Iraq: The election issue that’s MIA
A funny thing happened on the way to the 2008 presidential primaries, said Noah Feldman in The New York Times Magazine. “Iraq has become the great disappearing issue.” Just a few months ago, voters and candidates alike were preoccupied with the war. What
A funny thing happened on the way to the 2008 presidential primaries, said Noah Feldman in The New York Times Magazine. “Iraq has become the great disappearing issue.” Just a few months ago, voters and candidates alike were preoccupied with the war. What changed? With fewer Americans being killed in Iraq and violence down, the war issue has lost some of its urgency. At the same time, when the rhetoric is stripped away, the two parties’ prescriptions for Iraq are not that different. “The leading doves say they want to leave, but not too fast; the hawks claim they want to stay, but not too long.” Americans have moved on, even if the war hasn’t, said Tom Raum in the Associated Press. After nearly five years, “Iraq fatigue” has set in. Voters are turning their attention to “the growing economic tensions at home,” from rising gas prices to the spiraling cost of health care.
The media insists the war is now a “secondary issue,” said Fred Barnes in The Weekly Standard. But that’s wishful thinking from liberal war critics who would rather not talk about how President Bush’s troop surge is succeeding. In fact, Sen. John McCain, an early proponent of the surge, is now being rewarded by Republican voters. And if he’s the nominee, independent voters also will likely favor him in November. Democrats are “in denial,” said The Wall Street Journal in an editorial. Having bet wrong on the surge, it seems “they have simply stopped thinking about Iraq.” When they address the subject at all, it’s to “deny manifest reality” and insist the U.S. is not making meaningful progress and should pull out.
Most Republicans would also rather change the subject, said Dan Simpson in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Surge or no, polls show that most Americans think the invasion of Iraq was a horrible mistake—one that has cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars. And while some leading Democrats went along, Iraq will always be thought of as President Bush’s war. That’s why for Bush’s fellow Republicans, “nothing could come as a bigger relief than to be let off the hook.” Just this week, Iraq’s defense minister said a substantial U.S. troop presence would be needed until 2012. The American people deserve a say in that, said The New York Times. No matter who succeeds Bush, “Iraq will be a central challenge—perhaps the central challenge.” Each candidate, therefore, has an obligation to keep talking to the American people about when, and how, they’d bring this sad chapter in American history to a close.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Italian senate passes law allowing anti-abortion activists into clinics
Under The Radar Giorgia Meloni scores a political 'victory' but will it make much difference in practice?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published