I don't hear anyone talking about McCain's military training, knowledge and experience.
Anyone can pull out of Iraq...walk away from all of the $ Billions (certainly wouldn't be the first time) and leave our companies and the new leadership to defend themselves...they should have been paying ($10 B/mos) for protection for the last year or 2 anyway. I'm sure they have contingency plans. They certainly have resources.
The biggest mistake in Iraq AND by far the stupidest thing I ever heard (really) was that our National Guard troops would be sent to Iraq on long deployments...IDIOTIC!
I think Bush's logic was that we needed peacekeepers...not warriors? People who would not shoot first...parents (not their 18 yr old children), professional people who are more even tempered...WE STAFFED A WAR ZONE WITH NON-COMBAT TROOPS and HEAD of HOUSEHOLD PROVIDERS. How many of the deaths in Iraq have been National Guard troops?
In the good old days people (Bush for one) joined the Guard to avoid having to go to war. In the back of my mind I've long thought Bush might be justifying/enhancing his own service...is that possible?
These good/hard working people SHOULD NEVER have been sent there. The National Guard has an important role...it's not overseas deployment...think Homeland Security.
Back to Iraq, we can always send special forces back to deal with isolated situations. Okay, I GET IT, Iraq can be solved...by either candidate.
But, moving forward...we need someone who has a solid framework of what to do (based on training) and will listen to the RIGHT advisers...someone who can't be BS'd about war (remember Johnson and Nixon re war management?). Not a good place to learn on the job...never good for our troops either.
McCain (the son and grandson of Admirals, Naval Academy, Vietnam) is experienced, HE IS NOT.>>>.BUSH (father had experience, but National Guard was his experience) and...(like Clinton) Obama has NO personal military experience.
The reality is the terrorist groups will NEVER give up (ask W. Europe)...THIS WILL NEVER END...Bush made sure of that...and forget about diplomacy.
Iran is a hot spot, Syria (who knows), Africa has open conflicts, Russia is re-establishing it's regional control, Korea is a concern, and Israel becomes more vulnerable to long range attack every year.
With all of that as a backdrop...we have troops in Afghanistan and border incidents with (politically unstable) Nuclear Pakistan (India next?). If I was a terrorist on the run...I'd cross into a neutral country for safety...then cross the border to attack and retreat to a safe place (remember Cambodia and Laos?). History tells us it's hard to defend without expanding the conflict.
Everyone seems to agree Afghanistan is the best front to fight Al Quaida, but remember Russia's experience there? Wasn't good...and let's not forget our "dabbling" in that conflict...they haven't forgotten. Last...look at a map...we're pretty close to China again too.
Our next President better have a very good handle on WAR. Talk is fine when you're selling a product/getting elected...but tough talk and inexperience will get you beat up publicly most every time.
The only way to slow global terrorist recruiting is to 1.) try not re-invigorate them/motivate/impassion them to a cause and, 2.) make the job of being a terrorist unattractive - not something they can see themselves doing...at least not when it involves us, and 3.) give them a reason to want/need to do something else.
Anarchy doesn't work...for most people.
I like to use images...you don't see domestic street gangs (the street terrorists - drug dealers who shoot each other in drive-by's) now expanding into armed robberies of banks and WalMarts.
Why?
Probably because it would drastically change the rules of our engagement with them. They know their limits and operate safely within the comfort of our legal system. Armed bank robberies often result in shootouts and death...the public doesn't usually care if the Police shoot an armed bank robber.
It used to be a mistake for terrorists to target American soil. They started with soft targets around the world...then followed our domestic terrorists lead and tried to blow up the WTC...failed and made sure the next attempt wouldn't. That tells me the next attempt will be a real WMD.
I personally want the best military leaders we can find...on the job. McCain is the best choice for this reason...everything else is opinion and talk.