Obama- visiting Iraq "Not Relevant"

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Obama- visiting Iraq "Not Relevant"
38
Thu, 05-29-2008 - 2:08pm

Oh...and it's from the AP ;)

Obama considers Iraq visit amid GOP criticism

1 hour, 6 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama — increasingly under fire from John McCain as he appears poised to win the Democratic nomination — said he is considering a trip to Iraq but dismissed as a "political stunt" an invitation by the Republican candidate to make the visit together.

McCain and Obama have increasingly targeted each other as a November general election showdown between the two men seems inevitable. The discussion about Iraq, largely sidelined during the primary battle, is likely to factor prominently in the general election and Obama has rallied to counter McCain's criticism that he lacks foreign policy experience.

The Democrat, vying to become the U.S.'s first black president, told The New York Times that the possible trip would be to talk to the U.S. troops and commanders and not to "try to score political points or perform."

McCain, a decorated Navy pilot and former Vietnam prisoner of war, has built much of his candidacy on his foreign policy and national security experience. While he supports continued U.S. military involvement in Iraq, Obama has called for a quick withdrawal of the troops.

In a campaign appearance in Nevada, a western U.S. state where both candidates have recently sought to shore up support ahead of the November race, McCain said Obama was "driven to his position by ideology and not by the facts on the ground"

McCain, who has been to Iraq eight times, said the first-term Democrat senator "does not have the knowledge or the experience to make the judgments. Presidents have to listen and learn. Presidents have to make judgments no matter how popular or unpopular they may be."

The Republican Party joined the fray Wednesday by launching an online clock to count the days since Obama last visited the war zone. By their count, it has been 871 days.

Obama, who spoke to reporters on his airplane Wednesday night as he flew home to Chicago, said it's "not relevant" that he has not been to Iraq since 2006 and that McCain was using the argument as a diversion.

Obama made his only trip to Iraq in January 2006 as part of a congressional delegation.

McCain, who was on a fundraising trip with events in Los Angeles and Reno, Nevada, seemed offended that Obama characterized the invitation for a joint trip as a political stunt, saying it showed Obama's "lack of appreciation of the importance of this issue."

(Rest of article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080529/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_rdp)

rhonda-1.gif picture by fouripleys

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Community Leader
Registered: 09-14-1997
Fri, 05-30-2008 - 7:48pm

I agree service is different than none, but the type of service matters a heck of a lot.I think there is a phenomenal difference between seeing combat and serving stateside.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Fri, 05-30-2008 - 8:44pm

I think that was the wrong article it talked about nuclear weapons being dismantled. I thought (and I could be wrong) the air defense was the

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Fri, 05-30-2008 - 9:12pm

"You know, the difference between John McCain and "I didn't always show up for National Guard duty""

Absolutely ;) I *AM* with you on that one. But the debate I was having with another poster was about how McCain's service DOES make a difference over two other candidates who have none. Zilch. Zero. The comment was then made, how many presidents in history really have military service anyway, as if it was far and few in between. LBJ, Reagan, and GWB may not have had combat service, but that wasn't the original question/point. The fact of the matter is, MOST US Presidents, as evidenced by your other post, *DID* have *SOME* military service experience, and the majority of those DID see combat service experience!

One of my grandfathers served in Japan with some sort of army corps of engineers type job (he was actually in the USArmy, but that's how my mother describes his duties??). My other grandfather was a gunner in Germany. BOTH of them served their country, BOTH of them are heroes in my mind. Just because one grandfather shot guns, was in those trenches and one didn't, doesn't diminish my non-combat grandfather's service, nor does it negate his extensive contribution to the war, to the service, and to his country. I respect your feelings about your dad most certainly, but my grandfather in Germany is no more a "real soldier" than my other grandfather who never fired a gun after basic.

Just so you know why I think the way I do :)

rhonda-1.gif picture by fouripleys

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Community Leader
Registered: 09-14-1997
Fri, 05-30-2008 - 10:02pm
Corps of Engineers in a hostile (even after the war was over) is still heroic. PR and Movie making...not so much.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Fri, 05-30-2008 - 10:30pm
By the way...OT, but here is my grandfather brag:



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The flag, gun and bayonette were confiscated from a German Major by my grandpa and his company.



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My son with his great-grandpa :)

rhonda-1.gif picture by fouripleys

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2005
Fri, 05-30-2008 - 10:35pm
Rhonda, give your grandfather an extra special thank you for me. I really admire him :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2008
Sat, 05-31-2008 - 1:39am
That's so cool! My grandpa died 4 yrs before I was even born (he was 41 when my mom was born 59 when he died). It would have been neat to hear stories about he fought in WWII (he was a fighter pilot). I am sure it was so cool to hear first hand accounts of his experience. I love stories from our older generation.
Community Leader
Registered: 09-14-1997
Sat, 05-31-2008 - 5:08pm

My Dad and his friend C both were in WWII. Both have the same response when asked about their service, "My country needed me, I did my job, I came home." They have both refused to document their experiences for the Living History project the LOC is doing.


(For those of you who do not know, the Library of Congress is collecting video, oral and written remembrances of veterans)


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