For some reason Kerry’s latest statement that his Iraq war vote was a mistake seems to be making the news. I am not sure why though, I thought Kerry made this statement a while ago. Nonetheless Wayne Woodlief has a great analysis on the pit falls of Kerry’s “get the troops out right now” approach. Basically Woodlief says that Kerry’s position is just too rich for the Republicans to not pounce on to paint all Dems as weak on defense. I think there is merit to this position. Republicans will be able to twist this very sensible position into something of weakness because we won’t stay to fight for the impossible win. I don’t believe in making decisions based political expediency and that is why I find Woodlief’s position that Iraq is too weak to withstand a complete withdrawal persuasive.
Woodlief seems to like Clinton’s position better. However, I find her position way to mushy. She doesn’t lay out any timetable whatsoever which makes her position pretty much indistiguishable from the Republican position. She cites the same postion, that Iraq is too weak to stand on its own right now, that Woodlief does and bases her follow the course on that logic. Frankly I think Sen. Russ Feingold offers the best moderation between the two. He has a firm positon by demanding we set an absolute date. However, Feingold’s position seems moderated enough that he isn’t demanding an absolute, right this second, withdrawal. Feingold’s logic has the added bonus that he, without question, says that Iraq is a failure. With such a strong statement I can feel comfortable backing Russ’s plan even if the date for withdrawal is somewhat flexible because I know we are getting out.
Read the Woodlief piece. I am curious to see if more people fall with Kerry, Clinton, or somewhere between. Ok, talk amongst yourselves and then share.