Iraq: Red Said, Blue Said

No, it isn’t just the fact that McCain cannot keep names straight that worries me. His insistence on staying the course, despite the facts on the ground, is most troubling. Never mind that nearly every expert—including General Petraeus and Colin Powell—has concluded that our current troop levels are unsustainable and that there is no military solution for Iraq. Our soldiers are in the middle of a multi-sided civil war and have been drawn away from the war on terror’s true front-line.

Both Democratic candidates agree: our combat troops must be withdrawn quickly and responsibly. Like most Americans, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton understand that continued military action undermines our ability to forge political and diplomatic solutions. And unlike George Bush and John McCain, they will bring this war to an end.
 
Both Obama and Clinton recognize that the question we face is no longer whether the United States should leave Iraq—a question McCain can’t seem to get past without references to a potential century-long conflict—but rather how best do we get out.
 
In November, I will stand with a majority of voters and reject the stubborn adherence to an unachievable military solution put forward by George Bush … er, John McCain (I told you, I’m not very good with the names of identical twins when I’m tired, frustrated, and eager to do something that seems so reasonable).

During this election season, DivineCaroline is presenting a twice-monthly column on politics from two points of view: one red, one blue. Each month you can read what Democrat Erin Egan and Republican Kathryn Biber Chen have to say about the issues. To make sure you never miss a Red Said, Blue Said column, just click on the author’s name at the top of the story, then select “Be notified when writer publishes” at the top of the page. We’ll send you an email as soon as a new column is published.