McCain’s Trouble with Iraq (and Afghanistan and Iran)

Posted By: Nick

 
Just 3 days ago I posted about Barack Obama’s Trouble with Iraq.  Things looked bad for Obama.  The decrease in violence in Iraq was quickly and effectively being framed by the McCain campaign as the direct result of the surge; Obama had strongly opposed the surge, and this outcome looked like it would start to hurt him.

But what a difference 3 days makes.  Suddenly the tables have turned and McCain is on the defensive about foreign policy.  First, the Bush Administration reversed its “no talks” position and is now holding talks with Iran.  The initial round hasn’t gone as well as we might like, but the change in policy has already been made.  The move severely undercut McCain’s argument that holding talks with Iran amounted to appeasement.

Second, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki told Der Speigel that U.S. troops should leave Iraq

as soon as possible as far as we’re concerned.  US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.

Al-Maliki basically endorsed Obama’s Iraq plan. McCain’s argument that Obama doesn’t understand the situation on the ground has gone out the window.  Surely Al-Maliki understands the “situation on the ground.”

Finally, the last few days have shown a clear movement among the top military brass in favor of increased troops level in Afghanistan; Obama has been proposing this very same strategy for some time.  McCain’s response to Obama’s suggestion that we send two additional brigades to Afghanistan?  Send three additional brigades.

Looks like McCain and the Bush Administration are simply moving towards Obama on foreign policy.  In a year that so heavily favors the Democrats, Obama will win if he continues to lead the way on major issues like this.