever reason.
Despite all deficiencies he is on all counts better than Obama. Wake up! We have no other choices! If you think Obama's foreign policy will do any good, go ahead. Some will stop short of nothing to justify their passive handing over of power to Obama, won't they?
When a military position or operation becomes a liability for your side and a great propaganda asset for the enemy, it is expendable.
The Gitmo thing bothers me as well. What I would need to know bfore I decided on it was what he expected to do with those being held. If his plan was to tansfer them to other facilities, say in Irag or Eastern Europe, that many be okay, but we don’t want them on US soil where the ACLU can get a hold of them.
And eliminate interrogation techniques that have already saved American lives.
“Also, McCain wants amnesty and open borders.”
Would you please comply with the reasonable requests of discussing this thread? We’ll get to immigration.
90% of McCain critics are so because of immigration...I don’t blame them but it is one issue among many and is the reason for so much misinformation being put out.
You mean he didn't memorize the newspapers from Monday through Wednesday?
Back in 2006, when everybody was floundering about what to do in Iraq, McCain was almost alone of anybody, in either Congress or the White House, in steadfastly advocating the path that is now winning the war.
You do not win wars by memorizing and trying to micromanage every detail like Jimmy Carter did in Desert One and Clinton did in Somalia. You win wars by defining your objectives, giving your commanders the resources to accomplish them and allowing your commanders in the theater to sweat the details.
Your post #49 at the thread you linked is very important. Thanks for bringing it back up again!!!
Using the reason that it is okay simply because it gets vital information to protect the US could be extended to any “interrogation” technique. Where do we draw the line, or should one be drawn at all?
It never has been a "standard interrogation technique for the US military" and no one has proposed that it should be.
And eliminate interrogation techniques that have already saved American lives.
Once an issue becomes a propaganda bonanza for the enemy to the point that 50% plus one vote of the Home Front is ready to voluntarily vote to lose war because of it, it also become expendable in the public discussion arena.
"We never water board anybody. I am sure that our Iraqi allies that we hand our prisoners over to do not use it either. We would be shocked, shocked, I tell ya, if we ever find out otherwise."
Here is the bottom line:
Barack Obama has PROMISED that he WILL bug out and lose the war.
You can either spend your time between now and November working to ensure that Barack Obama does not become Commander-in-Chief or you can spend your time trashing McCain at every opportunity to get conservative voters to stay home in November to help get Obama in the Oval Office and have America lose the war.
One man, a candidate for the Presidency, risked his political future with a major address at VMI outlining the risks of defeat, the strategies necessary, and the possibilities for victory. John McCain. I wish I had saved a copy of the speech. It was calm and plain and Presidential. A solitary voice risking all for a cause he believed in.
Well then I’m confused. Maybe you could enlighten us.
Your options are, apparently, very limited. Mine are not.
We could use the same strategy here in Los Angeles where we have been invaded.
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