Submission + - McCain shows leadership in 2008 Presidential Race
Tanaris writes: "I previously wrote that the reasons for going to war in Iraq now seem bogus and certainly the Bush Administration has failed miserably in successfully prosecuting this war. Isnt that the real issue though? People are against the war for one main reason were not winning it! Lets take a moment of intellectual honesty and remember that after 9-11 we were a wounded nation and we wanted pay back against those who attacked us. We were also scared and werent even sure who those people were. Barely anyone had even heard of Osama bin Laden or Al Quada, the Talilban, or probably Saddam Hussein for that matter despite the first Gulf War. So whether unseating Saddam was the right thing to do or not we all overwhelming supported it. We supported it and we thought itd be a cake-walk 30 days of shock and awe and a welcoming Iraqi public. Of course, it wasnt easy and it still isnt. If it was wed all support it, wouldnt we?
Now John McCain is betting his presidential campaign on the idea that we can and must still win despite the reasons why or why not we went in. His argument is were there now and have to win. Hard to define win maybe but if we left tomorrow somehow I think it would look like a huge defeat the worst in American history. The al Jazeera network will be buzzing with images of American flag burning and clerics claiming they defeated the infidels and tossed them out of Iraq. It will make our departure from Saigon look like a military parade.
McCain is the only candidate in the field who is looking at Iraq in historical perspective due to his Vietnam experience. Hes arguing that if we leave before some kind or order is established the perception of defeat will cause serious damage to America as a super power. After all, if they werent afraid of us on 9-11 what will they think now? The Muslim extremists took the best the U.S. military could offer and defeated it, just like they did the Soviets in Afghanistan. That is not a message to support.
So while candidates on the Democrat side are kowtowing to the anti-war crowd and are even trying to pull front runner Hillary Clinton there and the Republicans are distancing themselves from the radio active Bush Administration, McCain is displaying leadership his line, Id rather lose an election than lose a war. That is a message worth thinking about do you support it?
Have you supported a message today?
Neil Hare, Founder, IsupportThisMessage.com"