McCain on the Issues - Iraq

McCain Website ^

[Polybius]

Could it be that events are so overtaking us that we have lost our grasp of even recent history?

I believe that George W. Bush is such a horrible communicator that he has allowed the Home Front to be clueless about the strategic consequences of defeat.

Thus, you even have conservatives on FR gleefully looking forward to an Obama victory so he can lose the war (it won't matter, they think) so they can blame the Democrats so they can get "a true conservative" elected in 2012.

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.

Here you go:

April 11, 2007: Speech on Iraq at VMI

[Bob J]

“Thus, you even have conservatives on FR gleefully looking forward to an Obama victory so he can lose the war (it won’t matter, they think) so they can blame the Democrats so they can get “a true conservative” elected in 2012.”

I see this over and over from the anti-McCains and it is the most ignorant, stupid thing I have ever heard.

So, I chalk it up to more misdirection from them as no sane person could hold that view.

[Prokopton]

Well then I’m confused. Maybe you could enlighten us.

I'm not sure what you want to be "enlightened" about. Waterboarding has been used in recent years on a very few occasions by CIA interrogator's and probably high level military investigators. Waterboarding, and other similar techniques, have never been taught to our soldiers as a "standard" form of interrogation.

The debate has been whether this type of interrogation should be available to be used in high level interrogations in extreme cases where the lives of U.S. citizens are at stake. McCain, and others, think it should never be used even if it would prevent a terrorist attack and save American lives. Others, like me, think it should be legal to use in limited circumstances with high level approval.

[Bob J]

“It never has been a “standard interrogation technique for the US military” and no one has proposed that it should be.”

Then I think we are quibbling over definitions. I said “military” and you say “not military but high level interrogations”. I don’t know who you refer to, I assume it was military or military related personnel.

But the fact the method is being discussed as to whether it should be used at all is certainly evident.

[Polybius]

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.

Your options are, apparently, very limited. Mine are not.

I have just as many choices as you do but, as we are discussing the future occupant of the Oval Office, writing in a "true conservative candidate" on your ballot without any more chance to win the White House than my dog or cleaning your toilet with your ballot are irrelevant "options" in regards to determining who will be our next President.

If you want to stay home or throw your vote away, that is your "option" but all you have done is to make yourself as irrelevant in the outcome of the election as my black lab.

I am taking the option of not being irrelevant and not advocating that other conservatives become irrelevant.

[muleskinner]

I believe that George W. Bush is such a horrible communicator that he has allowed the Home Front to be clueless about the strategic consequences of defeat.

Thus, you even have conservatives on FR gleefully looking forward to an Obama victory so he can lose the war (it won't matter, they think) so they can blame the Democrats so they can get "a true conservative" elected in 2012.

We are in accord.

What happen in the time between when Gov. Bush ran Texas and then became Pres. Bush? Did he lose his tongue? Or maybe his communicative style was not an issue in Texas. He/we wouldn't have half the problems, or they'd be half as big, if he could communicate effectively. "Too bad, OH! TOO BAD!"

[mtntop3]

Thanks for the post, Bob, and the apropos comment.

The topic is most appropriate since the topics of the War on Terror and of murderous Islamic radicalism have almost disappeared from this site - in lieu of political self-destruction.

Yes, some McCain detractors on this site - who have now appointed themselves high priests of political ideology and (paradoxically) political correctness - are, it seems to me, becoming nothing but, unconscious at best, Obama enablers.

Again, your post rightfully gets back to the danger that affects us all - and, if not met, will kill us all. Obama will not - can not - meet that imminent and great danger.