2007: It’s Clark versus McCain

[IA_Seth]

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http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/10411

2007: It’s Clark versus McCain
By Gordon Suber

January 9, 2007

President George W. Bush will tell the American people why it is necessary to escalate the Iraq war, adding 20,000 American troops.

Writing in the Washington Post last Sunday, former presidential candidate (2000), Senator John McCain wrote that a small, short surge is a terrible idea. He advocates a larger number, for a longer period.

Writing in the Washington Post last Monday, former presidential candidate (2004) and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Wesley K. Clark set forth why he believes a surge in troops in Baghdad is a terrible idea. He advocates diplomacy.

None of us knows who will be battling for the presidency in 2008, but what I know now is that when it comes to finding a solution in Iraq in 2007, it's Clark versus McCain.

The battle of ideas is between two heavyweights. Clark the Democrat. McCain the Republican.

Clark the graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
McCain the graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Both men are decorated veterans of the Vietnam War.

After Vietnam, both men went on to serve America. Clark: A distinguished career in the United States army -- rising to four-star general. McCain: A distinguished career in the United States Congress -- rising to senior senator from Arizona.

Here is a portion of what each man wrote:

McCain: “The worst of all worlds would be a small, short surge of U.S. forces. We have tried small surges, and they have been ineffective because our commanders lacked the forces necessary to hold territory after it was cleared.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/05/AR2007010501810.html

Clark: “What the surge would do is put more American troops in harm’s way, further undercut the morale of U.S. forces and risk further alienating elements of the Iraqi populace.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/07/AR2007010700980.html

Americans have two major decisions to make in the next two years – and they are intertwined in ways that will affect our country for years to come:

First, which man’s thinking will best serve the American people, and holds the best hope for extracting our troops from Iraq?

Second, are these two men the strongest candidates their respective political parties can muster to continue the battle of ideas in 2008?

Gordon Suber is writing a political biography of Wesley Clark