Obama and McCain Must Convince Voters They Are Strong on National Security

Iraq War

Although Obama had the good judgment to recognize well before the Iraq War started that it was a bad idea, neither candidate has fully disclosed to the American people the extent of the problems faced in the region as a result of the U.S. presence there. The war has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East in an extremely dangerous way, empowering the Persians in Iran, which previously had been contained by the mostly Arab buffer of Iraq. Now, Iraq, which is an artificial construct created by the British at the end of WWI after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, is splitting up along its historical, ethnic and religious lines. Much of the Middle East will follow suit, and the U.S. military will be involved in the region in one way or another for decades to come in order to prevent total chaos from breaking out and the world's major sources if oil supply from being disrupted.

Our military will continue to be fired at by insurgent elements who will not tolerate the presence of outsiders in a Muslim country, so the peacekeeper force with limited casualties that McCain envisions is a pipedream.

The majority of Americans wanted this misguided, counterproductive war, and the dysfunctional Bush administration was only to happy to wreak havoc on

Saddam to settle old family scores. So war we shall have, perhaps to the point of bankrupting our government , reducing our living standards and options going forward. But, as Colin Powell said, "we broke it and now we own it."

Perhaps Mr. Powell will come clean on the fabrications he spun to the United Nations to justify the war in February 2003. At least there would be some poetic justice in this sad, sad story.

National Security

Obama/McCain, which is t he "lesser of two evils"? At least McCain served his country, albiet in a failed and wrong war, Obama just serves himself. But there is more to this race than national security, it's illegal infiltration. Who says that all the illegals coming into this country are just so-called hard working Mexicans? How can we tell who they are without proper immigration controls? No candidate has yet spoken on this issue. Is it because, as I believe, that they BOTH are in favor of this travesty? I'd bet on it, and hope that Congresss shows SOME backbone with the new President.

The war will not change

If thinking that by voting for Obama or McCain will end, alter or change the war in any way, you are wrong. Both candidates are part of the establishment. Both are Washington insiders. While speeches may be made, nothing will change the war with Demopublicans and Republicrats running this government. They are an old married couple who should have been divorced years ago, squabbling about the temperature set on the air conditioner and blaming each other when the bill come in. Break this vicious cycle or the country will fall apart. We Americans believe we are invunerable, but we should get past our teenage beliefs and start thinking about our long term existence. In the history of the world, every empire has fallen. Who are we to think other wise.

Look for real leadership in the election. If you are making a choice of the 'lesser' evils, vote for a third party and break this two party stranglehold on American politics. Vote for change.