The best solution to Iraq...

[CTLawGuy]

was never to have gone in the first place.

If you believe that statement, you cannot seriously say that any one of the major candidates has a better Iraq position than Obama.

Of the major candidates, only Obama is in line with this solution. While Edwards and Hillary were gladly voting for war, Obama was calling it a "dumb war" on the cusp of his ascent into national office, against a patriotic fervor calling for war.

If you want to say that anyone has a better position on Iraq than Obama, you need a better solution than to never have gone in the first place. Even pulling out the troops tomorrow is not better than never having gone in.

It makes no sense to condemn a guy who wouldn't have gone in, and praise a guy who did vote to go in, but would get our troops out slightly faster. It's ok to like the guy who wants our troops out quickly, but you can't seriously say he's better.

[Dawgs]

1. Thank you.

I just posted this in another thread.

Among the THREE FRONT RUNNERS, only Obama's position would have kept us out of the war.

If we had more Senators like Obama in 2003 Bush wouldn't have received the support for his war. Unfortunately, we had too many like Hillary and Edwards.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

2. Kucinich is the only one who has always been correct on Iraq

Kucinich voted against the IWR--the only candidate to actually do so; Kucinich called for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq years before it was politically popular (after the James Baker report it became popular); Kucinich sided with Rep. Murtha in advocating an end to the war in 2005 when it was unpopular; Kucinich, like Kerry-Feingold, wanted a timetable to end the war in 2006; Kucinich did not endorse and campaign for Lieberman over Lamont; Kucinich not only did not oppose cutting off funding the surge, he has never voted to fund the war period; Kucinich supported the concept behind Reid-Feingold; Kucinich is the only candidate advocating ending the war by defunding it. Kucinich is the only one who has always been correct on Iraq.

[Dawgs]

9. Is Kucinich one of the front-runners?

[rucky]

3. Kucinich, Richardson & Biden also have plans.

let's compare apples to apples

[draft_mario_cuomo]

4. They don't want to compare Kucinich's Iraq record to Obama's

Heck, they don't even want to compare Obama and Hillary on Iraq since Obama became a senator because they are identical. T

[CTLawGuy]

5. I know they do

I was talking about the major three.

[rucky]

6. gotcha.

didn't mean to hijack. please continue.

just thought it would be nice to debate the different exit plans.

[welshTerrier2]

7. Obama and anti-war voters

i give Obama lots of credit for opposing the war before it began. That showed excellent judgment in not "trusting bush."

But, since then, I'm not a fan. Did he support Kerry-Feingold? Answer: no. Here's what he said: "I share their frustration," but "continue to be concerned about a date certain for a pullout.” He said he didn't want to limit the flexibility of the generals and diplomats if "we’re moving in the right direction."

Has he regularly voted to fund continuing offensive operations in Iraq? Answer: Yes.

And now, his call for sanctions against Iran seems to be marching us down the same path that preceded the invasion of Iraq. Those sanctions killed perhaps a million INNOCENT Iraqis. I appreciate Obama's emphasis on diplomacy; I think his call for sanctions on Iran is premature and inhumane.

Are these views not appropriate or fair? I'm open to hearing a different perspective but, based on what I know, this is how I view Obama on some of the key anti-war issues. Go ahead and make your case. I'm listening.

[CTLawGuy]

8. he voted for funding to protect our troops

whom he didn't want to endanger in the first place.

[Dawgs]

10. Agree.

I know some don't like, but the best analogy I've seen is the fire/firefighter one.

Hillary, Edwards, and the other Bush war supporters started the fire.

Obama, and others are supporting the firefighters so they could put the fire out.

Now he sees that the fire needs to burn out on its own, and its best to pull the firefighters back.


BTW, if Kucinich is so right on everything why can't he get above 3% support from Democrats?

[welshTerrier2]

11. trust me on this ...

that isn't going to fly with anti-war voters. if that's your argument, why did Obama vote against the last funding bill?

I'm totally committed to protecting the troops but I will not be blackmailed by bush or anybody else into providing continued funding for offensive operations in Iraq. the correct path is to cutoff funding for any and all purposes except the fastest withdrawal of American troops that their safety allows. I'm thinking three months or four months maximum.

And what about Obama's hawkish call for sanctions on Iran? Estimates indicate that as many as 350,000 CHILDREN died as a result of US sanctions on Iraq. What kind of person would now call for sanctions on Iran?

[CTLawGuy]

12. on the last funding bill

Dems were in charge and could have used it to extract concessions from Bush, a power we did not have in previous years under Repug control. He voted against it for the same reason many others did, because Dems did not fight hard enough with that carrot.

[Dawgs]

13. Don't even bother.

This guy/gal is desperatly trying to get Kucinich's support over 5%.

They'll say anything.