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What Obama Should Say On Iraq

The Democratic candidate needs to implement a serious policy based on his long-held views, but informed by the conditions on the ground today.

By Fareed Zakaria | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Jun 30, 2008

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  • Posted By: ahmad819 @ 07/16/2008 12:30:15 AM

    Comment: It seems like Mr Zakaria is suggesting that Iraq can only be held together by a Strong Military, is he implying that Iraq needs another strong man? So the objective is order and stability, not freedom and democracy. So after 5 years and over 4000 dead, the best we can hope for is a muddy solution in Iraq. Can any one tell me out of the wounded 25000 US troops, how many were wounded by the Taliban? So we will keep ???through our friends-negotiating with a state that has armed, trained and funded the militias in Iraq, has a weapon gradable Nuclear programme , which has openly threaten Israel a key US partner on the one hand, and then bomb our only real partner in the regions who???s supply convoys have for almost 7 years kept NATO afloat in Afghanistan. What would be a sustainable, victorious, and clean strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan? Is it not the case that the US is leaving one un finished war and rushing into another one?

  • Posted By: ahmad819 @ 07/16/2008 12:28:31 AM

    Comment: IIt seems like Mr Zakaria is suggesting that Iraq can only be held together by a Strong Military, is he implying that Iraq needs another strong man? So the objective is order and stability, not freedom and democracy. So after 5 years and over 4000 dead, the best we can hope for is a muddy solution in Iraq. Can any one tell me out of the wounded 25000 US troops, how many were wounded by the Taliban? So we will keep ???through our friends-negotiating with state that has armed, trained and funded the militias in Iraq, has a weapon gradable Nuclear programme , which has openly threaten Israel a key US partner on the one hand, and then bomb our only real partner in the regions who???s supply convoys have for almost 7 years kept NATO afloat in Afghanistan. What would be a sustainable, victorious, and clean strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan? Is it not the case that the US is leaving one un finished war and rushing into another one?

  • Posted By: saminiowa @ 07/13/2008 6:27:44 PM

    Comment: Last week I talked to my brother who recently returned from Iraq. He and his team were responsible for training Iraqis. Listening to him and watching videos of REAL footage (not from FOX or CNN) I'm not so sure the Democrats are entirely right. I selfishly want the war to end as much as anyone, and will vote for Obama, but I really think Obama needs to not rush into promises he can't keep. The reason I say this is the troops we are training are not ready. They are like children, and we can't compare them to a normal army. Americans stil call all the shots over there, and they don't trust the Iraqi troops at all. Coruption is everywhere, and there are many local players that we don't know about here in th US that are complicating the situation.
    John McCain would only fudge up the situation more though. We need a politician who can bring a different style of diplomacy to the table. Bush is too stupid to negotiate anything. Same for McCain. He's too darned proud and arrogant to concede anything.

    I liked the comment about finding the muddy middle ground. That is exactly what has to hppen.

  • Posted By: ikez78 @ 07/10/2008 11:49:56 AM

    Comment: Fareed, Why are you such a shill for Dems and Obama? Just because you are both liberals? Bush hatred? What is it? It's certainly not coincidental.

  • Posted By: cdcaddy @ 07/09/2008 2:16:42 PM

    Comment: Geez is this guy dating Barrack or what? Biggest blunder? I think our current Congress is the biggest blunder Amercia has ever seen...of course your partisian editorial not withstanding -
    what a goof -

  • Posted By: wiseman888 @ 07/09/2008 11:04:22 AM

    Comment: You democrates talk out of your ass and mouth at the same time, That's the real reason that Barrack will lose. The American people are not stupid. No matter how much you guys try to bend the truth. You accuse Bush of lying and at the same time your doing the same thing. You twist the truth and think it's all good.
    Why is this the biggest military blunder? No weapons of mass distructions, Bush lied?
    Bush never lied and even before Bush was President. Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Madeline Albrite, Nancy Pelosi and more agreed that Saddam had WMD and that he was a threat to the region and the USA. There said the same thing Bush is saying today. Are they all liars.
    By saying this war is wrong you be little our troops making there time served of no value. That's shameful and wrong.
    Thank God for President Mccain.

  • Posted By: wiseman888 @ 07/09/2008 10:59:20 AM

    Comment: You democrates talk out of your ass and mouth at the same time, That's the real reason that Barrack will lose. The American people are not stupid. No matter how much you guys try to bend the truth. You accuse Bush of lying and at the same time your doing the same thing. You twist the truth and think it's all good.
    Why is this the biggest military blunder? No weapons of mass distructions, Bush lied?
    Bush never lied and even before Bush was President. Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Madeline Albrite, Nancy Pelosi and more agreed that Saddam had WMD and that he was a threat to the region and the USA.

  • Posted By: funkdome @ 07/09/2008 8:39:04 AM

    Comment: Thanks for the Obama PR piece Fareed.

    Newsweek needs to come out and admit that they are organizational arm of the Obama campaign.

  • Posted By: c.guthrie @ 07/09/2008 4:10:41 AM

    Comment: You all should read the interview with Tehran's top diplomat in Iraq, it's in the Newsweek International edition right on the front page. He makes more sense that all of you put together, including Zakaria.

  • Posted By: c.guthrie @ 07/09/2008 4:03:04 AM

    Comment: How come no one has called out the MORON Concerned Canadian? Could it be that his idiotic rant is worthless in this discussion?

  • Posted By: c.guthrie @ 07/09/2008 4:00:22 AM

    Comment: I was glad to see at least most of the comments have been reasoned reposte's to an intellegent reading of the situation (also see the interview with the Iranian diplomat elsewhere online. His explanation about how everything is basicly tribal explains a lot about the culture and psyche of the region. It has been so for a thousand years and the Brits and Americans who sit in saffe fortified places like the Green Zone know nothing more now than the idiotic Bremer and his thugs did. We have learned basically, nothing in the last six years when it comes to the tribes (militants to most of the morons running the Bushies and the evildoer incarnate, Cheney. I won't waste anybody's time replying to the post by the moron who ranted about 'Obama the Muslim'.

  • Posted By: wyomingite @ 07/07/2008 5:25:10 PM

    Comment: Wow, that is spot on. However, there has to be a dumbed-down version for those who get their news from the idiot box. (I dare say that is the majority of Americans today)

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 07/05/2008 2:30:07 PM

    Comment: Centrisim, Triangualation. Anyone who wants to be President has to understand these concepts. We will pull out of Iraq when OBAMA takes the Presidency. However, every President has to listen to those "in charge" of the war before any Military decisions are made.

    OBAMA IS ALREADY ACTING LIKE AN EXPERIENCED PRESIDENT.
    People need to understand a UNIVERSAL LAW
    NOTHING IS CONSTANT
    THINGS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING. IT IS PART OF OUR EVOLUTION.

  • Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 07/05/2008 11:46:08 AM

    Comment: Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim posing as a Christian...thats punishable by death in the Islam world...say to Iran ? ......nothing....Barack Hussein Obama is a radical not qualified to be involved in world politics....he will spell the end of the United States of America as we know it.

  • Posted By: denmill @ 07/04/2008 9:14:02 PM

    Comment: Obama is an appaiser! He wants to please everybody. This is unrealistic. He cannot take any real position. This behavior explain why he never vote for or against any important issues in the senate. He is a chameleon that changes whenever in order to cover his bases and please whoever he seems to address at a certain time. He is not a trustworthy man.

  • Posted By: Marquette70 @ 07/02/2008 3:07:18 PM

    Comment: Do you really think if all of the people directly responsible for 9-11 were caught the world would be a safe place? Do you really think waiting for the middle east to become the "Paris of the world" is a good idea? The problem, it seems to me is State backed war against the west. Not a police action, but a war.

  • Posted By: doktor @ 07/02/2008 7:23:00 AM

    Comment: An Iran Attack Scenario - A Catastrophe: The finishing touches on several contingency plans for attacking Iran.
    If the United States attacks Iran either this summer or this fall, the American people had better be prepared for a shock that may perhaps be even greater to the national psyche (and economy) than 9/11. First of all, there will be significant U.S. casualties in the initial invasion. American jets will be shot down and the American pilots who are not killed will be taken prisoner - including female pilots. Iranian Yakhonts 26, Sunburn 22 and Exocet missiles will seek out and strike U.S. naval battle groups bottled up in the narrow waters of the Persian Gulf with very deadly results. American sailors will be killed and U.S. ships will be badly damaged and perhaps sunk. We may even witness the first attack on an American Aircraft carrier since World War II.

    That's just the opening act.
    http://www.rense.com/general82/debat.htm

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 07/01/2008 8:09:15 PM

    Comment: KOOL-AID??????..From the kitchen of the obama sheeple!! take one heaping spoonful of an inexperienced elitist white male seeking self validation through exploitation of his african-american genetics. Combine two parts black liberation theology clerics spewing intolerance! With two parts of unrepentant intellectuals committed to the destruction of America. Stir in one cup of militant black wife harboring the overwhelming desire to stick it to whitey and one spoonful of typical white person grandmother mix well. Pour a gallon of anti-patriotism into tall glasses and sprinkle with naïve foreign policy ideations. Serve on a platter of meaningless oratorical hyperbole with a generous dollop of wealth re-distribution. Sprinkle liberally with zest of white guilt flip it and flop it till it tastes right. Serve large portions to the undiscerning and spellbound masses convinced that the Second Coming is upon America and now you have a complete recipe for disaster!

    • Posted By: muslimsforpresidents @ 07/02/2008 12:10:37 AM

      Comment: may you have peace on your life, may to take chill pills, practice mediation, yoga, take deep breaths in and out, and say to yourself take it easy, repeat 50 times because if you keep this up u will have a medical issue u are in need of psychologist to analyze your brain perhaps three times a week wil fix your awful mood.

      • Posted By: Jose52 @ 07/07/2008 10:42:46 AM

        Comment: What is your point? May YOU.. have my Christ 's peace and calmness. The issue here is Obama's total lack of preparation or his experience. However, since he is the 2nd coming and the most intelligent man in the whole world; then these judgement mistakes are not a foreshadowing of the errors he has committed and will commit. Judge his content of character. Look at his record and not drink the Kool-aid.

  • Posted By: lastlion @ 06/29/2008 11:00:01 AM

    Comment: This is an interesting speech but it does not discuss the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that the US is currently trying to implement in Iraq, which would make US forces a permanent fixture in the country. The US is not planning a full withdrawal no matter who wins the election and that is an extremely important point that needs to be put across. If Mr. Zakaria gets a chance to see this post, I wish that he would comment on that. Without doing so merely writing speeches for a presidential hopeful is playing more politician than journalist.

    Sean Nevins.

  • Posted By: kingishb @ 06/29/2008 2:12:54 AM

    Comment: (and the first 4 lines were a quotation of a previous post)

  • Posted By: juballl @ 06/28/2008 9:56:18 PM

    Comment: What no one seems to talk about when mentioning what could have been done with the money spent on the war in Iraq is that this is borrowed money. This has not been American dollars spent but American debt; and who owns a large part of that debt? The country that is in an Industerial Revolution of it's own, China. The next president has the problems of Iraq as a major issue, but it seems to me another issue that is one of grave importanace is paying back the money we have spent on the war, before China calls in their debt.

  • Posted By: PoliticalRealityOnline @ 06/28/2008 10:59:58 AM

    Comment: Dear Fareed:

    Could you possibly be more clueless?

    NEWSFLASH: We are experiencing a massive spike in oil prices that is wrecking the economy and you think it is a great idea to rush out of Iraq and leave a small force to contain Al Qaeda and Iranian ambitions even though over 150,000 American troops have been struggling to achieve that goal for five years. Such craziness could only cause oil prices to rise exponentially because it would create a grave threat to global oil supply that the commodity and financial markets could not ignore.

    The WORST thing America could do right now is abandon Iraq to inevitable chaos that would threaten Iraqi oil exports of 2.5 million barrels of oil per day that happen to represent the marginal difference between global oil demand and supply. The removal of 150,000 USA security forces from the Middle East would spark chaos and consequences you cannot possibly predict or control, and yet you and Obama remain determined to leave Iraq and risk a massive additional increase in oil costs that would dwarf the cost of staying in Iraq and devastate the U.S. economy and the financial well being of almost all Americans.

    America's departure from Iraq would leave a huge security void that would be filled by America's worst enemies and ideally position them to threaten the weak Arab Gulf states where over 40% of the earth's oil reserves reside, and to effectively control over 60% of global oil reserves. To suggest that the USA could abandon Iraq and not trigger a huge further oil price increase is pure, reckless fantasy and your and Obama's support such idiocy is either willful self serving ignorance of economic reality or treachery of the worst kind or both.

    You ridiculously suggest that the USA should leave Iraq and refocus on Russia, Iran, Venezuela and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan even though every one of those other adversaries are hoping that the USA will do exactly what you suggest and leave Iraq and spawn a huge further oil price increase that will fill all their coffers with more cash to challenge the USA while wrecking the American economy. In truth, all of America's adversaries understand America's huge economic vulnerability to oil prices even if you and Obama do not, and they are enjoying the self destructive spectacle of fools like you who are promoting an American retreat from Iraq that would allow all of them to achieve their ambitions at America's expense.

    Neville Chamberlain believed in negotiating with tyrants to avoid war and spectacularly failed, but even he was not stupid enough to abandon Britain's most vital interests to domination by Britain's worst enemies as you advocate. All you have accomplished with this article is destroying any credibility you might of had with rational, well informed people.

    If facts matter to you, visit www.politicalrealityonline.com for a reality check on all the major issues before you commit economic suicide by voting for any Democrat in November.

    • Posted By: kingishb @ 06/29/2008 1:59:02 AM

      Comment: Neville Chamberlain believed in negotiating with tyrants to avoid war and spectacularly failed, but even he was not stupid enough to abandon Britain's most vital interests to domination by Britain's worst enemies as you advocate. All you have accomplished with this article is destroying any credibility you might of had with rational, well informed people.???
      If you are truly interested in creating a ???rational??? and ???well-informed??? dialogue would you PLEASE stop referencing Hitler and appeasement in World War II as a viable basis for our policy in the middle east???I???m pretty sure Mr. Zakaria has devoted several columns to this as well. People don???t condemn Neville Chamberlain for ???negotiating with tyrants??? but for giving Germany half of Checklosovakia in 1939 (note: there???s a huge difference between engaging in diplomacy and giving your enemies entire countries). And anyway, what does that have to do with ANYTHING Zakaria is talking about?
      Iraq???s problems are complex; it is a country with deep rifts between its religious factions who are apprehensive to create any meaningful unity government. Stop muddling this dialogue with your arbitrary assertions that:
      1. Oil Prices will rise.
      or
      2. Leaving Iraq will bring the resurgence of Hitler.


      • Posted By: kingishb @ 06/29/2008 2:05:16 AM

        Comment: P.S. Everywhere there is quotation marks or an apostrophe somehow three question marks appeared. no idea how that happened but it looks kind of silly.

  • Posted By: cwoodrome @ 06/27/2008 8:33:31 PM

    Comment: What Obama should say to Zakaria: Welcome to the cabinet, Mr. Secretary of State.

  • Posted By: Ganpat @ 06/27/2008 7:32:18 AM

    Comment: Whay Zakaria should say on Iraq:

    That he was one of its smart-aleck supporters of the invasion when it was being canvassed. It was fashionable then, and Zakaria is nothing if not the man who tries to jump on the bandwagin.

    That Zakaria is desperate to be Secretary of State or NSC Adviser to the Obamination.

  • Posted By: Sovereign77x @ 06/27/2008 12:05:28 AM

    Comment: I was very impressed by this article, and posted a review on my blog which can be seen through the link below:

    http://www.strangelegacy.com/2008/06/26/an-intelligent-position-on-iraq-finally/

    As someone who is tired of the absolute, black v. white arguments made by both the right and the left on this difficult and important issue, it's refreshing to read this type of thoughtful analysis. If we are to transcend this challenge (and the many others which face our nation) it will require this type of bold, yet intelligent and rational conversation.

    After reading several of his articles, I have to say the Mr. Zakaria is quickly becoming one of my most respected pundits.

  • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/26/2008 4:07:20 PM

    Comment: I suppose Mr. Zakaria, we should still be fighting the Viet Nam War.

  • Posted By: Thevail @ 06/26/2008 3:57:10 AM

    Comment: I'm not sure that Obama's "base", of which I am one, would be terribly upset about looking at troop withdrawal on a practical level. Obama's "base" tends to be heavily college educated and fairly savvy about politics. Many of us understand that..well..Baghdad will not be re-built in a day. It's a war, admittedly a stupid, evil war, but we're not the only side playing ball over there. All of those shi'a and sunni, and shi'ite militias etc aren't going to step back and take a break while we pull out of Iraq. I keep hearing Republicans who think that all Obama supporters are completely naive about the middle east.

    We have different ideas about how we'd LIKE to see the Middle East handled. And given the way this war has been handled...we think we're right. We're anything but pie eyed idealists.

  • Posted By: ploughman @ 06/26/2008 1:10:22 AM

    Comment: Bravo. I think Fareed nailed it here. The one bit of policy "give" here would be to slow down the troop withdrawal under certain circumstances, which would anger some in the base. But I think it's a far preferable plan to most people vs. a basically open-ended commitment that has required too many troops, too much cost and still produces casualties.

  • Posted By: Medge @ 06/25/2008 8:56:40 PM

    Comment: If anyone had one trillion dollars, and would spend on million dollars a day, the trillion dollars would last one million days. If you divide one million by 365 days, you would get 2,739.726 years. For the sake of simplicity lets round the number to 2,740 years.This means that if you had a trillion dollars 740 years before Christ, spending one million a day, you would stll be a multimillioraire today, and this does not take into account the interests.
    It is estimated that the Bush administration has spent at least one trillion dollars in the war in Iraq. The money spent is what taxpayers pay the government to provide services--like schooling, healthcare, and protection of the environmnet for the American people. Instead, this administration,-- the worst in the entire history of the United States --has squandered the money by giving it to the top one percent of the population that does not need it, and in a useless war based on a lie, that has rresulted in the sacrifice of thousands of American soldiers and hundred of thousands of other people who have died for a lie
    Had this money not been wasted, it would have been enough to provide schooling, healthcare, housing and other services for every man, woman and child in America, for one hundred years.
    The question is, why does a government such as the present one in the White House, would rather squander the money instead of providing services to the American People, and preventing the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers and other people,not to mention mainming and suffering? Anyone with a few hundred cells of common sense, would see the logic behind this. However, lobbiysts, special interests and Wall Street speculators, would rather spend the money in a mindless war for the sake of Huge profits generated by war profiteering. If we add to this the oil speculation that continues to ruined an already crippled economy, by making the consumer pay through the nose for gasonline and energy, then we are talking about. not only the most corrupt and deceitful government in history, but the most dispicable, callous, and immoral, as well.
    Come November, the American voter must,--for the sake of the survival of what is left of its Democracy and begin rebuilding it anew--vote these gang of unscrupoulous politicians out of the White House. And remember, McCain is not the solution, he is part of the problem.

  • Posted By: Jack999 @ 06/25/2008 8:51:44 PM

    Comment: Its sad day for America if Americans still votes for the Candidates taht persists of carry on meanless War in IRAQ,even at the expense of own people miseries,This makes me wonder, are these are the same people trying hard to make America going burst and bankrupt ,if this so,its very sad day in America History, that's what Bin Laden supporters devious hope in John MCain as President ,which someone is very inconsistent in his political mindset and limited knowledge of economy to guide Americans in larger Pitfall.They team up with uneducated Americans and unconscience of prejudice WhiteConservative Americans.

  • Posted By: 1sky7 @ 06/25/2008 8:06:28 PM

    Comment: the security agreement between United states and the Iraq government will make legal end for the occupation and give lawfulness only for the American troops in Iraq to fight the terrorism and to help the union of Iraq - so this agreement will be ring of nick of the next president and create new international obligations for America and make a jab between the change we announce it and the real fact on the land

  • Posted By: whala @ 06/25/2008 6:49:16 PM

    Comment: Gee, do ya think the main stream media wants Obama for the next president. Now they're even telling him what he should say to win. How does this qualify as journalism?

  • Posted By: news8111 @ 06/25/2008 6:39:28 PM

    Comment: LOL another propaganda piece by Zakaria.

    Here's an upstart, third rate, gutter, writer who along with many others like Judith Miller for example, have skewed public opinion away from what is morally and ethically upright to what is right for the 'special interests' that they are beholden to.

    Now he's lecturing Obama on Iraq.

    LOL.

  • Posted By: newzviewz @ 06/25/2008 6:31:47 PM

    Comment: I'm disappointed this article doesn't show up on 'most viewed' list. Perhaps it didn't get the online promotion it deserved; clearly Fareed and the print editors attached considerable importance to it -- he wrote a two-page column, rather than his more typical single page, and they gave him a two-page spread and a front cover kicker.

    It's always presumptuous to write a 'what [whoever] should say' type of column, but this one rises to the challenge. The purview is wide but never loses focus. The prescriptions offered thread that narrow needle through which untested leadership must prove itself in quagmarish circumstances (quagmire + nightmare).

    Personally, I would hammer harder on how much that $1 trillion could have bought us here at home, because the economy has run out of self-blowing bubbles after 25 years and the only thing that looks likely to lead us eventually out of stagflation is a cocktail of catalysts in infrastructure, education, energy, and health care. It's obvious, almost 3 decades after the Reagan paradigm shift, that 'free markets and lower taxes' (and irresponsibly easy money) cannot solve all problems. All paradigm shifts have a finite useful lifespan, and the country understands, deep in its soul, that the pendulum must now swing away once again, though clearly into uncharted territory and not simply back to 'your father's democratic policies'. Obama, I believe, understands this (and wouldn't have got the nomination if the country didn't, too), and I pray he keeps his eyes on that prize without veering off course because of the enormous challenges of Iraq. Fareed's article is much more than a speech he might give--it's an intelligent safety guide for a particularly hazardous portion of the daunting journey we're embarking on.

  • Posted By: KPinCali @ 06/25/2008 5:37:17 PM

    Comment: Bush's strategy was a failure. But now that Bush has adopted McCain's strategy, although grudgingly, Iraq is turning around. My kids go to a brand new public school with brand new everything. My health care cost next to nothing and I am voting for McCain so my pay check will not buy less next year.

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 06/25/2008 6:15:11 PM

      Comment: The Veterans he will screw, so you can kep your pay check thank you. The states who WILL HAVE TO STORE nuclear wast, thank you. after 45 more brings out the "We got it you store it" policy. I'm sure the CEOs of the 360 corporation in Iraq, thank you to,it means 50-100 years of profit for them.

      • Posted By: sjbrock80 @ 07/10/2008 6:35:22 PM

        Comment: What, pinkpanther? Good night, man, are you drunk?

  • Posted By: speckelbelly @ 06/25/2008 5:17:59 PM

    Comment: I WANT OUT OF IRAQ! PERIOD! GW BUSH HAS BEEN A HORROR OF A PRESIDENT! HOW HE BECAME A REPUBLICAN I WILL NEVER KNOW!CONSERVATIVE NOT! YOU REPUBLICANS AND THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT
    BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT! I WILL BE DAMMED IF I VOTE FOR McCAIN
    WHILE MY KIDS SCHOOLS ARE IN SHAMBLES,HEALTH CARE KEEPS RISING AND MY PAY CHECK BUYS LESS AND LESS! IM VOTING FOR OBAMA! IM VOTING FOR AMERICA TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK! TO HELL WITH IRAQ! TELL THEM WERE SORRY FOR INVADING THERE COUNTRY(WMD+4000 LIVES) BUT GET OUT! WE HAVE DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE THERE! TO THEM AND OUR SELVES!!! OBAMA RULES!!McCAIN DROOLS!!!

    • Posted By: whala @ 06/25/2008 6:57:52 PM

      Comment: You don't have to yell. I just have one question. How, exactly, is voting for Obama a vote for America to get on the right track? I've been listening, but have yet to hear a responsible plan from Obama on anything.

      As for your Iraq policy, you obviously only believe we should accept responsibility for our action when it's easy to do so. You're like the deadbeat punk that get's the girl pregnent, and skips out on her. You're selfish and irresponsible.

  • Posted By: bightmier @ 06/25/2008 4:28:42 PM

    Comment: Apparently none of you have the ability to remember what you read just minutes before: this was a suggestion of a speech that Obama should give, not one that he HAS! Pay attention! The points that the writer made were valid, and the suggestions good, but he is not putting words in Obama's mouth.

  • Posted By: News and Notes @ 06/25/2008 4:28:36 PM

    Comment: Obama's problems are far deeper than Iraq. He's got to convince skeptics that he is capable of handling the job of president. McCain would not be a good president. Obama would be an unpredictable president. He's got to get more substantive.

  • Posted By: bightmier @ 06/25/2008 4:28:19 PM

    Comment: Apparently none of you have the ability to remember what you read just minutes before: this was a suggestion of a speech that Obama should give, not one that he HAS! Pay attention! The points that the writer made were valid, and the suggestions good, but he is not putting words in Obama's mouth.

  • Posted By: Grande.com @ 06/25/2008 4:17:03 PM

    Comment: Quit and come home. Just like the Democrats did in Korea and Vietnam. What a loser this guy is. It is scary that he may be our next president.

    • Posted By: news8111 @ 06/25/2008 6:45:35 PM

      Comment: Never knew Richard "v for victory" and "I'm not a crook" Nixon was a Democrat or that Ford who took over after he quit was a Democrat either.

      If I remember correctly Ford was in charge when we ran away from Vietnam with our tails on fire.


  • Posted By: Independent one @ 06/25/2008 3:38:07 PM

    Comment: Zip, drivel & lost, none of you bothered to counter any of the points he made. Scared say you're scared?

  • Posted By: Independent one @ 06/25/2008 3:36:10 PM

    Comment: Zip, drivel & lost, none of you bothered to counter any of his points. Scared say you're scared little boy?

  • Posted By: curryjm @ 06/25/2008 3:31:02 PM

    Comment: "This is what he should say..." Mr. Zakaria lost me right there.

  • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 3:19:31 PM

    Comment: I pay as much attention to Fareed Zakaria as I do to Tom Friedman. Which is zip.

    • Posted By: news8111 @ 06/25/2008 6:47:01 PM

      Comment: Amen Brother/Sister,

      Both agents of special interests who think they can fool everyone all the time.


  • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 3:15:14 PM

    Comment: I support the troops in Iraq. Bring them home. Now.

    • Posted By: whala @ 06/25/2008 7:06:59 PM

      Comment: You say you support the troops in Iraq by suggesting that we bring them home now. You obviously DON'T believe in supporting the troops who have died in this cause. Bringing the troops home now means 4,000 troops died in vain. I know, you'll say they died in vain anyway, but that is only an opinion that you have no basis for. The state of Iraq 20 or 50 years from now will tell whether we should have gone into Iraq. Until then, let's NOT steal the hope for meaning in the sacrifice of those brave soldiers.

      • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/26/2008 3:45:15 PM

        Comment: Hogwash. You, Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, Rice and McCain are obviously in agreement with each other on this issue. Most Americans are not. Are you willing to sign up for the military and serve in Iraq? Do you have children or grand children or other close family members serving on the ground in Iraq? My family does.

  • Posted By: 1magine @ 06/25/2008 3:10:31 PM

    Comment: Yes. - He could add that We have achieved victory. Our soldiers have done everything they have been asked to do and more, and not McCain or Bush should ever try to take that away from them by calling a draw down of troops a defeat or surrender.

  • Posted By: 1magine @ 06/25/2008 3:10:11 PM

    Comment: Yes. - He could add that We have achieved victory. Our soldiers have done everything they have been asked to do and more, and not McCain or Bush should ever try to take that away from them by calling a draw down of troops a defeat or surrender.

  • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 3:10:02 PM

    Comment: Bottom line is that Mr. Zakaria supported using force against Iraq.

  • Posted By: underdog @ 06/25/2008 3:09:14 PM

    Comment: Unfortunately, we need to count on a politician to do the right thing. George W. was elected to do the right things. He ran on a platform of no nation building. Look what we got. Went completely 180 degress. Tried to create a democratic nation under the guise of ridding the area of WMD's. Not what he was elected for. If anyone had known his real intent in 2000 no one would have voted for him and Gore would have been in office during the 9/11 attacks.

    Obama still has to pacify a far left that wants us out now, whatever the results maybe in Iraq. What his real intent is we can only hope.

  • Posted By: Perception @ 06/25/2008 3:06:12 PM

    Comment: I blame all of us for this nightmare in Iraq. We were more than ready to believe the lines put out by this administration because we wanted revenge for 9/11. Now, instead of having a cruel dictator that like us we have a government that cannot stand because of religious fanatics inside and outside the border. It is not surprising that McCain needs constant protection on his visits and the President of Iran can freely walk the streets without escort. We want them to use their oil revenues to rebuild the country but our invasion tore up the country. Colin Powell said, "You break it you own it." True. Obama can say whatever he wants.

  • Posted By: microkraken @ 06/25/2008 3:02:04 PM

    Comment: Amen, Mr. Zakaria.

  • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 3:01:33 PM

    Comment: 73% of the American people disapprove the the job that George W. Bush has performed. And a majority of the American people think the Iraq war was not worth fighting.

  • Posted By: microkraken @ 06/25/2008 3:01:04 PM

    Comment: Amen, sir.

  • Posted By: azadrafat @ 06/25/2008 2:46:02 PM

    Comment: test

  • Posted By: Loden Green @ 06/25/2008 2:21:53 PM

    Comment: Fortunately Barack Obama is too savvy and intelligent to advice from Newsweek. How much do you pay people to write tripe like this?

    • Posted By: news8111 @ 06/25/2008 6:50:03 PM

      Comment: Amen again.

      Another person who sees Zakaria as an agent of special interests.

      Funny how you can have a Muslim sounding name but be allowed to write tripe in what is supposedly a leading newsweekly..... so long as you write propaganda its fine.

      Zakaria lecturing Obama takes the cake.

  • Posted By: Pudbert @ 06/25/2008 2:18:26 PM

    Comment: If I didn't know better (which I truly don't), you sound like an Al Qaeda operative. One who would like the idiots/liberals of this country to belive that Al Qaeda would just leave us alone if we pulled out of Iraq & Afganistan. How long do think it would be if we pulled out of Iraq, before the whole country would belong to Iran?? About one month is my guess. And to bequeath Iraq to the most ruthless terrorist-sponsoring country in the world,, is not acceptable.
    And to think like a child, and presume that the costs of Iraq & Afganistan would magically disappear if we pulled out of those countries,, is ludicrous.. What about the cost of the war on terror? Or are you one of those ostrich liberal dummycrats that actually think that it is all "fear mongering", and the threat really doesn't exist?
    You scare me sir, because your liberal naivety will be the death of this country..

    Mort D. Leith
    Consulting Engineer

    • Posted By: bobsingh1 @ 06/25/2008 3:07:30 PM

      Comment: How can you even for a second think that the cost of fighting terrorism would be more than 10 billion dollars every month? Who do you consult for? Enron? Its exactly the kind of logic demonstrated by our stupid leaders for the last 7 years, whom you no doubt supported and still support wholeheartedly has gotten us in this mess!! A fraction of trillion dollars invested in R and D for alternate energy would have gone long way in getting us out of the mess that is middle east. If we are energy independent, who cares if Iran takes over Iraq or Iraq takes over Saudi Arabia. They are all a bunch of unstable loonies and will remain so until the populace of those countries take matters into their own hands and write and believe in a constitution other than koran.
      But in the meantime other than solid diplomacy, we have no recourse left. We have squandered so much wealth and goodwill in Iraq, we have to negotiate with regimes like Iran and Syria, like it or not and that is exactly what this article states. Gen. Petraus has been successful in doing that with the Sunnis and Obama has made an argument in favor of it going forward.
      You don't need to be scared, sir, of the truth.
      Another good article Fareed!! Keep it up.

    • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 2:51:39 PM

      Comment: Get a grip.

    • Posted By: rksharma @ 06/25/2008 2:39:26 PM

      Comment: Mort - You have displayed an amazingly deep ignorance of global affairs by this silly comment of yours. Fareed's article is both grounded in logic and reason. Take YOUR head out of the sand and learn that there is a BIG LARGE WORLD out there - yes there are people thousands of miles away from where you live and eat your burgers!

      This is not liberal naivety - this is realistic, logical and more seasoned with sense than many readers here seem to show. Come on, the US can assume world leadership through ethical, moral and value based leadership - there is still a time and place for such virtues!

      And btw, I think its insulting on your part to ponder on Fareed's allegiance simply due to his diversity in name and ethnicity - did we ignorant again? How do you say that in English?

      • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 2:54:11 PM

        Comment: Exactly.

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 06/25/2008 2:21:36 PM

      Comment: Ya if we left AND KEEP OUR POLITICAL NOSES OUT OF THERE BUISN-THEY WOULD LEAVE US ALONE PLAIN AND TO SIMPLE TO SEE!! STOP INTERFERING IN THERE POLITICS, WE DON'T LIVE WITH!

      • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 2:48:39 PM

        Comment: Name calling and propaganda is the neocon's strongest attribute.

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 06/25/2008 2:17:49 PM

    Comment: Tell the truth: we lost 5 troops in the past 2 days in Iraq and 6 civilians in KY! So the death toll in Iraq ia at an acceptable level. As we are NOT responsable for Iraqui on Iraqui violence, that is a crime commited against Iraq, not America. If we reguard KY as an normal every day occurence, inside Americans borders, carried out by Americans, not a terrorist attack, PER-SAY?. Time to stomp Bin-Lauden so hard he is toe-jam and get out of Afganistan! Next, blame the right sources for Al-Queda, and insurgents who kill Americans-Saudi!!!!! Not Iran! Best bet Iraquis buried the missing 4 TONS of RX explosive next to the Iranian border, so we target Iran, and they do as they please. After all it's an American tactic "Watch my left hand, while my right steals your entire life"! Ya 4 TONS OF EXPLOSIVES! ENOUGH TO MAKE IEDs FOR MANY MANY YEARS TO COME, AND YA THEY WANT YOU TO FORGET! DU! Just like they don't want us to know we ALLOW ISRAEL TO SELL CHINA WEAPONS, BETTER THAN WE CARRY, AGAINST THE ARMS BANN! DU! Next time you worry about the Chinese military, there size, and ability, and weapons! Remember, we gave our blessing for this to happen, to us! What else is new! As long as Obama proves his ability to listen and be flexable, he is the man for the job, because he will CHOOSE the right person, to do the right job! THAT'S HIS JOB!

    We are smarter than we were 30 years ago, we have far better teck than we did 30 years ago, so WHY is every thing still the same?

  • Posted By: maxdenn @ 06/25/2008 2:01:31 PM

    Comment: Did Mr Zakaria support or not support the invasion of Iraq? I honestly don't recall.

  • Posted By: Gregorio @ 06/25/2008 1:51:44 PM

    Comment: Mr. Zakaria,
    You are basically saying that Mr. Obama will NOT be able to pull out US forces either. Where's the 'change'?
    We adults realize that for real change in the world to take place, hard work and sometimes unpleasant tasks have to be done. There is no simple solution as Obama would have you think. Be honest!

  • Posted By: benvictor @ 06/25/2008 1:21:24 PM

    Comment: He is a politician, not a statesman. He will say and do whatever is necessary to get elected. He has demonstrated this over and over again. Hillary recognizes him for what he is, and has no respect for him. Hopefully, he will help pay off her debt, though Hillary Democrats will vote their conscience.

  • Posted By: clevomon @ 06/25/2008 7:29:14 AM

    Comment: Mr. Zakaria, why did you have to make a column out of this? You should have just given it straight to Senator Obama yourself! Your columns are brilliant, and I look forward to reading your next one.

  • Posted By: olderwiser @ 06/24/2008 7:53:44 PM

    Comment: Look up codependency. That is us and Iraq. We are locked in this neurotic embrace that is killing us both. Get out of there. They don't need us and we don't need them. Break it up.

  • Posted By: olderwiser @ 06/24/2008 7:50:24 PM

    Comment: The arguments today about us finally now stabilizing Iraq remind me of the argument that Cheney made about flowers for our soldiers and leaving in three months from taking Baghdad. Don't say that he didn't say it. It still plays on TV once in a while. It ought to be played every hour on the hour on every station in the country to remind us how stupid this war is. He said it. Still smirks today the same way he did then when he said it. Get us out of there.

  • Posted By: olderwiser @ 06/24/2008 7:45:13 PM

    Comment: The flaw in the argument that we need to stay in Iraq now to avert chaos is that staying there maintains the chaos. We keep it stirred up. They need their dictator back. As soon as we leave, they will work their way back to another one about like the one that we took from them. Then they can generate their own chaos. It will be the kind that finally brings them the relative peace that they had before we came.
    They have no idea what democracy is. It is not compatible with their religions and the power structures that go with their religions. What we call a dictator they call a big fat Mullah. They need one to settle down and go back to their old familiar arguments. Get us out of there.

  • Posted By: genefostrom @ 06/24/2008 4:31:48 PM

    Comment: Fareed Zakaria is right regarding the need for Obama to declare his intentions about the Iraqi problem. He is also right about the basic underlying moral principle his scenario for Obama advocates. And what is that? Although the U.S. was duped by George W. Bush and his advisors to willfully attack Iraq, our nation is responsible for their behavior--for the consequences of their behavior. We are as a country responsible for cleaning up the mess in as judicious manner as possible. Zakaria's theme follows this principle. Yes, we need to cut our continuing losses of troops and money. We must do it sooner than later but we can't leave the middle east in chaos. Morally we are obliged to mobilize all the positive forces for a peaceful resolution as possible. More of our financial commitment to the military effort should go toward defusing the hatred our presence there has generated.

  • Posted By: brit.in.the.us @ 06/24/2008 3:02:53 PM

    Comment: To say that Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are democracies is overstating just a tad bit don't you think? How many democracies do you know that need 150, 000 troops to keep the peace? Afghanistan by all accounts is becoming a narco-terroristic state and Pakistan may or may not be harboring Osama Bin Laden which, by the way, was reponsible for 911. I like the way you break down the price for the "democracies" you mentioned. Wow, just 1000 American lives and 250 Billion dollars per democracy...what a bargain!! You're right..we do waste a lot of time here in the U.S. and Lord knows we waste money. So why not fight unnecessary wars and nation build? You know, Bush was right about a lot of things(weapons of mass destruction, No Child Left Behind, Katrina). Oh, by the way, Truman had the 3rd highest approval rating after World War II, it was only during the Korean War when he achieved the dubious distinction of having the now second lowest(thanks to dubya). Keep on drinking the kool aid.

    • Posted By: jonstorm @ 06/25/2008 12:08:20 AM

      Comment: I haven't drank any Kool Aid. That is how I know Obama is a phony. Just Like Bush. Just Like Clinton. I deal with the facts.

      I love it when "intellectualls" from the west dismiss democracies where women have just been liberated from slave like conditions and pooh pooh everything America does while drooling over what people in France, Russia and Germay think. Weren't Russia Germany and Japan totalitarian states not long ago? Didn't France corroborate with the Nazis and deliver them their Jews for slaughter.

      No one in history has contributed more to the world than America and as for the military presence required to force these people at gunpoint out of the 13th century take comfort in the knowledge that we will win. Just like we won in Germany, Just like we won in Japan. Just like we won against the USSR. We will beat them because they will keep underestimating us. Just like you.



      You can count on it.

      • Posted By: Border City Canadian @ 06/25/2008 4:52:57 PM

        Comment: I thought we were talking more recent history...like Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.

  • Posted By: jonstorm @ 06/24/2008 11:48:41 AM

    Comment: What Obama should say about Iraq?

    Bush was Right.
    I was Wrong.
    Attacks against the United States will not be tolerated.

    There are 4 new democracies in the region now because of Mr. Bush. Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. That is 1000 American lives and 250 Billion for each democracy. Not cheap but when I have see how the US government wastes money and how Americans waste time, I wonder if this was not money and time well spent. Once Iraq's oil industry comes online and the world economy recovers, Bush will look like a genius but by then Obama will be president and take all the credit.

    P.S. I voted against Bush twice but when you are right you are right. Bush was right about making an example of Iraq. History will be kind to him.

    Don't forget Bush is the most unpopular president since Truman who bombed Japan and left US troops in Japan and Germany after WW II.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 06/24/2008 11:27:06 AM

    Comment: ONLY A CHEERLEADER WOULD DISPUTE MY ARGUMENT

    Posted By: eddiewhere @ 06/24/2008 11:15:12 AM
    Comment: There is this argument out there that I hear our troops repeating over and over agian. WE CANNOT LEAVE UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE WE CANNOT LET OUR BROTHERS DIE IN VAIN.

    NOW THAT IS REAL BUL****. THAT STATEMENT IS GOVERNMENT IDEOLOGY AND NOT MILITARY IDEOLOGY.

    COLIN POWELL SAID IT BEST. DEFINE YOUR MISSION CLEARLY SET YOUR OBJECTIVES AND USE OVERWHELMING FORCE AKA SHOCK AND AWE to accomplish your mission.

    WE HAVE NO CLEAR AGENDA and NO CLEAR OBJECTIVES. WE ARE NOT SURE. SO HOW ON EARTH CAN WE JUSTIFY THE LOSS OF MORE AMERICAN LIVES. AS LONG AS WE STAY IN IRAQ YOUNG AMERICANS WILL CONTINUE TO DIE IN VAIN. WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE MADE OUR POINT VERY CLEAR. WE ARE SICK OF IRAQ AND WE ARE SICK OF OUR DEPENDENCY ON MIDDLE EASTERN OIL.

    OBAMA WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

    THE LAST FALLACY I WANT TO ADDRESS IS THAT THE SURGE IS WORKING.

    THIS ARGUMENT IS SO CRAZY THAT IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN.

    SURGE means temporary. OUR TROOPS PRESENCE IN THAT COUNTRY OF IRAQ IS THE MAIN REASON FUNDAMENTALIST HAVE FOR ATTACKING US.

    WE NEED A PRESIDENT THAT WILL DO WHAT IS BEST FOR AMERICA NOT WHAT IS BEST FOR IRAQ.
    IF McCain chooses Bobby Jindal he will not be able to play the race card. McCain HAS to play the race card to win. ON the upside JINDAL is very articulated but his parties agenda is misguided. THE INDIAN LOBBY IS VERY WEALTHY and INDIANS ARE PROSPERING ALL OVER AMERICA especially in the technology sector. IF JINDAL IS chosen every INDIAN in AMERICA will support McCAIN.

    ZAKARIA, YOU MUST FEEL SO PROUD THAT THE SECOND GENERATION OF INDIANS, THOSE BORN IN AMERICA ARE ACHIEVING GREAT THINGS. IF McCAIN DIES AFTER THE ELECTION IT IS POSSIBLE THAT JINDAL WOULD BECOME PRESIDENT. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT YOUR BROTHER JINDAL ZACH.

  • Posted By: waldo @ 06/24/2008 11:07:34 AM

    Comment: What happens to Iraq is secondary to our interests in the region. We are in Iraq largely because of Israel and we will want to keep large number of troops there until the Mid-East changes its attitude towards our special friend. Our original mission in Iraq is a failure because it made Iran stronger, and more resistant to Us/Israel interest. But discussing our real reasons for invading Iraq is a taboo subject..

  • Posted By: garysgary @ 06/24/2008 10:32:16 AM

    Comment: I agree with olderwiser. We need to leave Iraq soon. The costs have been too high and if Israel is less safe for our leaving, then so be it!

    • Posted By: Iamnotamused @ 06/25/2008 3:13:32 PM

      Comment: here here! Israel is no safer NOW than it was before 9/11. All we did by invading Iraq is piss off a lot of people in that region and for what? Oil. That's the dirty little "secret" that Bush wasn't going to tell you. He knew full well there weren't any WMD there. Saddam was just a smoke screen to take the focus off of Bin Laden, whose family has very close ties with the Shrubs. Bin Laden may be exiled from Saudi Arabia but I bet if we were to capture/kill him then Saudi would have a fit! We turned over the capture of him to the Afghans. How effective do you think that little endeavor has been? They knew it wasn't going to lead to anything because they are the ones that welcomed him into their country with open arms when he was sent packing from his own country. We are the ones that armed him and his rebels, trained them and then helped him dig those caves in the mountains of Afghanastan when the Soviet's invaded; and we cant' find him? Yeah right....there's this bridge in Brooklyn and some "land" in Florida I've got up for sale if you're interested.

  • Posted By: good conscience @ 06/24/2008 10:23:34 AM

    Comment: Why isn't Fareed Zakaria running for president? Oh, wait a minute, I almost forgot. Plato told us in "The Republic" that those who are best qualified to govern are also the most reluctant to do so. They have a much greater vision that makes them see that it's not anything they would want. Thanks very much Fareed, as always. While scanning thru these comments, I noticed one that said you should be Secretary of State. Indeed you should, if you could stand it!

  • Posted By: olderwiser @ 06/24/2008 9:42:32 AM

    Comment: The Iraqi people have an argument that they need to settle amongst themselves. It involves something that we do not understand. It is a family matter. They have kept track of their genealogy for a thousand years and are still trying to settle a family dispute which arose a thousand years ago. They are mad enough to kill each other over it and they do this daily. They started the killing with knives until the gun was invented and then killed each other with guns, until the bomb was invented. Now they kill each other with all three. We are involved in their misery only because we bombed them and then invaded their country for reasons which turned out to be false, uttered by our own president. We don't deserve this in our country and we need to quit it. They don't deserve this either. Sooner or later they will solve this dispute without us. Democracy's got nothing to do with it. They don't know what it is and won't be ready for it until they settle their family dispute.
    Finally we have a candidate for president who offers to remove us from there, safely, of course, not precipitously. I intend to vote for him mainly for this reason, though there are plenty more good ones.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 06/24/2008 12:51:07 AM

    Comment: NO AMERICAN LIFE IS WORTH IRAQI FREEDOM.
    "ANYONE WHO DISAGREES IS NOT A REAL AMERICAN eddiewhere 2008

    We need to get out of Iraq and transfer responsibility and management of that country to the IRAQ's themselves. THEY SHOULD be backed by a multinational force led by Middle Eastern countries until they are able to fight extremist on their own.
    Our unilateral approach in the MIDDLE EAST has to come to an end. ECONOMICALLY, IRAQ IS KILLING the average tax payer and making a few private contractors and oil firms rich.

    We need Oil. WE NEED OIL. Therefore, getting rid of the Iranian regime is at the top of our agenda.
    The majority in Iran want change but not under and American led invasion. It has to be done from within. We lost the support of moderate Arabs and Muslims over the last six years. Hopefully, PRESIDENT OBAMA can empower this group and encourage them to meet with their counterparts.

    Inotherwords there should be an alliance between all moderates in the Middle East, JEWS, ARABs, MUSLIMS, ect... These forces must be self motivated by a common cause, Peace. IF this group can be strengthened they themselves will defeat or at least contain the force of extremism.
    WE must strengthen the forces behind peace and weaken those against peace on both sides.

    THE UNITED STATES CANNOT SOLVE THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE CAN ONLY STRENGHTEN AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

    IN THE SHORT RUN WE NEED MIDDLE EASTERN OIL. THIS COMPLICATES OUR ROLE OVER THERE.
    WE Should have had an ENERGY SUMMIT TEN YEARS AGO. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A TWENTY YEAR PLAN to RID OURSELVES of OIL DEPENDENCY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. TWENTY YEARS WILL GO BY LIKE NOTHING. WE HAVE TO START NOW.

    THE most dangerous threats are the ones you do not see coming. LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPEAN organized crime. Monitoring these entities will be our great challenge.
    ARE WE READY FOR CYBER WAR. I DON't THINK SO.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 06/23/2008 11:54:20 PM

    Comment: We need to get out of Iraq and transfer responsibility and management of that country to the IRAQ's themselves. THEY SHOULD be backed by a multinational force led by Middle Eastern countries until they are able to fight extremist on their own.
    Our unilateral approach in the MIDDLE EAST has to come to an end. ECONOMICALLY, IRAQ IS KILLING the average tax payer and making a few private contractors and oil firms rich.

    We need Oil. WE NEED OIL. Therefore, getting rid of the Iranian regime is at the top of our agenda.
    The majority in Iran want change but not under and American led invasion. It has to be done from within. We lost the support of moderate Arabs and Muslims over the last six years. Hopefully, PRESIDENT OBAMA can empower this group and encourage them to meet with their counterparts.

    Inotherwords there should be an alliance between all moderates in the Middle East, JEWS, ARABs, MUSLIMS, ect... These forces must be self motivated by a common cause, Peace. IF this group can be strengthened they themselves will defeat or at least contain the force of extremism.
    WE must strengthen the forces behind peace and weaken those against peace on both sides.

    THE UNITED STATES CANNOT SOLVE THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE CAN ONLY STRENGHTEN AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

    IN THE SHORT RUN WE NEED MIDDLE EASTERN OIL. THIS COMPLICATES OUR ROLE OVER THERE.
    WE Should have had an ENERGY SUMMIT TEN YEARS AGO. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A TWENTY YEAR PLAN to RID OURSELVES of OIL DEPENDENCY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. TWENTY YEARS WILL GO BY LIKE NOTHING. WE HAVE TO START NOW.

    THE most dangerous threats are the ones you do not see coming. LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPEAN organized crime. Monitoring these entities will be our great challenge.
    ARE WE READY FOR CYBER WAR. I DON't THINK SO.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 06/23/2008 11:36:20 PM

    Comment: We need to get out of Iraq and transfer responsibility and management of that country to a multinational force led by Middle Eastern countries. Our unilateral approach in the MIDDLE EAST has to come to an end. ECONOMICALLY, IRAQ IS KILLING the average tax payer and making a few private contractors and oil firms rich.

    We need Oil. WE NEED OIL. Therefore, getting rid of the Iranian regime is at the top of our agenda.
    The majority in Iran want change but not under and American led invasion. It has to be done from within. We lost the support of moderate Arabs and Muslims over the last six years. Hopefully, Obama can empower this group and encourage them to meet with their counterparts.

    Inotherwords there should be an alliance between all moderates in the Middle East, JEWS, ARABs, MUSLIMS, ect... These forces must be self motivated by a common cause, Peace. IF this group can be strengthened they themselves will defeat or at least contain the force of extremism.
    WE must strengthen the forces behind peace and weaken those against peace on both sides.

    THE UNITED STATES CANNOT SOLVE THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE CAN ONLY STRENGHTEN AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

    IN THE SHORT RUN WE NEED MIDDLE EASTERN OIL. THIS COMPLICATES OUR ROLE OVER THERE.
    WE Should have had an ENERGY SUMMIT TEN YEARS AGO. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A TWENTY YEAR PLAN to RID OURSELVES of OIL DEPENDENCY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. TWENTY YEARS WILL GO BY LIKE NOTHING. WE HAVE TO START NOW.

    THE most dangerous threats are the ones you do not see coming. LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPEAN organized crime. Monitoring these entities will be our great challenge.
    ARE WE READY FOR CYBER WAR. I DON't THINK SO.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 06/23/2008 11:32:15 PM

    Comment: We need to get out of Iraq and transfer responsibility and management of that country to a multinational force led by Middle Eastern countries. Our unilateral approach in the MIDDLE EAST has to come to an end. ECONOMICALLY, IRAQ IS KILLING the average tax payer and making a few private contractors and oil firms rich.

    We need Oil. WE NEED OIL. Therefore, getting rid of the Iranian regime is at the top of our agenda.
    The majority in Iran want change but not under and American led invasion. It has to be done frome within. We lost the support of moderate Arabs and Muslims over the last year. Hopefully, Obama can empower this group and encourage them to meet with their counterparts.

    Inotherwords there should be an alliance between all moderates in the Middle East, JEWS, ARABs, MUSLIMS, ect... These forces must be self motivated by Peace. IF this group can be strengthened they themselves will defeat or at least contain the force of extremism.
    WE must strengthen the forces behind peace and weaken those against peace on both sides.

    THE UNITED STATES CANNOT SOLVE THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE CAN ONLY STRENGHTEN AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

    IN THE SHORT RUN WE NEED MIDDLE EASTERN OIL. THIS COMPLICATES OUR ROLE OVER THERE.
    WE Should have had an ENERGY SUMMIT TEN YEARS AGO. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A TWENTY YEAR PLAN to RID OURSELVES of OIL DEPENDENCY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. TWENTY YEARS WILL GO BY LIKE NOTHING. WE HAVE TO START NOW.

    THE most dangerous threats are the ones you do not see coming. LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPEAN organized crime. Monitoring these entities will be our great challenge.
    ARE WE READY FOR CYBER WAR. I DON't THINK SO.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 06/23/2008 11:31:18 PM

    Comment: We need to get out of Iraq and transfer responsibility and mahenagement of that country to a multinational force led by Middle Eastern countries. Our unilateral approach in the MIDDLE EAST has to come to an end. ECONOMICALLY, IRAQ IS KILLING the average tax payer and making a few private contractors and oil firms rich.

    We need Oil. WE NEED OIL. Therefore, getting rid of the Iranian regime is at the top of our agenda.
    The majority in Iran want change but not under and American led invasion. It has to be done frome within. We lost the support of moderate Arabs and Muslims over the last year. Hopefully, Obama can empower this group and encourage them to meet with their counterparts.

    Inotherwords there should be an alliance between all moderates in the Middle East, JEWS, ARABs, MUSLIMS, ect... These forces must be self motivated by Peace. IF this group can be strengthened they themselves will defeat or at least contain the force of extremism.
    WE must strengthen the forces behind peace and weaken those against peace on both sides.

    THE UNITED STATES CANNOT SOLVE THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE CAN ONLY STRENGHTEN AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE EAST TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

    IN THE SHORT RUN WE NEED MIDDLE EASTERN OIL. THIS COMPLICATES OUR ROLE OVER THERE.
    WE Should have had an ENERGY SUMMIT TEN YEARS AGO. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A TWENTY YEAR PLAN to RID OURSELVES of OIL DEPENDENCY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. TWENTY YEARS WILL GO BY LIKE NOTHING. WE HAVE TO START NOW.

    THE most dangerous threats are the ones you do not see coming. LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPEAN organized crime. Monitoring these entities will be our great challenge.
    ARE WE READY FOR CYBER WAR. I DON't THINK SO.

    WE NEED TO WAKE UP.
    "EVERY PROBLEM HAS A SOLUTION YOU JUST HAVE TO BE COURAGEOUS, SMART, and PATIENT ENOUGH TO UNCOVER IT. eddiewhere 2008"


  • Posted By: scootmandubious @ 06/23/2008 1:26:34 PM

    Comment: For the most part, an excellent piece.

    One important part I would add is the fact that companies have been allowed to become war profiteers. Our Iraqi invasion has created a new class of millionaires and, even billionaires.

    I would come up with a policy that outlaws war profiteering, and that also eliminates no-bid contracts, while also agressively implementing oversight that currently does not exist.

  • Posted By: scootmandubious @ 06/23/2008 1:25:36 PM

    Comment: For the most part, an excellent piece.

    One important part I would add is the fact that companies have been allowed to become war profiteers. Our Iraqi invasion has created a new class of millionaires and, even billionaires.

    I would come up with a policy that outlaws war profiteering, and that also eliminates no-bid contracts, while also agressively implementing oversight that currently does not exist.

  • Posted By: Sydviscous @ 06/23/2008 11:07:47 AM

    Comment: Hey, I love it when people USE CAPITAL LETTERs to make their point. The comments are like a 3 STOOGES show. How about we just go back to 1861 and divide the US boundaries, the idiots on the right can live in the South and have all the wars they want. At some point they will die off due to inbreeding and such, then we can put all the old folks back in Florida. Vote for McNumbnutz Version 2 NOW!

  • Posted By: rewrite31 @ 06/23/2008 10:45:46 AM

    Comment: Why hasn't the American People ever been notified of the inconsistency of his relationship with his Mother, how he ditched because she was a Racist. He wanted to associate with the Blacks. In 2006, he went t Kenya and campaigned for his Cousin, Raila Odinga, a Muslim, trying to overthrow that Government. He enlisted DICK MORRIS to Manage Odingas Campaign.

    • Posted By: Iamnotamused @ 06/25/2008 3:15:43 PM

      Comment: I don't smoke but I sure as heck would like to have whatever it is you're smoking to post this drivel on here

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 06/23/2008 10:52:38 AM

      Comment: Please explain to me why you would consider Obama's mother a racist when she married a black man and had a son by him. Obama ditched her because she was racist? Ridiculous.

  • Posted By: rewrite31 @ 06/23/2008 10:45:42 AM

    Comment: Why hasn't the American People eve