Has Obama Lost Interest Too?
Jennifer Rubin - 05.27.2008 - 8:09 AM
Abe points out that the media has lost interest in the Iraq War. But it is not just the media. I, like many others, have observed that for some time the Democrats have lost interest in understanding and examining the progress made in Iraq. They are so wedded to a narrative of defeat and a position of immediate withdrawal that they have failed to acknowledge factual developments–be they political or military–which would cause them to rethink their narrative, lest they should be forced to acknowledge the real progress in the last eighteen months.
On Monday, John McCain went after Barack Obama for failing to visit Iraq for two years and for essentially ignoring the most significant national development of the last year–the success of the surge. He declared:
He really has no experience or knowledge or judgment about the issue of Iraq and he has wanted to surrender for a long time. . . If there was any other issue before the American people, and you hadn’t had anything to do with it in a couple of years, I think the American people would judge that very harshly.”
Obama has been selling “judgment” to the Democratic primary electorate. But McCain now is asking Americans to assess Obama’s judgment in light of his refusal to examine key facts and adjust national security policy to maximize American interests. When forced to explain the particulars of his surrender plan (like the particulars of his stated intention to negotiate unconditionally with state terror sponsors) to general election voters, Obama may have a tougher time. (McCain might start, for example, by pressing Obama to explain his fantastical “strike force” alternative plan for Iraq.) As with many issues, the devil is in the details. McCain’s strength may reside in his ability to force Obama to spell out what he really means underneath all his impressive rhetoric.
