Posted by
Playful Walrus on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 5:20:26 PM
B. Hussein Obama's response to McCain on al-Qaida in Iraq didn't address the core point. Either he thinks we are too stupid to notice that, or he thinks he can hit a magical "reset" button on Iraq.
McCain criticized Obama for saying in Tuesday night's Democratic debate that, after U.S. troops were withdrawn, as president he would act "if al-Qaida is forming a base in Iraq."
"I have some news. Al-Qaida is in Iraq. It's called `al-Qaida in Iraq,'" McCain told a crowd in Tyler, Texas, drawing laughter at Obama's expense. He said Obama's statement was "pretty remarkable,"
Obama quickly answered back while campaigning in Ohio. "I do know that al-Qaida is in Iraq and that's why I have said we should continue to strike al-Qaida targets," he told a rally at Ohio State University in Columbus.
"But I have some news for John McCain," Obama added. "There was no such thing as al-Qaida in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq."
Let's assume that is true. SO WHAT? They ARE there NOW. Does Obama really think that pulling our troops out immediately will be a good move? Yes, yes, we know he thinks they shouldn't have been sent there in the first place. But they ARE there. THAT is the reality. So will he really go against the advice of military and intelligence and humanitarian experts and simply pull out, and let the terrorists attack decent Iraqis and take the place over?
I don't think this guy deals with reality. Presidents have to deal with things as they are when they get into office, not how they hope they'll be.