Not Winning? Change the War

McCain claims he knows how to win wars but we must ask which ones? We need leaders that know how to win the peace. Our military can stomp any State on the globe into the ground but that is not the end of the mission nor is it the hardest part.

The war on terror isn't getting any political points for McCain as more truth becomes known so his campaign has created a position to gain from the Georgia-Russia conflict by opening up the cold war once again.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) welcomed French President Nicolas Sarkozy's mediation of the Russia-Georgia conflict, but expressed concern that the cease-fire agreement "omitted any reference to Georgia's territorial integrity." He also said the United States and NATO must "address the future of the alliance's partnership with Russia" and said the United States and its "G-7 partners" should "discuss whether it makes sense for Russia to continue its participation in the G-8."

Our way or the highway, Russia. Don't mind our missile defense plans in your back yard. Don't mind our ring of puppet nations being built around your borders. Your oil and gas wealth will only get you so far (but we have no choice but to keep buying it so don't turn off that valve, please!).

"For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call." - McCain

Not such a stark wake up call for those of us fighting the war in Iraq, except that US soldiers aren't the tool this time.

"The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked." - McCain

This byte sounds great if it is 1945. Its hypocritical from a Republican Presidential candidate in 2008 who has taken a stance more militaristic than Bush-Cheney.

"We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together." - McCain

Who is the "we" you are talking about? US forces cannot participate as they are tied down in two other wars of choice. NATO and the UN cannot even fulfill their obligations in current conflicts let alone escalate their involvement. And who do you suppose should pay for all this? Ah, the GOP credit card of national debt.


While US home prices are in free fall and the economy is at historic lows you want taxpayers to put Georgia back together?


McCain's position on these matters has eroded the idea that he has an edge on the competition with regards to national security. His experience is not his asset, it is his weakness here. He has failed to shift his paradigm to the modern realities of war and peace. Iraq is not Vietnam, we won't win by staying longer (didn't work their either, bud) and reviving the cold war is counter productive to the true global threat facing the nation.

Georgia is a crisis of Foreign Affairs. The EU has a greater role and interest in resolution than the US. The placement of this issue by McCain is as much "wag the dog" as it is in ernest. The real object for those who wish to retain power is the shift Iraq to Iran. Georgia is a test tube for political strategy at the expese of real people who need actual solutions.

Georgia should have noted the lack of support for the Shia revolt in Iraq '93 before they tried cashing in on the rhetoric of current US politicians. Take notes Kazakhstan.