Re: [Marxism] Surprise! Obama and McCain in full agreement on Iraq

[Eli Stephens <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Toothless Critic asks:

"Huh? How is this "identical" with McCain's position? The above
sentence clearly says "after the withdrawal of combat troops"."

You really need to learn the meaning of quotation marks. Read the article again:

----
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said in an interview published on
Saturday the size of a residual U.S. force left in Iraq after the withdrawal of
combat troops would be "entirely conditions-based."

"We're going to have to provide them with logistical support, intelligence
support. We're going to have to have a very capable counterterrorism strike
force...We're going to have to continue to train their army and police to make
them more effective."
----

The "after the withdrawal of combat troops" is the author speaking, not Obama. 
When Obama speaks, he talks about intelligence suport, training the army and 
policy, and a "counterterrorism strike force." If you don't think those 
functions involve combat troops, particularly the first and third, you aren't 
paying attention. EVERYTHING the U.S. does in Iraq and Afghanistan is described 
as "counterterrorism," so those words "counterterrorism strike force" encompass 
one heck of a lot.

Someone should ask him specifically about AIR support. Is he willing to put an 
immediate end to all bombing? There is no reason in the world that should take 
16 months, or even one week. Has he ever made such a very simple commitment to 
ending the bloodshed? Not to my knowledge.


_________________________________________________________________
Keep your kids safer online with Windows Live Family Safety.
http://www.windowslive.com/family_safety/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_family_safety_072008
________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: 
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40archives.econ.utah.edu