Iraq: Red Said, Blue Said

Dear Red Said, Blue Said,

Which party’s candidate will the voters most likely trust with the war in Iraq, and why?

The Red Perspective: Kathryn Biber Chen
Since this is the first post, I thought I’d take a moment to introduce myself. I am a Republican lawyer in Washington DC, and I’ve been working in politics since college. Having spent a fair amount of time in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I’m rather accustomed to defending my Republican viewpoints in conversations with assorted Democrats, socialists, communists, and members of the Green Party. Luckily, I am not easily offended and relish in the opportunity to talk politics with the other side. If there is anything I hope to accomplish with this project, it is convincing liberal readers that Republicans are actually Normal People who care about the environment, poverty, and children stuck in failing schools (among other important so-called “Democratic” issues!). I may not change your mind, but I hope to convince you that we share similar goals for our country. 

Now, on to today’s question—unsurprisingly, I think the answer is fairly easy.

It is beyond dispute that John McCain is better equipped than either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama to assume the role of commander-in-chief. Voters know this, and no amount of spin or hyperbole will convince them otherwise. 

By now, McCain’s credentials are well known. Following his graduation from the Naval Academy, he began a twenty-two-year career as a naval aviator, including five painful years as a prisoner of war at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” He has been a leader in foreign policy and military issues for many years, and voters respect his willingness to stake out positions on tough, controversial issues—from torture to the surge. Obama and Clinton possess not a fraction of this experience.   

Military service is not a prerequisite to the White House, but good judgment and integrity absolutely are. Instead of demonstrating such important character traits with respect to the public debate on Iraq, Barack Obama has taken to crassly misrepresenting McCain’s public statements on troop withdrawal (when he’s not busy slandering the good people of Pennsylvania, that is). Like Clinton, he favors a quick withdrawal of troops from Iraq. How will he ensure stability in the region after the troops have been removed? Why, he will simply “press Iraq’s leaders to reconcile.” If only the Bush Administration had tried such an innovative strategy. With similar evasiveness and ambiguity, Clinton would plan to withdraw troops within “sixty days” after assuming the presidency. Such a withdrawal, she says, would “be planned in consultation with military leaders and security advisers.” Confident in the Democrats yet? I didn’t think so.