I’m sure most people reading this have heard of the horribly absurd statement that John McCain vomitted into our collective conscious today’s aptly named “Today” show.   I have some comments about it.  First I’ll transcript it as well as I can.

Interviewer: “A lot of people now say the surge is working-”

McCain: “Anybody who knows the facts on the ground knows that, yes.”

I: “If it’s working, Senator, do you now have a better estimate of when American soldiers can come home from Iraq?”

M: “No, but that’s not too important.  What’s important is the casualties in Iraq.  Americans are in South Korea, Americans are in Japan, American troops are in Germany.  That’s all fine.  American casualties, and the ability to withdraw.  We will be able to withdraw.  General Petraeus is going to tell us in July when he thinks we are.  But the key to it is that we don’t want any more Americans in harm’s way.  And that way they will be safe, and serve our country.  And come home with honor and victory, not in defeat- which is what Senator Obama’s proposal would have done.  And I’m proud of them, and they’re doing a great job, and we are succeeding, and it’s fascinating that Senator Obama still doesn’t realize that.”

(video here)

Yes, all that is important is American casualties. Not the fact that those that, thankfully, do not become casualties have to leave their familes and homes to police a foreign nation. Not the fact that we are, as a country, policing a foreign and soverign nation. Not the Iraqi or other casualties. Not the financial costs of the occupation. My friends, the only factor to consider in deciding whether to leave Iraq or not is American casualties. My friends, the surge is working. The only thing holding America back from victory is the liberals.

It’s not even about a strategy for exit at this point. It’s about recognizing the need for exit, whether we are so-called “winning” or not. It’s about understanding the fundamental wrongness with our even being there. The necessity of an exit strategy shouldn’t even be a question. But that’s the absurdity of American politics.

I’m not saying we don’t need an exit strategy. I’m saying the fact that not having one, at this point, is acceptable is totally absurd. I’m saying our whole presence there has been immoral and based on horrible logic from the start, and the idea that because American casualties are “down”, we don’t have to worry about leaving just yet is absolutely absurd.

It’s hard not to use “absurd” every other word while talking about the war. I will consult a thesaurus from here on out.

The idea that getting violence levels down is our ultimate goal in itself is based on the idea that we have to get the population to approve of an American occupation and an American installed and approved government. That we should have, in some way, a measure of control in what a foreign nation does.  Which is flat out imperialistic and abs… stupid. 

Which brings me to the democrats, who appear to be okay with the premise that this war would be okay if no Americans die. 

 

John Kerry: “It is unbelievably out of touch and inconsistent with the needs and concerns of Americans”

 

Howard Dean: “Senator McCain stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that the American people do not want our brave troops in Iraq for 100 years under any circumstances.”

 

Harry Reid: “Osama bin Laden is freely plotting attacks, our efforts in Afghanistan are undermanned, and our military readiness has been dangerously diminished. We need a smart change in strategy to make America more secure, not a commitment to indefinitely keep our troops in an intractable civil war.”

All valid points for why we should leave Iraq.  It is killing our people, it is inconsistent with Americans’ needs.  But missing the broader point. 

My problem is this.  The quote that we shouldn’t make a “commitment to indefinitely keep our troops in an intractable civil war” exposes a terrible line of reasoning.  If the war was tractable, should we stay in it?  Not to mention this “outrage” is being used as a political tool.  This is why I am not a democrat and probably never will be, although I tend to agree with what they say much more than I do Republicans.  When it comes down to it, they are really all the same thing.

 

The debate on BOTH sides in this country is framed in a way that assumes that America is justified in imposing it’s hegemony on whoever we wish.  The only reason we would not be justified, according to most Democrats, is if it costs too much or our boys die.  If we could get cheap robots to fight for us, we would have every right to control the entire Earth.  The neo-cons and the PNAC have done their jobs.

 

Blargh.

 

Ps. “Americans are in South Korea, Americans are in Japan, American troops are in Germany. ” … it’s not the same, “my friend”.