I think that everyone acknowledges that there is a division of opinion in America (and in California) on what the long-term strategy for the United States should be relative to our military engagement in Iraq.  As one who subscribes to the Governor Schwarzenegger’s press releases, a pained look comes to my face every time he laments the passing of another American soldier for whom California their home.

One candidate for the Presidency feels that our presence in Iraq is a vital component to an overall War on Terror that America must fight, or else be subjected to more attacks like we had in New York City, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.  John McCain believes strongly that anyone who would commit acts of terror against American or its people should live in fear that if they ever tried to do so, the consequences would be unfathomable.

The other candidate for the Presidency is part of the “U.S. Out Of Iraq Now” crowd – who sees little benefit to the United States in having troops on the ground in Iraq.  I have seen the dogma espoused by Code Pink and other such groups.  I understand where Barack Obama is coming from.

That said, I was taken aback by the cavalier attitude expressed by Barack Obama’s campaign responded to a suggestion by Senator McCain that perhaps both he and Obama should take a trip over to Iraq in the near future.  Obama’s spokesman, Bill Burton, said this:

This kind of attitude makes you wonder exactly what kind of Commander In Chief Barack Obama actually would be.  Never mind that his world-view doesn’t seem to register the extreme and growing threat to America that is posed by the spread of radical Islamic fundamentalism.  No matter who occupies the White House come January 20 of next year, our troops will be on the ground in Iraq, in Afghanistan and parts of that region.  It is extraordinary discomforting to know that one candidate for the top office not only rejects, out of hand, a well-intended offer to go to Iraq – to understand what is taking place there from that perspective and to reassure the troops in a bipartisan fashion that no matter the outcome of the election, the President is engaged and empathetic with our troops.  I note that there was no mention by Barton that Obama would take a trip to Iraq sans McCain.

Much of Barack Obama remains a mystery as he wraps himself in charismatic speechmaking rather than substance.  But slowly the picture starts to clarify, and as it does, like with the exchange above, voters clearly will have a clear choice to make between two very different candidates this November.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.