Obama and McCain’s withdrawal plans from Iraq lack middle ground
As we all settle into the rhythm of the school year, it is easy to turn a blind eye to global events. Either due to apathy, ignorance or simply a lack of time to stay up-to-date, many students do not grasp the repercussions these events will have.
But the truth is, we can’t sit by and let important events go unnoticed, especially in a presidential election year.
A short time ago, talks began between United States officials and the Iraqi government to determine an exit strategy from Iraq. Many have hailed this as a long-awaited relief from the problems of the Iraq war and rightly so. This is a demonstration of the improvements in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has now specifically asked for the exit strategy to include a withdrawal date. The fact that Iraq is stable enough now to push for autonomy and freedom from the United States shows that we have finally done something right in Iraq. The U.S. has helped create a stable environment where progress can be made.
But you may be asking, “why the sudden change?” Since American military forces took Baghdad, it seems we have heard nothing but negative news from Iraq. But then in 2008, there is a sudden turn upward and we are preparing for withdrawal. The answer is the troop surge. Adding large numbers of soldiers to the area had a dramatic effect, causing violence levels to decrease significantly, economic markets within Baghdad to thrive once again and citizens of Iraq to begin fighting harder to root out the insurgents.
And so we find ourselves in the present situation, trying to work out the details of the withdrawal. Now be advised that many will champion this as evidence that Sen. Barack Obama was right all along. This could not be further from the truth. The fact that Iraq now wants the United States to leave does not validate Obama’s position. He had his exit plan on his Web site long before Iraqi officials began talk of U.S. withdrawal. His plan was conceived of his own volition, without direct consultation with the Iraqi government.
Obama’s plan may or may not be a good way to leave Iraq. That is not the issue. The problem is the timing. If Obama had his way, we would have left Iraq to its own devices long ago before the increased troop numbers and now would see a floundering, oil-rich country up for grabs by anyone in the Middle East.
It is also important to note that Obama opposed the troop surge from the start. The Illinois senator denounced the very tactic that brought us to the point where we can finally withdraw troops from Iraq. Obama said it would not work but he was wrong.
This calls his judgment into question. Even now, as we are planning withdrawal dates, Obama will not acknowledge this success. This is a good indicator of how Obama would act as president when faced with foreign policy problems. The point is Obama is not a military strategist.
The policies of Sen. John McCain are to be frowned upon as well. I can understand having an U.S. embassy or military base in Iraq, provided the Iraqis do not object. But the idea that we may have full troop levels in Iraq for 100 years to come is simply absurd. Some U.S. military commanders would prefer to set the withdrawal date for 2015.
What we have here are two extremes. Obama has a poorly timed plan that proposed that we be out of Iraq in a matter of months and McCain wants to retain troops for many years. We need a happy medium. I support a withdrawal by 2011, provided it is a conditions-based withdrawal.
Nic Dunn is a columnist for The Nevada Sagebrush. He can be reached at editor@nevadabrush.com
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September 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
What is your plan based on aside from a random number generator? 2011? Why?
Obama is an idiot and McCain is senile. Iraq will become a theocracy as soon as we leave. We’re better off with the Iranians as friends than the Iraqis. The Persians are much more well-educated, friendlier, and generally a more beautiful and peaceful people. They’ve embraced the modern era in a way that Iraq will not.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:13 am
Iraq is stable? Really? Then what’s with all the suicide bombings that occur on a nearly daily basis?