The Score
Yesterday, John McCain said that Barack Obama is willing to lose a war so he can win an election. Outrageous rhetoric like that depicts what is wrong with American politics. To accuse a candidate of such a thing is akin to an accusation of aiding and abetting the enemy, which is treasonous, and that makes it ridiculous in this instance. Being willing to launch an insult like that for political gain reveals a character flaw in Senator McCain that indicates that he is not fit to serve as president, that he does not have the temperament to engage the country and the world in meaningful dialog. That is not the rhetoric of a leader.
Senator McCain has been attempting to cast the debate on the war in Iraq in simple-minded terms that play to the American ego. He speaks about the war almost exclusively in terms of winning and losing – it’s about victory or surrender, he tells us. It’s simple – Americans never lose; Americans always win.
But launching this war was never justified or explained as a war on Iraq that would be won or lost on the streets of Baghdad – we were told repeatedly that it was and is a war on international terrorism.
How does one ever declare victory in such a war? How does one win, or for that matter lose such a war? Who keeps score for such a war? Because the streets of Baghdad are less violent for a few months, we can declare that we’re winning the war on terrorism? That sounds like a young boy on the playground who just needs to yell, “We win!” no matter what the score is. That is not the rhetoric of a leader.
Senator McCain does not declare that we’re winning the war in Afghanistan, which is where the war on terrorism started, which is where the war on the terrorism of 9/11 should have been fought with undivided resolution. As long as Osama bin Laden remains a free man, free to plan and execute the next attack on America or its allies, then no American president can claim victory in this war.
It’s fair to conclude that in this war the score remains as it was on 9/12 – al Qaida, 1 – America, 0.
posted by Jonathan @ 7/23/2008 05:48:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I'm beginning to believe that McCain is really Lt. Dan: http://sojournersplace.blogspot.com/2008/07/win-war-at-what-price.html
"That is not the rhetoric of a leader."
AMEN.
As to the suggestion that McCain is really Lt. Dan, I think there is some pathology about the constant drumbeat of terms, "Victory vs. Surrender," "Bringing the Troops home with honor," etc.
The troops have performed with and always will come home with honor, regardless of the outcome. This constant reference makes one wonder when Senator McCain thinks troops are not coming home in honor. (Vietnam, anyone?)
As for constant use of the terms "Victory" and "Surrender," you will not find the Generals using those terms. If we leave with a "Victory" in Iraq, who "Surrenders?" These terms evoke an emotional response, not a rational view of what is happening in Iraq.
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