http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/10/28/kadleced.htmlMilitary wife ponders her vote for next president
By Elisabeth Kadlec
For the Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
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When trying to decide which presidential candidate will make a better choice, I’ve considered two things. First, I want my husband home. He is deployed now and I am tired of taking care of the household and raising a family alone. The only option I see to keep my husband home for a longer length of time is pulling troops out of Iraq or an extreme downsizing of the numbers of troops.
However, downsizing of the troops may also be dangerous for those who remain. Not enough forces in Iraq or Afghanistan means those who are still there may not have enough protection. There is also the probability that enemy insurgents, such as al-Qaida, may be able to increase their power if we do not have a presence in the Middle East.
My husband’s beliefs are the second issue that has me undecided on who to vote for. My husband has been to Iraq three times, and I assume he understands more than I do about the importance of being in Iraq and who would make a better commander in chief. A die-hard Republican, he is voting for Sen. John McCain. The thought of voting against his beliefs would tear at me if he or any other soldier were hurt as the result of bad decisions made by a president I chose (even though I realize my vote is not the deciding factor).
To help me decide, I researched each candidate’s plans for Iraq. McCain believes that the United States should not pull out of Iraq until it is able to govern itself as a democratic nation and keeps its citizens safe. In addition, McCain feels that if we pull out before our goals are met then we will have to resend troops later, and at a greater economic cost. Overall, McCain has no time line for the war in Iraq.
Sen. Barack Obama feels that because the United States is over there, Iraq itself has not taken responsibility for rebuilding its country economically or keeping the peace. If elected, Obama plans on creating a strategy with Iraqi officials to withdraw American troops so that most are home within 16 months. Obama’s main position on Iraq is that it is time for Iraq to become responsible so that it can become a stable, prosperous country.
I now have to decide if the good that we do in Iraq is worth our sacrifices. But it’s hard to care if Iraq is prospering when my husband has missed half of our children’s lives. What kind of life does that leave for our military members? It is also hard to side with keeping our troops in Iraq when I do not feel we should have gone there in the first place. Yes, we captured Saddam. But at what cost? Is there any tangible good that has come out of it for American citizens? Will it ever end? I understand that several goals have been met and it is getting better over there. But when you look at how many years the fighting has gone on in the Middle East, are we really being realistic to think that Iraq will become a stable, democratic country? This is a hard decision.
On Nov. 4, my vote will be counted along with all military families. Not all military families’ political beliefs are the same as mine. However, I believe that we can all agree on the following: We miss our spouses. We want our soldiers to be safe. We want smart decisions to be made. Does that mean that Obama or McCain is the right choice? I have chosen to vote for Obama.
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