Issues

• Delivering on the Promise
• Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility
• Achieving Energy Independence
• Refocusing on Small Business
  
• Supporting the Middle Class
• Using Technology in the Classroom
• Enhancing the Doctor/Patient Relationship
• Addressing the Iraq War
• Confronting Global Warming
• Fighting the War on Terror
• Defining the Role of Government

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The Iraq War

The Iraq war exemplifies the incompetence in our current political system.  It is a war fought on ideological principals where politicians systematically ignored military realities, differences of opinion, and alternative options.  Now we are faced with the missed opportunity to mold the future of the Middle East.

I think both democrats and republicans have misread the frustration of the American people in regard to this war.  It is not so much the reasoning and objectives for the war, even if they are now suspect, but the idle progress and unwillingness to fully commit to the military realities. In other words, what our politicians wanted from the Iraq war and what Americans were promised was never achieved because our political leaders did not have the wherewithal to deliver.  Americans expect our leaders to deliver and can easily see through half-measures and pseudo-victories, this time is no different.  

What do we do now?  The American people and our soldiers deserve the right policy in Iraq. The military “surge” has shown us the results of what could have been if we fully committed to the war from the start.  It follows a strategy promoted by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Collin Powell, of using overwhelming force to achieve our military and political objectives.  However, this strategy is admittedly three years too late and 250,000 troops short.  Instead of squashing the violence that is keeping Iraq hostage, it has moved that violence to other parts of the country.  Displacing the violence is not the objective.  We needed overwhelming force to eliminate its threat, secure the country and give the government a foundation to stand on.  Now we have an overextended military and unwilling political environment to fully carry out this strategy and we need to adapt accordingly.  We need to refocus on a federal political system where the secular distinct parts of Iraq are given control of their own destinies. We also need to pick "winners" and ensure their success through extensive military support. This will provide a secure environment in which to build upon. From a policy perspective we need to take a book out of the “Marshal Plan” and give infrastructure support that highlights our commitment to the Iraqi people that goes beyond guns and security. It is not until Iraq is secure and the people have food and work, that the beacon of hope for the Middle East will start to emerge.