From The Atlantic Monthly’s Andrew Sullivan:
“And, yes, thank God for Ron Paul.
No one else, except McCain, copped to the GOP’s rank betrayal of fiscal conservatism, limited government, prudent foreign policy and civil liberties.
One other vital thing: none of the candidates seems to have the slightest nuance on the Iraq war. I don’t find Paul’s extreme non-interventionism to be palatable; but I don’t think it’s less inherently reasonable than McCain’s belief in occupying half the planet for ever as long as we don’t have US casualties. Giuliani is the nuttiest. Romney just vacuous and dumb. To listen to McCain, you would honestly think Iraq would soon become a peaceful, unified, independent nation. At best, that might happen in 50 years time. Until then, we have to occupy the place, constantly juggling various militias, appeasing various factions, arming those who will one day attack us and then the next day realign with us? Empire is a rough business. And when you’re running en empire on borrowed money and your own currency is going down the tubes, it’s not an indefinite prospect. And if McCain believes Arab culture will tolerate a permanent American occupation the way that Koreans or Germans have, he has learned nothing from these past five years and even less from history.”
2 Comments
Thank heavens someone else noticed that McCain said he has no problem with us staying in Iraq for 50 or 100 years. I am so worried that not enough people are listening. What were the New Hampshire voters thinking?! I hope South Carolina’s voters are paying attention!
Laurie,
Unfortunately the “anti-war” vote went to McCain.
“What were they thinking” indeed. I wonder if after-the-fact they realize how stupid THAT move was?