The Democrats are off and running with McCain's comment that we may have a military presence in Iraq for 100 years:
- “He (McCain) says that he is willing to send our troops into another 100 years of war in Iraq” (Barack Obama, Feb. 19).
- “We are bogged down in a war that John McCain now suggests might go on for another 100 years” (Obama, Feb. 26).
- “He’s (McCain) willing to keep this war going for 100 years” (Hillary Clinton, March 17).
- “What date between now and the election in November will he (McCain) drop this promise of a 100-year war in Iraq?” (Chris Matthews, March 4).
- McCain promises “an endless war in Iraq.” And “McCain’s strategy is a war without end. . . . Elect John McCain and get 100 years in Iraq.” (Howard Dean, fund raising letter)
Asked at a New Hampshire campaign stop about possibly staying in Iraq 50 years, John McCain interrupted — “Make it a hundred” — then offered a precise analogy to what he envisioned: “We’ve been in Japan for 60 years. We’ve been in South Korea for 50 years or so.” Lest anyone think he was talking about prolonged war-fighting rather than maintaining a presence in postwar Iraq, he explained: “That would be fine with me, as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed.”
Is there any doubt that McCain was talking about having a troop presence in a peaceful Iraq, like our presence in Japan, South Korea, or Kuwait? Will the Democrats demand an end to our 67 year war with Japan? Maybe Obama should consult one of his leading military advisers and his campaign co-chairman, Gen. Merrill McPeak. Five years ago McPeak, although he is a war critic, suggested that “we’ll be there a century, hopefully. If it works right.”
Our military presence around the world projects power and gives stability to vulnerable countries. In the future it's possible that Iraq could pay most of the costs of our military presence, like Japan does now.
Our country needs to have a real debate about what to do in Iraq. Should we stay and keep Iraq on the road to peace and democracy or should we cut and run, leaving the country to terrorists (including Iran)? Is the prospect of a free and peaceful Iraq worth the cost to us in lives and treasure? The Democrats' lies about McCain's plans for Iraq do not constitute a serious debate.
2 comments:
Thank you for clarifying the maelstrom of misinformation we get from the media, and politicians. It gets so tiring, but I think I'm getting smarter in that area. There's so many out of context quotes thrown out there to throw people off the truth. I guess the answer is to do your own research.
Not to stray too far away from the subject of your post, but I think the clips we've heard of Rev. Wright over and over have been a bit overblown, and not understood. What do others think?
Regardless of McCain's intent it was still a poorly worded response. Today's media is always looking for the next sound bite why give them any ammunition. This is one of several verbal gaffs McCain has made lately, he should be more careful with his word choice.
As far as the debate on the war it is frustrating because I don't think we should ever have gone in, but it is too late for that now. That is no longer an option, this administration got us into Iraq, they got their way and now everyone has to deal with those consequences. I would have loved to have seen half a trillion dollars invested at home from schools to jobs to urban planning.
McCain will point to the decline in death as a result of the surge, but there is no way to know what the long term ramifications will be of having troops on the ground for an extended period of time. This is not a fair fight, there is no way to stop people who are willing to kill themselves in the process. We were led to believe that this was going to be a quick in and out mission they were wrong about that why would they be right about the long term effects of the surge and troop presence. The information we based the operation on was wrong, our planning and prediction for the war was not accurate, why should we believe our current course will be more successful. I think the change has to come from the middle east. we are foreigner in a land we dont always understand, they should be policing themselves. Our military might could be better served stopping genocide a real weapon of mass destruction.
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