Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Want Healthcare? Get Out of Irag, then.

You can't have affordable healthcare and a war in Iraq. It is as simple as that, there just aren't enough dollars for both. All the candidates' promises mean nothing without an immediate pull out from Iraq.

What is not clear about this issue? Why isn't it number one in peoples' minds? Perhaps we've given up on even thinking about how we're getting out. As long as we feel we need Middle East oil, and as long as we think we need to "protect" Israel, we aren't going anywhere. Those are the facts from the military and policy wonks, and they will persuade any new President that "withdrawal" is not an option.

Beyond NH: Campaign Promises Are Empty Until the War Ends

…The candidates also say they are against the war and want our troops out. But Clinton wants withdrawal in phases and wouldn't have most troops out until 2013. After that, she would keep a residual force in Iraq. Edwards would withdraw 40,000 to 50,000 immediately and all within nine or 10 months, another phased pullout. Obama, who -- unlike Clinton and Edwards -- opposed the invasion, would withdraw all troops before 2010, again in phases.

All these plans would leave troops there for a substantial time. And that's assuming that the winner can keep a withdrawal promise. It's easy to imagine what will happen when the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the so-called wise men and women of the Washington foreign policy establishment start "talking sense" to the new president, urging him or her to keep a strong force in Iraq to guard strategic interests and oil supplies in the Middle East and to protect Israel. Only Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich favor an immediate pullout.

OK? So let's not get distracted.

Issue No. 1 - When and how do we get out of Iraq? We want clear answers.

Do something to make it happen!!!