| Nov. 10, 2005--In a major speech on "Winning the War in Iraq" at the
American Enterprise Institute, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) argued that "we
have to see this mission through to completion." McCain declared
that the stakes are higher than in Vietnam. If the United States
leaves, he said, the most likely result will be full-scale civil war, there
will be further Syrian and Iranian interference, and Iraq would end up
as a failed state in the heart of the Middle East. McCain called
for significant policy changes, most notably in military counterinsurgency
strategy. He said seasonal offensives are not a sign of success;
instead troops must clear an area and stay, creating secure zones.
"You control an area, then you can build the school, dig the well...,"
he said. McCain said the U.S. needs more troops in Iraq. "Instead
of drawing down, we should be ramping up," he said. In response to
a question, he said the U.S. should add another 10,000 right now, particularly
specialty forces. McCain said there must also be a renewed effort
to win the homefront by explaining precisely what is at stake. |
