McCain said we could be in Iraq for TEN TO TWENTY YEARS

[DemBones DemBones]

As you may have heard if you still watch CNN. I don't, so this is how I learned of his comments. There are still some journalists working for newspapers:

Heads in the Sand

By BOB HERBERT

Published: September 3, 2004


"When asked this week on CNN how long the U.S. military is likely to remain in Iraq, Senator John McCain replied "probably" 10 or 20 years. "That's not so bad," he said, adding, "We've been in Korea for 50 years. We've been in West Germany for 50 years."

<snip>

"If Senator McCain is correct (and the belief in official Washington is that he is), then boys and girls who are 5 or 10 years old now will get their chance in 2015 or 2020 to strap on the Kevlar and engage the Iraqi "insurgents" who, like the indigenous forces we fought in Vietnam, will never accept the occupation of their country by America." (emphasis added by DemBones)

<snip>

"The Los Angeles Times noted yesterday that a report by the respected Royal Institute of International Affairs in London has concluded that Iraq will be lucky if it avoids a breakup and civil war. The often-stated U.S. goal of a full-fledged Iraqi democracy is beyond unlikely."

"In Afghanistan, a legitimate front in the so-called war against terror, much of the country remains in the hands of warlords, and the opium trade is flourishing. Experts believe substantial amounts of money from that trade is flowing to terrorist groups."


more. . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/03/opinion/03herbert.html


I think we need to talk about those 5 and 10 year-olds. In fact, we need to say that babies born this year, and babies yet unborn, could have to serve in Iraq. Moreover, Iraq shows no signs of becoming the pleasant duty for U.S. military that Germany has been for many years. Just how many years do we want to keep sending American troops into Iraq and Afghanistan? How long will it be before a draft becomes necessary to have enough troops to maintain all our commitments? What has happened to other Western countries that have sent troops into Iraq and Afghanistan?

[madfloridian]

1. We are not leaving Iraq. We are building permanent bases there.

We are taking it over as ours so we can better control the middle east. It appears both candidates agree on this, so we best get used to it.

Kerry will handle Syria and Iran and NK better than Bush, but I believe we will still be about empire. We have begun to remake the middle east, and we are not planning on stopping.

[EnfantTerrible]

3. Hence: No EXIT STRATEGY

I agree with you there...

[madrchsod]

5. as long as no one in america

is willing to take on the state of israeli`s continued belief that they can get everything they want from the united states,nothing will ever change. there is no one with the courage to tell israel we will not back them anymore with our money and blood...

[Stephanie]

7. Right. No exit strategy because we are not leaving.

It's the base of operations for future endeavors.

[EnfantTerrible]

2. It's a compelling argument

but one that will bring more comments about Kerry's voting record and feed the Repugs spin machine?

[wtmusic]

4. Ha! Comparing Iraq to S. Korea or W. Germany

S. Korea's an ally; Germany surrendered. No comparison.

[Stephanie]

6. Right. Iraq is not Germany

Afghanistan is not Japan.

Bush is not motherfucking Roosevelt!

[DemBones DemBones]

8. I knew we were building permanent bases in Iraq

and Afghanistan and what the PNAC scenario is, etc., but I thought it interesting that McCain actually talked publicly about how long we're going to be there. I think most Americans are not thinking we'll be there more than a couple more years and are getting fed up with the war.

I think this could help Kerry because he is not a PNAC signatory and there is some hope he will get us out of this war. There is NO hope Bush* will get us out, only the sure dread he will want to take us into more and more wars.

I believe a lot of people with young children would be horrified to think this war could last long enough for their boys and girls to grow up and be drafted to fight there. It's all "USA! USA!" when other peoples' kids are the ones who are fighting and dying, but few want to sacrifice their own flesh and blood.

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Kick for a good NYT article!

:kick: