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bngbuck
SFN Addict
USA
2437 Posts |
 Posted - 06/04/2008 : 08:16:59
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Dick Morris, ex-Clinton strategist, turncoat toady to Bush, bloviating buddy to Billy O'Reilly, has these words of advice to his new boss, John McCain:John McCain needs to go on the offensive against Barack Obama over the Iraq war.
Polls tell us that his support for the Iraq invasion is one of voters' chief problems with McCain. Obama's chief credential, on the other hand, is his early, consistent opposition to the war.
Even with recent successes in Iraq, the war remains a heavy negative for McCain. But he can turn that around; here's how.
When it comes to Iraq, Obama is most comfortable living in the past. He wants to endlessly replay the day when he castigated the war as unnecessary and cooked up by White House political types and ideologues. He's far less comfortable talking about Iraq now, and downright antsy when it comes to discussing the future.
It's a lot easier to oppose a policy than to figure out how to replace it.
Countless Americans remain deeply pessimistic about Iraq; recent successes get judged in the light of past, false optimism.
But that also means voters have no problem envisioning disaster should we pull out our troops too soon - the possible slaughter of pro-American Iraqis, plus police and government officials; perhaps a takeover by Iran; a comeback by al Qaeda and other terrorist operatives.
The key is to force Obama to face these dangers - and explain what he'd do.
* He could deny the possibilities - and come off as a naive, wishful thinker; most unsuitable in a president.
* He could waffle - but then McCain would press. If Obama kept it up, voters would see indecision or evasion - evidence he's in over his his head on foreign policy and national security.
* He could say that he'd use diplomacy to handle the situation - but Americans are rightfully skeptical about the chances for a diplomatic resolution, especially if the United States pulls out its troops.
As Frederick the Great said, "diplomacy without force is like music without instruments." McCain could always press and ask, "What do you do if diplomacy fails?"
* Which brings us to the inevitable answer he must give: I will go back into Iraq with troops.
But that begs more questions: Would he keep adequate force in the region? If not, it could take six months of convoys to go back in. And isn't it inevitable that a new invasion would lead to many more casualties than just staying there?
This gambit narrows the real differences between McCain's and Obama's Iraq policies. Obama basically has to say that he'd keep our troops in the region. Voters can be excused for not seeing much difference between keeping them in Iraq and in Kuwait - especially when pulling them even back to Kuwait makes their return to Iraq seem almost inevitable.
You can't run for president looking in the rear-view mirror and reciting what you said six years ago. You have to offer a plan.
McCain has an easily understood position: Stay in and win. As Iraq improves and Obama is forced to admit the possibility - in Americans' view, almost the inevitability - of ongoing involvement, McCain's solution will appear as much the better one. |
Any comments on Morris's assumption that Obama's stated phased withdrawal from Iraq will cause major problems for the US, and McCain's stated intent to stay there for a hundred years, if necessary, is the only viable foreign policy for the US?
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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 08:23:07 [Permalink]
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I'd say that while there needs to be lots of planning needs to go into any plans to pull out of Iraq.
What confuses me more is the "stay in and win" idea. Win what? And hwo to we know? Sure, it sounds good to talk about winning the "war" but given that we're not really in a war, I don't know what there is to win, exactly. |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 08:36:56 [Permalink]
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I get the feeling that a win means that we fix what we broke. To win just puts a positive spin on what is essentially damage control.
It's double speak... |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 08:42:06 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Kil
I get the feeling that a win means that we fix what we broke. I don't think that is possible... |
That's still nebulous. The "stay in to win" slogan is devoid of any real meaning. But because it sounds good (who wants to lose?), idiots will root for it. |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 08:47:24 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Cuneiformist
Originally posted by Kil
I get the feeling that a win means that we fix what we broke. I don't think that is possible... |
That's still nebulous. The "stay in to win" slogan is devoid of any real meaning. But because it sounds good (who wants to lose?), idiots will root for it.
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You beat my edit... |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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bngbuck
SFN Addict
USA
2437 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 09:55:43 [Permalink]
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Cune and Kil.....
I don't think we can win! Only lose more lives and treasure. If "winning" entails permanent occupation of Iraq, it cannot be worth the price.
Withdraw, focus heavily on Afghanistan and the Tailban (again), really clean up the Pakistan border, and then really get out of the middle east - meanwhile building hundreds of nuclear power plants, wind farms, solar farms, spending a lot on biofuel research, and mandating a major conversion to electric propulsion, especially passenger cars!
If Iraq self-destructs, stand by and watch. If Iran takes over, fight a real war against Iran, destroying their nuclear potential in the process.
Wait for the next Arab aggressor nation-state to get adventursome while continuing a vigorous police action against exported terrorism, especially Al Quaeda, and the other formalized terror organizations.
Support Israel to the hilt to fight as many and as much of our wars as possible!
It is my hope that President Obama, in concert with a two-thirds Democratic Congress will follow the above guidelines!
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McCain's "100 Years" in Iraq!
