Week of April 11, 2007
Posted: 04/11/2007
Excerpt
Iraq
The troop surge in Iraq is getting mixed results, but so far most of the feedback is negative.
- The heightened U.S. troop presence, according to the top commanders, appears to be pushing the violence out of certain areas, but it has increased in others. Meanwhile, U.S. troop deaths are skyrocketing, with very little attention being paid to this fact at home. The first quarter of 2007 saw 244 deaths, far more than the same period last year. On April 10, the Pentagon reported 35 troop deaths in the first 10 days of this month. The grand total is approaching 3,300.
- Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) recent ordeal in Iraq illustrates the political problem the war is posing for Republicans. McCain suffered an embarrassing political moment when he declared Baghdad safe before his trip there, only to tour a Baghdad neighborhood days later, escorted by a large military security contingent (including two helicopters) and wearing a bulletproof vest. Part of the precaution surely stems from his status as a presidential candidate, but the message was clear: Iraq is not safe.
- McCain's attempt after a weak fundraising quarter to use the war as a positive political issue is perhaps the greatest sign of the desperation the war causes. One might call it "the last refuge" for Republicans. One must be hurting badly in order to try to make support for the Iraq War an asset.
- McCain was forced to admit Sunday night that he had gone too far in declaring Baghdad "safe." But all of the top Republican contenders are supportive of President Bush on the Iraq War. The issue now divides even Republicans, with levels of support only in the 60 percent range among the party faithful. But by next year, the Republican presidential nominee will have to answer whether he believes, in retrospect, that the war was a good idea. If he cannot summon up a "no," or at least a "maybe not," then his general election chances will diminish significantly.
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