tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post1966742103783427755..comments2023-09-22T15:44:10.411-04:00Comments on CUUMBAYA: Non-issue issue #2: the Iraq warJoel Monkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-63582734682380625822008-09-06T18:23:00.000-04:002008-09-06T18:23:00.000-04:00Joel, For me there is a real difference in the wa...Joel,<BR/> For me there is a real difference in the way the two candidates will work with our allies and with surrounding countries that, although they are not allies, have a vested interest in keeping things calm -like Iran and Saudi Arabia. McCain sees the world in a dualistic manner, either you're with us or you're against us. He has the whole world divided up into good guys and bad guys just like Bush. Most countries, like most people are a bit of a mix- not saints and not sinners. I think Obama can get cooperation from our allies and even those Bush has claimed as enemies to keep the lid on in the Middle East if we pull out. I don't think McCain can do that. He is what he claims, a maverick. Despite what he says about crossing party lines, he and Sarah Palin do seem to be pretty good at alienating people they don't agree with.CeeJayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09458385309024816587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-86626250305681928282008-09-05T22:54:00.000-04:002008-09-05T22:54:00.000-04:00You're right, Ogre: oil counts. Right or wrong, ...You're right, Ogre: oil counts. Right or wrong, we won't be out of there until we're comfortable that the oil supply is stable. Especially after the Russian invasion of Georgia. <BR/><BR/>Even then, we will always have a presence in the region until the oil runs out. Then the Middle East is just another Cambodia or Rwanda.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370246548842255062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-44620844542991546312008-09-05T20:29:00.000-04:002008-09-05T20:29:00.000-04:00Joel, the key phrase is "if necessary."Iraq wasn't...Joel, the key phrase is "if necessary."<BR/><BR/>Iraq wasn't necessary--it was pretty much a presidential obsession, whim and optional war.<BR/><BR/>Now we have McCain who sings "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran..."<BR/><BR/>I just can't see those as analogous positions or outlooks. <BR/><BR/>As for McCain's caveat about staying in Iraq, that's a bit of the most egregious political hypocrisy. Staying forever if no one is looking sideways at American troops would clearly mean that there was no reason to stay. But more to the point, the GOP argument is always that it's so freakin' unstable there, and so we can't leave. So McCain's meaning is... what?--that he'll remove everyone pronto because THEY are still shooting at Americans? Please, don't make me laugh. His position boils down to "We can't leave if things are still such that people are shooting at Americans--and once they STOP, we can stay forever."<BR/><BR/>Nevermind that the vast majority of the Iraqi people have wanted us out now for a number of years... and so do the American people.... Gramps knows best (and oil counts).ogrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15910505029382522110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-20944001289834985132008-09-05T18:01:00.000-04:002008-09-05T18:01:00.000-04:00((("as long as Americans are not being injured or ...((("as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed.", right?)))<BR/><BR/>Well, I'd be happy to live in Siberia as long as it wasn't too cold.<BR/><BR/>CCChalicechickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07781469958573869914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-40242181891238728002008-09-05T12:04:00.000-04:002008-09-05T12:04:00.000-04:00To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever asked...To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever asked him about long term military bases in a peaceful Iraq- you do recall that McCain said "as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed.", right?Joel Monkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-50483571862969838972008-09-05T11:37:00.000-04:002008-09-05T11:37:00.000-04:00Really?Where's Obama's statement that he's willing...Really?<BR/><BR/>Where's Obama's statement that he's willing to have American troops stay in Iraq for 100 years?ogrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15910505029382522110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-13367421710110466052008-09-05T11:35:00.000-04:002008-09-05T11:35:00.000-04:00To me the big issue is that McCain seems to have t...To me the big issue is that McCain seems to have the same belligerent attitude that got us into this mess. Obama has a much more thoughtful and civilized approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-35841663608080354222008-09-05T11:20:00.000-04:002008-09-05T11:20:00.000-04:00True, although Obama said on O'Reilly that he woul...True, although Obama said on O'Reilly that he wouldn't hesitate to use force if necesary. And no, I don't know the whole context; I haven't seen it. But Iran is not the war protester's immediate concern; Iraq is.Joel Monkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20795009.post-23084668042456186172008-09-05T11:15:00.000-04:002008-09-05T11:15:00.000-04:00To me the big difference there is that McCain has ...To me the big difference there is that McCain has been making a greater and greater point of the Iranian threat. <BR/><BR/>I don't think Obama has any desire to go into Iran. <BR/><BR/>CCChalicechickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07781469958573869914noreply@blogger.com