McCain's New Iraq Fantasy

After yet another crushing special election loss for the GOP, and with Obama's national numbers building strength against his rival, John McCain has realized the need to take a new direction, beginning today with a horrifyingly disingenuous speech.

McCain has consistently opposed even the slightest notion of setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. It had been the drumbeat that walked his weak candidacy to the doorstep of the Republican nomination. He has even, to his dismay, suggested that we may stay in Iraq for 100 years, a quote that has made its way into Democratic stump speeches, and DNC commercials.

McCain has argued that the characterization is unfair, that in fact, he was describing a scenario akin to Germany or Korea, in which the United States has a peaceful presence in Iraq, in the absence of the kind of violence to which we have all become accustomed. Of course, such a formulation demonstrates a dramatic divergence from reality. Iraq has never been, nor will it ever be, analogous to Germany or Korea, neither of which had the kind of deep-seeded sectarian violence that we see in Iraq. Moreover, it is our occupation of the Middle East that has served to increase the level of violence, as well as the recruiting aims of Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Our presence is the underlying cause. That John McCain believes a long term occupation of Iraq could provide stability to the region is sufficient evidence that John McCain does not understand the world around him.

What's worse is that, even taking his formulation at face value, McCain is claiming a willingness to keep our troops in Iraq, no matter the loss in life, for however long it takes to eventually have no more loss of life. The silenced names on the Vietnam Memorial know the value of such a policy.

As a result, McCain has decided to break with his own precedent, and to claim that, unlike all of his previous statements, he expects an end to the Iraq war by the end of his first term. In a major address today, McCain envisions that, by January 2013, we will be welcoming most of our troops home. He sees that future as one in which "the Iraq war has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced." This latest suggestion is, in its most positive light, a political ploy. And it is preconditioned on the impossible.

If he believes what he is saying, then McCain is yet again showing a passing understanding of the conflict in the Middle East. Even by the most generous assessments, it would take at least sixteen months to withdraw our troops from Iraq. To have the bulk of our troops home by January of 2013, with his preconditions having been met, would require that McCain somehow achieve this functioning democracy and dramatic decrease in violence within two years of taking office. From where does he imagine he will find political reconciliation? In what sense can he expect a reduction in violence, given no evidence that a long-term reduction is sustainable? It is simply not feasible to assume that our exit from Iraq, if it were to coincide with the happy ending McCain portends, could possibly happen in either 100 years or on his new shortened timeline.

It is far more likely, however, that McCain does not believe what he is saying, that he has not in fact, had a genuine change of heart. The conditions on the ground in Iraq have not changed. But the political conditions for this election have. This is not an honest assessment from the self-appointed king of straight talk. It is rather yet another false promise, uttered with a straight face, as an attempt to survive an election, and with no intent to follow through.

With comments that break with himself and the GOP, McCain is showing yet again that he has a willingness to lie that truly makes him a Bush Republican.

Comments

[afram1]

Not you, tippy. The weatherman.

[tippy6]

OK thanks!

[gopindrag]

HEY YOU PUNKS GET OFFA MY WAR!

[Soosan a disgusted American]

Being delusional seems to be contagious now a days. Please watch this factual 8 minutes clip I find it interesting, factual and very well put together. What part of its message don't you understand?
As American we have to be honest with ourselves, ask questions, demand answers, hold people who we chose to represent us accountable if they are not doing their jobs. It is just common sense to demand change if we don't agree with how we are represented as a nation. We are people why are we allowing politicians to pre-package us in specific categories (Republican, Democrat, Liberals, Independent), groups with pre-conceived and failed agenda. When we loose our homes, when we pay over $4.00 at gas pump, when we are left and forgotten in a natural disasters, when we send our children to an unjust war, when we can not pay for our basic health care, when in 21st century our bridges threaten to fall on us, does it matter if we are Republican, Democrat, left, right, etc.), I think not!!!

Here is the video, watch is as an American. Clearly Mr. McCain is not the right choice, whether or not Mr. Obama or Mrs. Clinton are does not make a bit of difference to the fact that Mr. McCain is wrong for America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y395Tftgz0E

[slemay]

I have an old-fashioned view of victory in a war: all of the people fighting against you lay down their weapons, raise their hands in the air, and quit fighting. If you are going to fight a war, fight a war. Quit trying to bomb them a little, or shoot them a little, in hopes that they will seat themselves at the negotiating table and do what you want.

We aren't going to fight that war in Iraq. It is too complex, too political at home and abroad, and we are already mired down based on a distinct and untenable rubric, one much like that of Viet Nam. We need to find a graceful way out, so we can fight the real war against terrorists--in Afghanistan, for example.

McCain in late to the party--and a member of the party that made this mess in the first place. We should make his opinion on this the opinion of a minority member of the senate, not the opinion of the president.

[swooge]

It's not a war. Hasn't been since the Republican Guard was routed defending Baghdad.

It's an occupation and as occupations go, since the advent of guerrilla warfare and suicide bombs, it's arousing success. Dead occupiers everywhere and civilians caught up in the crossfire. An Army philosophy and training predicated on large tank battles on the European front unable to cope with highly mobile, non-uniform units who mostly work independently of one another. No actual front to speak of with every soldier, even those at the rear, unable to relax for a second.

We learned nothing from Viet Nam and the Russians attempts in Afganistan.

It's not a war.

[newworldman777]

Oh boy, and golly gee!!! Mr. McCain certainly has painted a rosy scenario for his administration! I wish that I could afford to purchase a pair of those same rose-colored glasses; but unfortunately, I spent my last few cents trying to buy enough gas to get to work.

[chosenson]

Gas. You might be onto something. The Straight Talk Express ran out of gas. Now McCain pedaling uphill, panting out hot air, hauling a useless bus known as the BS Express!

[Mojane]

Then there are the 125,000 private contractors that we can leave there after all troops are withdrawn, a private army, an armed militia fed by Blackwater courtesy of our contined pass on these freaks.

[wayoutleft]

yet he keeps bringing it up. what magoo needs is an army nanny to tell him iraq stories at night so he can fall asleep. this would be a good job for colin powell or somebody. to tell mccain reassuring iraq stories before his bed time.

[MajorKong]

He's starting to sound like Nixon with his "secret plan" to end the war.

[wmfor]

You underestimate the genius of McCain.

He is going to sit down all factions and say, "Why can't all you Shias and Sunnis and Moonys and Loonys or whatever-you-are just settle your differences like good Christians?"

[XME]

And I thought the "gas tax holiday" was pandering!

[idabamaho]

This will be hilarious in the coming months. Bush upstaging McCain with outrageous neocon blather whilst Mr. McGoo wanders around looking for his latest pandering issue. Yes, my friends... free gas... no taxes... victory against Hamas in Iraq... no torture but I support it... bomb Iraq, I mean Iran, I mean Isreal... stop confusing me... I meant Al Qaeda in Iran... No, hey Joe... What? No, Osama Hussien in Iran... wait a minute...

[KillTheMessenger]

We need more lies from the GOP! Lies work. They always have. They always will. This time they might work to get them out of here.

[BookDesigner]

Why is McCain promising to win by 2013 when he agreed with the idiot in the White House that the mission was accomplished five years ago?

McCain has no understanding of the present situation in the Middle East or the hundreds of years of history leading up to it.

Let's vote for someone with a proper education in November, please!

[PADDYWHACK]

I will gladly pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today.

[WasteNJ]

So I suppose now McCain is taking pages out of Hillary's playbook? Finger in the wind, trying to re-invent his message to fit the political climate.