2008 Woodie Awards
Well the big news today is Obama’s declaration that he will be running. Yet despite the new hope and optimism he brings, and Obama is a fresh voice louder than any other in Washington, I do sense some contradiction. Where is the “audacity of hope” when it comes to Iraq? Consider the following excerpt from his speech:
“It’s time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else’s civil war. That’s why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008. Letting the Iraqis know that we will not be there forever is our last, best hope to pressure the Sunni and Shia to come to the table and find peace.”
This seems discouraging with the specific time table he has set. Are we not to “worry about someone else’s civil war” given we started it? And given the stakes involved, national security, energy security, etc. Middle East stability, etc. what is more important than resolving this civil war? If we are to believe that the civil war in Iraq cannot be rectified, then it is the very message that Obama brings that is threatened. The first and last sentence appear to be in contradiction.
Nonetheless, his words rule out little about what he will do should he become elected in November of ‘08. Even if he proposes legislation that sets an explicit end date, it may be possible that America will remain mired in Iraq for a much longer time after 2008.
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