McCain vs. Obama on Iraq --------- Round One

Republican front-runner and probable nominee John McCain took a shot over the bow of Barak Obama's position on the war on terrorism and the central front of the battle in Iraq. The Washington Post has dispatched two of their writers to frame what will be one of the major, (and most critical) platforms ahead in the general election:

Clash on Iraq Could Be McCain-Obama Preview

By Michael D. Shear and Shailagh MurrayWashington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, February 28, 2008; Page A01

TYLER, Tex., Feb. 27 -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) accused Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) of making ill-informed comments about Iraq and al-Qaeda in Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate, signaling that a general-election brawl between the colleagues would center in part on who has the foreign policy experience to lead a country at war.

Despite McCain's war-hero status and years of foreign policy experience, Obama made it clear that he will not back down from such a fight, issuing a quick rebuke of McCain that linked him to President Bush and the war in Iraq.

The spat began when McCain seized on a comment by Obama that he would reserve the right to return to Iraq after withdrawing troops "if al-Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq."

"I have some news," McCain told voters at a rally here Wednesday morning. "Al-Qaeda is in Iraq. Al-Qaeda is called 'al-Qaeda in Iraq.' My friends, if we left, they wouldn't be establishing a base. . . . they would be taking a country. I will not allow that to happen, my friends. I will not surrender."

McCain has pledged to keep U.S. forces in Iraq as long as it takes to create stability, form a unified government and defeat terrorist groups. He favors adding more troops, if necessary, to achieve those goals.

Obama, who opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, has said that there is no military solution to the conflict and that he would start bringing troops home after becoming president to force Iraqi factions to resolve their differences. Obama said he would withdraw about one to two combat brigades a month, with the goal of having all of them out within 16 months........LINK

My first question is:

How many times has John McCain made extensive trips to Iraq and the middle east in the past five years?

How many times has Mr. Obama?

While John McCain understands how the chain of command works and will rely on his commanders on the ground to prosecute a victory with no appearance or resolve to withdraw to signify surrender and defeat, Mr. Obama would drop a bomb on our allies (Pakistan) with out their permission sparking a delicate situation that could jeopardize the stability of a nation with nuclear weapons.

My speculation: if an entire nation (Iraq) has spurned and turned on al Qaeda because of their brutal tactics of blowing up innocent civilians in the name of their jihad, how long will it take Pakistanis to become sick of their "cancer" as well?

Because of the success in Iraq by General Petraeus and the surge, while divisions of our troops have begun to come home with a "mission accomplished" victory proudly labeled on these warriors, does the Taliban and their al Qaeda brethren understand that a few divisions of Marines are heading to the hot spots in Afghanistan to finish the job that NATO forces were incapable of or refused to do?

While one Presidential candidate, (John McCain) has the vision to foresee a total marginalization of terrorist activities throughout the region by the use of military strength first, and then diplomatic reconciliation----the other candidate, (Barak Obama) with virtually no foreign policy experience or the resolve to finish off a weakened and leaderless faction of a scattered and battered enemy, has positioned himself to cater to the anti-war radical left who would rather surrender to our enemies abroad.

While most of Europe is standing/sitting on the sidelines watching the U.S. do the "dirty work" they are incapable of, a grateful and sacrificial nation once again rises to the task of providing other nations to achieve the freedom and individual liberty from the tyranny and oppression of a sick and disillusioned society that preys on the weak-------which is this battle against world-wide terrorism.

Surrender is not an option, and John McCain clearly knows this.

Barak Obama or John McCain? The choice should be crystal clear.