The 2008 United States Presidential Election scheduled for November 4th, is likely to be a race between Democrat candidate Barrack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain, if the current number of delegates each candidate has is anything to go by.
Issue; Iraq
The war in Iraq is one issue that will determine the outcome of the 2008 presidential elections. So far the war has gone badly with Iraq almost approaching civil war. A lot of American soldiers have been killed since President Bush declared war on Iraq as a means to bring democracy in that country. It is against this background that the presidential candidates have to approach this issue very cautiously.
Barrack Obama was opposed to the Iraq war right from the begging, He had to put his political career in 2002 as a candidate for US Senate by opposing the war. He feels that the congress was wrong in giving President Bush authority to go to war in Iraq before assessing the intelligence report. The feeling that the US rush into war is best expressed by quoting from one of his recent speeches “I worried about, ‘an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences”
On becoming president, Barrack Obama plans to take the following steps to end the war in Iraq;
- Bringing US troops home.
- Reconciliation of Iraq’s Leaders.
- Regional Diplomacy.
- Humanitarian program.
Within the first 16 months, Obama promises to have removed all combatant brigades out of Iraq. No Permanent bases will be built in Iraq under his leadership and the few troops who will remain in Iraq will be used to protect US Diplomats and Embassy. Troops will be sent back to Iraq only if Al Qaeda attempts to build bases there.
Making it clear to the Iraq Leadership that US troops are leaving is the best way of pressing the Iraq’s Leaders to take responsibility for their country. According to Obama, the United Nations should play a bigger role in helping Iraq to govern itself.
The stability of Middle East, according to Barrack Obama, will help in bringing sanity to Iraq. Border will be secured to isolate Al Qaeda and the neighboring countries will be compelled to support Iraq reconstruction.
According to Obama, United States have the responsibility of settling the more than 2 million Iraq refugees. An international Humanitarian group will be formed to address this crisis.
John McCain has been a strong supporter of the Iraq war right from the first begging. Having been a prisoner of war, POW, he feels that a greater military presence in Iraq is very necessary, in order for America to achieve Long term success. He feels that the current level of US troops in Iraq is not enough. The rebuilding of economies and institutions in Iraq needs to be provided with enough security provided by US troops. He is of the strong opinion that the sectarian violence being experienced in Iraq will end when Sunnis and Shia insurgents are disarmed. The US army should also stay longer in order to train the Iraq army. This way, according to John McCain, is the only way to help Iraq govern itself.
John McCain plans to implement the following plans on the Iraq Issue.
- New counter-insurgency Strategy
- Strengthening of Iraq Armed Forces
- Creation of security to enhance political progress and stability
The US troops should use force to secure all those areas occupied by insurgents so as to deny them any base in Iraq, this way it will be hard for insurgents to operate in Iraq.
The United States must provide training and equip Iraq army. This according to McCain, will play a key role in securing Iraq, leading to development.
John McCain strongly believes that the only way to pave for political settlement is by controlling the violence in Iraq. The Iraq Government will be assisted in reconciling insurgents, formation a government of grand coalition where all groups are involved in the running of the government and increasing employment opportunities to Iraq’s.
Election of Barrack Obama to be the US president will most likely see withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and considerable cutting of Federal funding to the war, while the presidency of John McCain will see the Federal Government spend millions of dollars in additional funding for the US troops in Iraq, again more troops will be deployed to Iraq in the period after the Elections. This will be in line with each candidate’s stand in the Iraq.
Reference
Iraq war and the 2008 US Elections. Web.
Real security. 2008. Web.
Robert M. Duncan, John McCain wins the Republican Nomination. 2008. Web.
Sarah Van Gelder; opportunities for real change in the 2008 election. Web.