By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
John McCain's speech in Ohio today has a disconcerting "Mission Accomplished" echo.
“By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom,’’ the Republican almost-nominee said at the Columbus Convention Center. “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."
I don't hear many people talk about "winning" the Iraq War anymore. It's about extracting ourselves from a situation we never should have gotten into, with as little damage as possible to ourselves and the region.
McCain looked into a crystal ball that has himself in the White House four years from now, the war won and the country experiencing "robust economic growth." (Here's the news story.)
A reporter suggested that McCain might be handing out tickets to a "magic carpet ride."
Not so, the candidate said. “I don’t think it has anything to do with fantasy, I think it has everything to do with setting goals and achieving.’’
I appreciate that roll-up-the-sleeves approach as much as the next person. But I think Alladin just signed on with the McCain campaign.
Delicious
Digg
McDenial
McCain:
“And I believe that the success will be fairly easy” and “There's no doubt in my mind that... we will be welcomed as liberators.” [CNN, Larry King Live, 9/24/02. MSNBC, Hardball, 3/24/03]
“I think we could go in with much smaller numbers than we had to do in the past... I don't believe it's going to be nearly the size and scope that it was in 1991.” [Face the Nation, 9/15/02]
“There's not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shias. So I think they can probably get along.” [MSNBC Hardball, 4/23/03]
When McCain was asked “at what point will America be able to say the war was won?” He responded, “...it’s clear that the end is, is, is very much in sight.” [ABC, “Good Morning America,” 4/9/03]
“Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.” [The Hill, 12/8/05 (Exactly one year before violence in Iraq peaked)]
McDENIAL
Say What?
Barb,
You know McCain's speech was about the future. And I guess in your social circles and certainly in your employment circles, I'm sure you don't hear much about winning the War in Iraq.
I hear a lot about winning the War - in fact, those of us who talk to the folks around Kansas and who talk to military families talk about winning the war every day.
Isn't that what we should be doing? Winning the war? Or do you want us just to pull out and leave it high and dry?
I thought we were supposed to be all about “hope” and looking toward the future and optimism and all that? Guess not when it comes to the War on Terrorism and the War in Iraq.
Calling this a "mission accomplished moment" is ridiculous and, frankly, disingenuous. You are just taking a chance to take pot shots as the guy who you don’t want to be President.
Tell you what – I trust a man like John McCain with his foreign policy credentials more than a political panderer like Obama.
Christian Morgan
E.D. of the Kansas Republican Party
I'm good with that.
I don't walk lock step with the Dems and I don't worship at the alter of Obama--so no I don't suppose they would consider me a Dem any more.
Goody for me.
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"I no longer consider myself a Dem"
amusing.
Judging from your posts here, I'm reasonably certain that Democrats don't consider you to be a Democrat either.
Well,
I'm voting for McCain. Beats the alternative if its Obama. (I no longer consider myself a Dem).
Moe
Of the famous Larry, Moe, and Curly group did give a lengthy speech today.......we are so screwed.