Failed Iraq war policies justify new leadership
Regarding the question by Robert Bell (letter, Aug. 3, “Whom would you rather be in a foxhole with, Barack Obama or John McCain?”): Fortunately, we are not voting for a foxhole buddy.
A president is needed who has the will, wisdom, vision, pragmatism and intelligence to lead this country out of the unnecessary Iraqi war, and to focus on other threats. He must significantly break from the failed policies of the Bush administration.
The Bush administration dismissed the counsel of senior military officers, who said that Iraq was not an imminent threat because it was contained. Students of modern warfare know air superiority is a must to win. Iraq had no viable air force; nor did it have the feared Scud missiles capable of delivering chemical/biological agents. This administration had the incompetent arrogance to deny the Army’s request for 400,000 to 500,000 troops, instead sending only 160,000. The president must close that foxhole before my 2-year-old grandson is old enough to go in.
Yes, as a Vietnam-era veteran, and a combat veteran of both Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, I believe Obama is indeed the “no brainer” choice.
James E. Copeland
Greensboro
Comments (3)
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I know it is not advisable to vote for a candidate based on one issue. However, ending the Iraqi mistake and bringing our soldiers home is number one priority for me. Yes, our economy sucks. Yes, I disagree with an open border and think the two are reflective of each other. But McCain has no better plan for those issues than Obama. And Obama definitely has a better plan for solving our ignorant involvement in Iraq.
Posted on August 8, 2008 3:56 AM
Yvonne, a stance was taken to secure the primaries. Obama's website now admits we'll stick around Iraq.
http://versionista.com/diff/I8fb2vPauSUeHc9GTYOo3Q/
Primary position, from his website June '08- "Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months."
Current position, from his website July '08- "Immediately upon taking office, Obama will give his Secretary of Defense and military commanders a new mission in Iraq: ending the war. The removal of our troops will be responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government."
Hawk/dove/socialist/whatever, that's a big difference regarding the war (will immediately remove vs. will give commanders a mission to end the war) claimed by the same person. You mentioned being a single-issue voter. That's fine, but at least be right on the single issue.
Posted on August 8, 2008 10:32 AM
James, I must agree with you that one would have to have NO BRAINS to vote for a combination of Carter, Mondale, McGovern, and Dukakis, and someone igrnorant enough to say that we can replace all the oil we could collect by drilling off shore by inflating our tires, and then being dumb enough to say it in public!
Posted on August 8, 2008 10:55 AM