Comments on: McCain and Obama on Iraq and Afghanistan http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_and_obama_on_iraq_and_afghanistan/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:13:06 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Beldar http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_and_obama_on_iraq_and_afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-457052 Beldar Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:10:22 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=24399#comment-457052 Whether it's Obama or McCain, the next president needs to declare that it's "fish or cut bait" time for NATO. The free ride ought to end. Whether it's Obama or McCain, the next president needs to declare that it's "fish or cut bait" time for NATO. The free ride ought to end.

]]> By: Mike P http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_and_obama_on_iraq_and_afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-456369 Mike P Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:51:14 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=24399#comment-456369 Interesting about the unity of command thing. One might have thought that a senator with military experience who pushed for the surge would have been agitating for that kind of change awhile ago. (Maybe he was, but I haven't heard of it) Interesting about the unity of command thing. One might have thought that a senator with military experience who pushed for the surge would have been agitating for that kind of change awhile ago. (Maybe he was, but I haven't heard of it)

]]> By: Anon http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_and_obama_on_iraq_and_afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-456190 Anon Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:15:33 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=24399#comment-456190 yetanotherjohn, wouldn't such hearings be perceived by the Republican's as attacking and second-guessing the Bush administration's foreign policy and conduct of the Afghanistan war? yetanotherjohn, wouldn't such hearings be perceived by the Republican's as attacking and second-guessing the Bush administration's foreign policy and conduct of the Afghanistan war?

]]> By: yetanotherjohn http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_and_obama_on_iraq_and_afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-456187 yetanotherjohn Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:02:48 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=24399#comment-456187 Gee, it seems like congress would have investigated what was going on in Afghanistan in the last 18 months. Can anyone remember who chairs the senate committee that would have held hearings on say why an increase in NATO troops hasn't increased security or why there is divergence of command and restrictions on our allies? Oh that's right. Obama isn't about doing something constructive. Obama is about Obama and how to promote Obama. Gee, it seems like congress would have investigated what was going on in Afghanistan in the last 18 months. Can anyone remember who chairs the senate committee that would have held hearings on say why an increase in NATO troops hasn't increased security or why there is divergence of command and restrictions on our allies? Oh that's right. Obama isn't about doing something constructive. Obama is about Obama and how to promote Obama.

]]> By: Derrick http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_and_obama_on_iraq_and_afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-456181 Derrick Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:42:57 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=24399#comment-456181 The interesting thing is that while Obama maintains flexibility, McCain has unfortunately set up a zero-sum game with his Iraq and Afghanistan policies. I don't see how you can raise the troop levels in Afghanistan without decreasing them by a great deal in Iraq. This seems to be similar to his balance budget proposal where he's just going to will both places to VICTORY without any evidence to back his pledge up. The interesting thing is that while Obama maintains flexibility, McCain has unfortunately set up a zero-sum game with his Iraq and Afghanistan policies. I don't see how you can raise the troop levels in Afghanistan without decreasing them by a great deal in Iraq. This seems to be similar to his balance budget proposal where he's just going to will both places to VICTORY without any evidence to back his pledge up.

]]> By: Dave Schuler http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_and_obama_on_iraq_and_afghanistan/comment-page-1/#comment-456173 Dave Schuler Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:10:29 +0000 http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/?p=24399#comment-456173 Both Sens. McCain and Obama have advocated “getting tough” with Pakistan at one time or another. I think the effectiveness of that view presupposes a central government that's a lot more in control of the country than Pakistan's actually is. It is, after all, the only country in the world whose name is an acronym. I'm also a little skeptical of the effectiveness of an “awakening” strategy for Afghanistan. In a country like Iraq in which most of the people live in cities it's one thing. Is it the same in Afghanistan? Both Sens. McCain and Obama have advocated “getting tough” with Pakistan at one time or another. I think the effectiveness of that view presupposes a central government that's a lot more in control of the country than Pakistan's actually is. It is, after all, the only country in the world whose name is an acronym.

I'm also a little skeptical of the effectiveness of an “awakening” strategy for Afghanistan. In a country like Iraq in which most of the people live in cities it's one thing. Is it the same in Afghanistan?

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