If you like this theme, please share it with any undecideds you might know. First, the short version:
No matter what you, I, or the most hawkish neocons think of our involvement in Iraq, withdrawal from Iraq is probably going to get onto the national agenda under the next president, whoever it may be.
In order to leave Iraq in the most stable condition possible, we are going to need other countries to contribute. The next president should be one most capable of recruiting that help.
Right or wrong, Barack Obama did speak out more forcefully than the other candidates against invading in the first place. For that, he is the most likely to command the international respect and goodwill necessary to help Iraq find stability.
the longer version, similar but with more details:
Right or wrong, and whether the next President agrees with it or not, withdrawal from Iraq will probably get onto the national agenda--whoever the next President is.
In order to leave Iraq in the most stable condition possible, and in order to leave most safely, the U.S. is going to need help from other countries. It is regrettable but true, and the next President should be the one most capable of getting it.
Right or wrong, most countries of the world were angered by our decision to start a war with Iraq. And now Defense Secretary Gates himelf has said that because of their anger over Iraq, even our own NATO allies have hesitated to assist our efforts in Afghanistan.
Make no mistake, world leaders know where our remaining candidates stood in 2002 on whether to authorize President Bush to start this war. In Clinton and McCain, they see U.S. Senators who approved of a globe-upsetting disasater. It is contemptible but probably true that like Secretary Gates's experience, world leaders will be less willing to help a new president who voted to authorize.
Right or wrong, and regardless of spin from the Clinton camp, Barack Obama did speak out more forcefully than the other candidates against starting a war with Iraq, before the war even began. For that, he is the most likely to command international respect and goodwill, and to recruit the cooperation of the world community in helping Iraq find stability.
Iraq will only stabilize quickly with more help from the greater international community, and only then will our military's efforts there to date NOT be in vain. Obama's opposition to the 2002 War Resolution is more than a badge he can show off to supporters. It will be a great asset to America in its ascent out of one of the most difficult periods in its history.