http://www.soulcast.com/post/show/143463/McCain%2FObama-Essays-are-Proof-of-Terrible-Media-Bias Both essays are here.

     When I read John McCain's essay that was submitted and rejected by the New York Times I find it difficult to critique for obvious reasons.  The essay is very critical of Barack Obama especially how it highlights his inexperience.  It also gets right to the point, lists facts, and looks at the situation the way it is.  Look at his first paragraph:

     "In January 2007, when General David Petraeus took command in Iraq, he called the situation hard but not hopeless. Today, 18 months later, violence has fallen by up to 80% to the lowest levels in four years, and Sunni and Shiite terrorists are reeling from a string of defeats. The situation now is full of hope, but considerable hard work remains to consolidate our fragile gains."
     

     He gets right to the point and acnowledges that there is still work to done. 

     In pointing out Obama's shortcomings of world affairs he uses his own words.  McCain quotes what Obama said in January 2007: "I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there, he said on January 10, 2007. In fact, I think it will do the reverse"  What would Iraq look like today if Obama was President?  McCain alludes to this and it is blistering.

     "In a New York Times op-ed and a speech this week, he offered his plan for Iraq in advance of his first fact finding trip to that country in more than three years. It consisted of the same old proposal to pull all of our troops out within 16 months. In 2007 he wanted to withdraw because he thought the war was lost. If we had taken his advice, it would have been. Now he wants to withdraw because he thinks Iraqis no longer need our assistance."

     The logic as I have pointed out in other posts is misguided.  Who should make the determination to yank our troops out of Iraq?  The generals on the field or politicians looking for political expediancy?  McCain points out how dangerous Obama's thinking is.  The Iraqi army and airforce are not ready to take control of their country and to risk all we have sacrificed would be foolhearty. 

     McCain as I see holds a more reasonable plan for Iraq and seems to understand the Middle East situation.  Look at this quote: "No one favors a permanent U.S. presence, as Senator Obama charges. A partial withdrawal has already occurred with the departure of five surge brigades, and more withdrawals can take place as the security situation improves. As we draw down in Iraq, we can beef up our presence on other battlefields, such as Afghanistan, without fear of leaving a failed state behind."

     Simple, no-one wants any American to stay a second longer than they have to in Iraq.  At the same time me must evaluate the situation for what it is.  Many people of course call John McCain another George Bush.  I disagree and this quote shows that McCain has parted company with the President and isn't just following along: "The danger is that extremists supported by Al Qaeda and Iran could stage a comeback, as they have in the past when we've had too few troops in Iraq. Senator Obama seems to have learned nothing from recent history. I find it ironic that he is emulating the worst mistake of the Bush administration by waving the Mission Accomplished banner prematurely."

     The Misson Accomplished banner was FOR THE TROOPS!  The media has turned a decent morale booster into a smear tool. 

     In McCain's final paragraph he highlights the importance of Iraq in the context of the actual conflict we are in and his experience in dealing with it.  "I am also dismayed that he never talks about winning the war only of ending it. But if we don't win the war, our enemies will. A triumph for the terrorists would be a disaster for us. That is something I will not allow to happen as president. Instead I will continue implementing a proven counterinsurgency strategy not only in Iraq but also in Afghanistan with the goal of creating stable, secure, self-sustaining democratic allies."

     Obviously I look at McCain's essay with conservative eyes.  But when you compare the two, logically McCain is right.  We have got to focus on victory and Obama's lack of experience puts us in a very dangerous situation if he becomes President.  You decide, read both essays and make a logical assessment and answer the question for yourself.