Editorial: Mr. McCain and Iraq (McCain is the stubborn man out.)

[Breeze54]

Editorial: Mr. McCain and Iraq

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/opinion/01mon2.html

Published: September 1, 2008

Senator John McCain’s rival, Senator Barack Obama, once was a lonely voice
demanding the withdrawal of all combat forces by mid-2010.

But now, Iraq’s leaders are pushing a timetable that would have American
troops out in 2011.

Even President Bush — who had long scorned the notion of a withdrawal deadline
as defeatist — looks set to go along. Iraq’s leaders are demanding that Mr. Bush
accept that deadline in exchange for legalizing the continued American military presence
in the country.

That leaves Mr. McCain as the stubborn man out.

While the war is no longer front-page news, thousands of Americans are still fighting
and dying there. The war is costing American taxpayers $10 billion a month — that is
$10 billion that cannot be spent on health care, education and many other urgent priorities.

Mr. McCain told veterans on Aug. 11 that he would end the war, but intended to
“win it first” and assured them that “victory in Iraq is finally in sight.”

He needs to explain what he means by victory. A free and democratic Iraq, as Mr. Bush
originally promised? That would take generations. Even after spending nearly $700 billion,
the United States will be lucky to leave behind a marginally functioning central government
in a very fragile country.

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For decades Republicans fed off of Vietnam and more often than not successfully painted
Democrats as soft on defense. In this election, it is the Republicans who have to defend an
abysmal eight-year legacy.

We are waiting to hear Mr. McCain’s answers.

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Yeah, what about it John? What's your problem?