A bit too convenient for McCain on Iraq

ARTICLE: "McCain Names Drawdown Date: Troop Withdrawal Predicted by 2013 Amid Victory in Iraq," by Laura Meckler, Wall Street Journal, 16 May 2008, p. A4.

ARTICLE: "Bush's Mideast words go over hot, cold: trip ends in Egypt with a bit of a thud, analysts say," by Charles Levinson, USA Today, 19 May 2008, p. 6A.

McCain is not impressing me lately. When he compares the magnitude of Iran's threat to that of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, he strikes me as a closet hysteric, and when he promises "victory" in Iraq (a bad term to use since it stopped being our fight about five years ago) in 2013, a year after his presumed re-election, he seems merely the conventional politician.

McCain, as much as he worries me, seems better and smarter than both of these two strange positions. Again, the guy could well end up president in an America uncomfortable giving the Dems both houses of Congress plus the presidency, so this sort of frantic staking-out of positions disturbs me, especially when I don't sense that he needs this sort of thing to beat Obama. Indeed, by making such statements, he makes Obama seem more the statesman than himself.

Meanwhile, Bush's latest trip to the Mideast summed up his two terms nicely: lotsa preaching but no real answers to security dilemmas there. The Middle East is undergoing a huge amount of social and economic and demographic change right now—stunning really. But Bush keeps only to his democracy message, which is fine, but it comes off as disconnected from today's tumultuous developments, some of which he started with Iraq.

But here's the bit that stunned me for its apparent goofiness (as in, I can't believe he actually said it so I'm wondering if the press got it wrong):

When Bush first launched his Middle East democratization push in the wake of 9/11, he thought he could achieve these goals by the end of his second term, [Meyrav] Wurmser [director of the Middle East program at the Hudson Institute] said.

On Sunday, Bush described the goals as predictions for the year 2068.

That's just plain weird. I don't think any serious thinker would extend the process that far. I would expect the region to be largely democratized no later than 2025.

I suspect Bush was just displaying his odd sense of humor here, but that's rather off-putting considering what he's started in the region and the unfinished jobs he's left behind.

Given that, I would also hope McCain would watch his mouth far more carefully in the weeks and months ahead.

Comments

[Ted O'Connor]

Both Bush and McCain are saying strange things. Bush seems a little "off" the last few months, as though he is having a problem dealing with the end of his reign. Goofy dancing and very weak attempts at humour, all scary when it is coming from a man with a big red button on his desk.

[large]

As a Leopard does not change his spots, neither does the "I'll say anything for a vote" Politician . .

McCain is supposed to know better, and we have to assume Obama doesn't . .

Scary choices fate (?) has dealt us Americans . . .

[Jarrod Myrick]

Yeah Dan, what a bunch of pathetic moronic idealists the Obama fans are. I'm glad you see things so clearly. The magnum cum laude Harvard JD and Law Review editor are obvious examples of affirmative action feel good pansy-ass liberal window dressing of the next programmable tax everybody elitist pussy. Thanks for the heads-up. Right on.

[Anonymous]

Dan and JR: ok, you each get one comment above. don't even think about starting a flame war on this thread, capiche?

if you need to argue some more, do it on Dan's post or Dan email me for JR's email address.

[Dave]

I believe the 2068 reference relates to Bush's speech recognizing Israel's 60th anniversary and what we might expect 60 years from now.

[emjayinc]

2068 seems strange dating? Uh, wasn't Prez speech on occasion of the first 60 years...? Clumsy, yes, but more like a rhetorical misfire than bizarro nonseq. On the other hand, 2008 to 2013 is foreshadowed by how long it took Nixon to achieve success in Paris, 1973 - among other factors, the North Viets and Sovs couldn't stomach 3 more years of "fight,fight,talk,talk" until the next US elections, especially after RMN and the Chinese delivered the system shock that no extant Democrat would likely have gotten away with in 1972. Or, again, maybe just oratorical clumsiness.

[William R. Cumming.]

Perhaps President Bush views the forthcoming election as a Get Out Of Jail Free Card! As to McCain why is he pinning himself down with concrete boots? Is that so he can become a heavyweight? Are we really sure of his foreign policy/national security expertise? Navy Pilot then US Senator doesn't not automatically convey competence in those arenas but may help VETS and DOD analysis. Obama completely unknown and untested on foreign affairs/ national security. Two very very week candidates and proof positive the US ability to obtain good leadership may be more luck than skill. Hope the monied class can see where this is going? Downhill! Hope the un-monied ( Is there such a word?) class does not have unrealistic expectations of winning the lottery in the 2008 election. Almost wish we could fast forward and look back after passage of next decade. We need real leaders who have a grip on the important subjects. This election is sending the message that life stories out of People magazine may make for political success. Very worrisome. Am I missing something?