I don't know how you can say that in all honesty. He continues to pretend we had a necessary reason to invade Iraq, for one. What mistakes has he made that he's rapidly acknowledged and fixed?
I did not want to get into the Iraq issue, but since you pressed me I will give my opinion.
Was Iraq necessary? Iraq was clearly not a threat ... maybe "opportunity" is a better term for why this war was started.
However, loosing Iraq now would be a disaster.
I can't prove this, but here is my thinking. I am old enough to remember when terrorists would blow up empty airplanes for attention. This escalation has followed a predictable path ... when something works, these creatures escalate.
We can't let the terrorists win in Iraq. So you say, Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism before the invasion ... I know that. But it does now. Running is not an option.
McCain knows this. Actually, I think Iraq is one of those great stories where our political leaders on the left and on the right have conspired behind our backs to produce a great victory.
Long before this "surge" it was clear to me that Iraq needed two things to fix itself, (1) the security provided by more military help, and (2) the incentive to solve their own political problems caused less military help. A quandary ... but the Dems and Republicans solved this brilliantly. Security today, with a clear understanding that the umbrella would not last forever. This meant a security situation in which political deals could be made, and the looming deadline needed to force those political deals to happen.
I don't think our leaders on the left or the right have "failed" America in Iraq. I think they put their country ahead of their political squabbling, and made it happen.
Maybe I am an optimist. Most people think I am completely off base on this, which is why I am reluctant to post it. But I think most politicians have much more integrity and love of country than most people give them credit for.
Most, not all. Not Palin.