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Drooling on the Pillow

Friday, November 18, 2005

John McCain 

From an Op-Ed in the New York Post:
Imagine Iraqis, working for the new government,
considering whether to join the police force, or
debating whether or not to take up arms. What will they
think when they read that the Senate is pressing for
steps toward draw-down?

Are they more or less likely to side with a government
whose No. 1 partner hints at leaving?

The Senate has responded to the millions who braved
bombs and threats to vote, who put their faith and
trust in America and their government, by suggesting
that our No. 1 priority is to bring our people home.

We have told insurgents that their violence does grind
us down, that their horrific acts might be successful.
But these are precisely the wrong messages. Our exit
strategy in Iraq is not the withdrawal of our troops,
it is victory.

Americans may not have been of one mind when it
came to the decision to topple Saddam Hussein. But,
though some disagreed, I believe that nearly all now
wish us to prevail.

Because the stakes there are so high - higher even
than those in Vietnam - our friends and our enemies
need to hear one message: America is committed to
success, and we will win this war.
I don't pretend to understand what the motives are of those in government or elsewhere who are calling for an immediate withdrawal or insisting on a full public accounting of intelligence in the middle of a conflict and I'm not about to characterize them.

I'm not being coy or insinuating about this. I'm certain there is political calculation in the mix on both sides. Beyond that, however, principled arguments can be made for staying or going. I'll only say this: rage and frustration, probably stemming from the 2000 election, are blinding much of the Left to the principles that oppose them. From that they conclude that anyone who opposes them is without principle. Your arguments needn't be coherent or consistent when you perceive your opponent to be evil.

I don't think of the President's opponents as traitors. Some may be, of course, but I don't think that's significant in this argument. I think they're mistaken.
Posted by: Sluggo / 11:27 AM
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