Even though presumed presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) has based his entire foreign policy on a promise of precipitous withdrawl from Iraq once he is inagurated, he is now showing America what he really means by his slogan, “Change we can believe in.” The only changes he seems to be promising are the overt, slippery shifts in the policies he’s proposing.
He promised to end NAFTA while campaigning in Ohio, but sent a representative to Canada to assure their leaders that it was only “campaign rhetoric.” He told a crowd in Oregon that small nations like Iran pose no real threat to the United States, only to change his mind the very next day and assure us that he has “made it clear for years that the threat from Iran is grave.” And now the waffling on Iraq, the key foreign policy issue of this election cycle.
Iraq’s foreign minister, Hoshyar Zabari, talks of a recent conversation he had with Sen. Obama.
Mr. Zebari said he told Mr. Obama that “Iraq is not an island.” In other words, an American withdrawal that destabilized the country would also roil the region around it and embolden U.S. adversaries such as al-Qaeda and Iran. “We have a deadly enemy,” Mr. Zebari said. “When he sees that you commit yourself to a certain timetable, he will use this to increase pressure and attacks, to make it look as though he is forcing you out. We have many actors who would love to take advantage of that opportunity.” Mr. Zebari says he believes U.S. forces can and should be drawn down. His point is that reductions should be made gradually, as the Iraqi army becomes stronger.
But look at the surprising response given by Sen. Obama, who declared long ago (after only one visit) that the Iraq effort was already lost.
The foreign minister said “my message” to Mr. Obama “was very clear. . . . Really, we are making progress. I hope any actions you will take will not endanger this progress.” He said he was reassured by the candidate’s response, which caused him to think that Mr. Obama might not differ all that much from Mr. McCain. Mr. Zebari said that in addition to promising a visit, Mr. Obama said that “if there would be a Democratic administration, it will not take any irresponsible, reckless, sudden decisions or action to endanger your gains, your achievements, your stability or security. Whatever decision he will reach will be made through close consultation with the Iraqi government and U.S. military commanders in the field.” Certainly, it makes sense to consult with those who, like Mr. Zebari, have put their lives on the line for an Iraq that would be a democratic U.S. ally. Mr. Obama ought to listen carefully to what they are saying.
Not only does that sound like McCain’s position, but that sounds nearly identical to the current strategy under President Bush! The only “change” is in Obama’s official position from one day to the next! Is this really the “new brand of politics” Obama is promising all over the country? Or have we seen all these slippery calculations from politicians thousands of times before?
