joseki_bx's Journal

McCain and the Big Lie
First let me say that this is a biased political commentary. Yes, the idea of "The Big Lie" goes back to Hitler and Jews, Senator McCain is not a danger of that magnitude.

First the facts. McCain was an advocate for "the surge", a military strategy for the involvement in Iraq that thought a temporary increase in the number of troops would pacify the situation. Obama was an early opponent of the US's involvement in Iraq and certainly wasn't vocal about supporting "the surge". Now over a year after this surge, the deaths of American troops in Iraq are down considerably.

McCain and his supporters view this as evidence of his expertise in foreign affairs and especially military operations and point to it as demonstrating Obama's lack of experience.

If McCain honestly believes that the surge is primarily responsible for the decrease in deaths then it is McCain that is naive. I personally think McCain understands Iraq, but choses to present himself in the best possible light.

There are three big reasons that American troops are not dying at the rate they were over a year ago.

First, the decision was made to work with the Sunni tribes and their leaders in western Iraq. Previously they were viewed as part of the enemy. These tribe provided support for foreign members of al Quida and participated in attacks against US troops (and the Shia controlled Iraqi Army). The US did an about face and started working with these folks. Made it clear that they would not be held responsible for previous attacks against the US or Iraqi troops and most importantly began paying them for helping maintain the peace.

Second, in August of 2007 Muqtada al-Sadr the most powerful Shia religious leader in Iraq declared a truce. Thus reducing attacks both on Sunni groups and US troops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/---/Muqtada_al-Sadr#August_2007_Truce

Third, the surge did put more boots on the ground. Perhaps having more forces there did intimidate some into not attacking or allowed troops to pre-emptively find "the enemy" before their attacks could become deadly. More troops did mean more targets though.

It is my firm opinion that "the surge" was the smallest contributor to the decrease n deaths. That relative to the other two factors it was insignificant. And this becomes McCain's "Big Lie". That the relative peacefulness of Iraq is due to the surge. It isn't.

Apparently the American public is too confused by an explanations that takes more than one sentence s overall they have bought into this "Big Lie". And honestly think that makes McCain a knowledgeable person about foreign affairs.

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