McCain Voices "Guarded Optimism" on Iraq...

McCain Voices "Guarded Optimism" on Iraq but says hurdles are high

Republican presidential contender John McCain said yesterday he was "guardedly optimistic" about the ability of Iraqis to make political, economic, and social progress, thanks to what he described as the "fundamental of a secure environment" brought about by the US troop increase he championed.

[...]

McCain, who met with Iraqi political leaders in Baghdad over Thanksgiving, cited indicators of both success (the return of refugees, a 5K run in Ramadi) and failure (the persistence of suicide bombers, physical threats to Iraqi judges) in building the nation's civil society amid the mission that he boasted was once called the "McCain surge" by critics.

Yet the hurdles to assembling a strong government, McCain suggested, were high, from sectarian squabbling he had personally witnessed among the country's leaders and the "byzantine" lawmaking structure.

"They've got something like 41 ministers in their government," McCain said. "Who designed that? They ought to take that guy out and shoot him."

The Arizona senator said the best-case political scenario for Iraq would be a "loose confederation . . . with a very bumbling, not terribly effective central government with a lot of the autonomy being exercised but Iraq not breaking up into three different countries." To get there, he said, would require a continued US military presence in an advisory role as responsibility is transferred to Iraqi authorities.

[...]

"Some say open, formal talks; others say don't talk to them at all," he said. "I think this business of how you communicate is the most overrated aspect of diplomacy, because you can always communicate."

On that subject and others, McCain frequently turned to history, particularly Vietnam, where he was held as a prisoner of war. For example, in this case, he suggested that it was not laborious peace negotiations in Paris - where delegations bickered over the shape of the table - but military realities that ended American involvement in Southeast Asia.

Im having trouble liking any of these candidates - and now im beginning to wonder if ANY of them are serious in any way. "The buisness of how you communicate is the most overrated aspect of diplomacy"?? are you JOKING? is he stupid? what is deplomacy without communication? History is something to LEARN from not - Not REPEAT.
he has to grow up. hes got to get over his POW status and stop looking for sympathy on that issue. Every time you see him on TV or in the news "...well i was prisoner of war in 'Nam. So i know what I'm saying!"

Yours Truly ~~
()_BOB_)~~*