What is your reason that we ever went to Iraq in the first place with the job in Afghanistan only 1/4 done and Bin Laden (a la 9/11 fame) still on the loose?? I would like you or anyone else on the Blog to define what is “winning” in Iraq. What is victory? Is that when we say we are now victorious so goodbye? What about the Iraqi request and fervent desire of their people for us “invaders” to leave….what if they insist….then is that victory?

It is rational in the sense that he has seized a pretext for getting troops out of Iraq without looking like a coward and insisting on not only a retreat but effective surrender to the terrorists in Iraq, and to Iran (and to Syria), and to aid this, a rationalization, taking the fight instead to where bin Laden had been and to those who are still there who sponsored or at least hosted him (though he is likely to fail to follow through on this and bring the troops home instead, as would Clinton).

And what kind of people are anti-military and upset if Obama shows any resolve against our enemies, including in Iraq? Among the nutroots and elsewhere? Hint: “BETRAYAL!”

* * *

“I bet if Obama decided that Corporations were good we would hear the minions spouting how great corporations are.”

Well, provided they are maternalistic-paternalistic and otherwise “socially responsible,” of course. Who would be aghast at pro-corporation statements of any kind? Among the nutroots and elsewhere? Hint: “BETRAYAL!”

* * *

“Will the Obama Administration really double down in Afghanistan while abandoning Iraq?”

Probably not. Once the troops are removed from Iraq, it'll be too tempting to send them home instead. It would not surprise me if bringing them back home (then to release them and many others and raid the military for social-spending funds) is already the plan, just not — ahem — quite accurately or honestly said to be the plan.

* * *

“So Obama is bugging out of a central theatre of critical importance to the United States . . . and sending more US troops into a country that has been the breaker of empires going back to Alexander.”

Never mind the British, M. The wackiest of the wacky who want us out of Afghanistan will accuse us of being not only like, but worse than, the Soviet Union.

As I have said before unless Senator Obama is caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy, he cannot lose the election.

On the flip side, if John McCain has to spend a single dollar of his limited funds in Georgia, North Carolina, or Virginia, he has no chance of winning. McCain has no chance of actually picking up any state that Kerry won in 2004, yet, Senator Obama should be able to easily pick up Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri, and Virginia.

I truly hope you are right about the Republicans retiring to the funny farm after the incredible hole they have dug for the next president to try and fill. However, don't be too sure that the masses of the “people” won't believe all the stuff McCain and his cronies are putting out in attack ads (including the newly accepted Carl Rove…who McCain has given a reprieve from Hell in order to try and win). What makes you so sure that Obama won's be given the “swift boat” lie treatment or worse to make those previously mentioned masses doubt if Obama has the experience, stature, and necessary whiteness/blackness depending on the individual (m)ass who will be deciding how to vote??

Under the conditions of either person's supporter, flip-flopping is a cardinal sin, which means neither is fit to be president.

Obvious solution? Vote for neither one.

Obama's approach is not coherent or even rational.

Iraq is at the centre of the Arab world, and is sitting on top of a sea of oil (much of which is unmapped). Afghanistan is remote, and largely without strategic significance value.

The British . . . the imperial power with the best record in Afghanistan . . . ended up deciding the country was full of murderous lunatics, so after a couple of pointless wars they appointed a homicidal maniac to rule and buggered out. He promptly gained the respect of the Afghanistan people by torturing and slaughtering his opponents, while protecting the Raj's northwest frontier.

So Obama is bugging out of a central theatre of critical importance to the United States . . . and sending more US troops into a country that has been the breaker of empires going back to Alexander.

Will Obama invade Pakistan to go after Osama? What is the “end point” for victory in the Afghan?

Who cares? Obama will lead the way . . .flip, flop or fly.

Smear.

However, I doubt that the left wing partisans are capable of doing it.

The left wing only has a socialist agenda that they have tried unsuccessfully for 60 years to implement. They must lie, cheat, distort and deflect all light from their Marxist intentions to get their man in the White House.

Democracy will be saved by Obama. Yes. The hope by me at least is that he really is a moderate and will not try to force on America a socialist agenda with a cloture proof congress in tow……….Lord help us.

It is not worth nitpicking the actions of the McCain campaign since he is not going to win. Worrying about McCain's policy proposals, running mate, or campaign ads at this stage is like worrying about the long term impacts of the policy proposals of Nazi German or or Imperial Japan while the Allies were overrunning Europe or taking back the Philippines. There was no point.

Instead of taking about the combat, maybe we should think about this election in terms of planning for post-war Europe even while the fighting was still going on. However, I doubt that the left wing partisans are capable of doing it. Nitpicking others is more fun that actually thinking about policy proposals. The left is probably so adverse to being nitpicked that they love to avoid policy discussions.

McCain's metamorphosis from victim to victimizer is horrific to behold.
I was especially repelled by his ability to look people questioning him about it straight in the eye,and appear perfectly happy and comfortable as he lies, lies, lies. No one but his loyalists believes anything Bush says anymore, but it took awhile for the disbelief to fully set in. With McCain, it's beginning long before he gets anywhere near the WH.

Obama and his flip flopping crowd now want to escalate the war in Afghanistan. I bet if Obama decided that Corporations were good we would hear the minions spouting how great corporations are.

If Obama said that turds float, his crowd would all be crapping in their swimming pools to prove him right.

Obama wants to fight a war. and By God he will have his war.

And the crowds cheer him on.

Considering that the Republicans will be totally out of power in January 2009, the only thing relevant to talk about is how the Democrats will handle the situation.

Will the Obama Administration really double down in Afghanistan while abandoning Iraq? Is there anyway to reconcile those two positions into some sort coherent of foreign policy doctrine? How will the netroots who have been screaming ChickenHawk reconcile themselves to the double down in Afghanistan and will they volunteer to service in the military in an Obama Administration? How will the Obama Administration reconcile out allies desire to abandon Afghanistan to his desire to double down? How will the Obama Administration define victory in Afghanistan and what is their exit strategy?

I guess whining about pointless Republican attacks ads is more fun for progressive liberals than actually thinking about the issues. While reading Obsidian wings the other day, there were nine posts in a row on Senator McCain and a total lack of posts about the coming Obama Administration.

I doubt that the netroots/progressive liberals will be able to abandon their natural inclination to nitpick and actually start talking about issues when Senator Obama in inaugurated. They are as partisan as Monica Goodling and will be as hard to change.

Lets double down in Afghanistan and kill stuff and blow stuff up because we can. Its the perfect cover for a far left agenda that has wanted to roll socialism into the United States for 60 years.

The most blatantly obscene flip flop in American History……..End the war in Afghanistan has now become…………ESCALATE the war in Afghanistan.

FLIP…………FLOP………….Hes even got his follwers doing the flip flop shuffle.