Goldberg wrong on Obama

Re “Obama devolves, McCain responds,” Opinion, June 3

Jonah Goldberg talks about “the success of the surge.” What success? President Bush himself stated that the purpose of the surge was to enable a political settlement to take place.

Excuse me, but no political settlement has taken place. White House propaganda about fewer American deaths does not prove that America has suddenly won its failed colonial occupation of Iraq. We are paying some Sunnis $600 a month not to shoot us, and crossing our fingers that they won’t change their minds.

Goldberg should check the “facts on the ground” before he twists the record.

Raymond Freeman

Thousand Oaks

Goldberg claims that John McCain challenged the president on Iraq from the beginning. The facts, however, reveal that McCain has stood with Bush on every aspect of the war.

McCain said at the 2004 Republican national convention: “I believe as strongly today as ever, the mission was necessary, achievable and noble. For his determination to undertake it, and for his unflagging resolve to see it through to a just end, President Bush deserves not only our support but our admiration.”

From his predictions of a short war and assurances that our troops would be greeted as liberators to his announcements of mission accomplished, his ongoing confusion over friend and foe in Iraq and so much more, McCain’s litany of erroneous judgments and proclamations is nearly indistinguishable from Bush’s. The country is in desperate need of a new strategy, not a third Bush term.

Todd Calvin

Los Angeles

Obama said in Chicago in October 2002: “I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst, rather that the best, impulses of the Arab world and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Qaeda.”

As far as I know, Obama hasn’t changed his view. He was right, so why would he?

I believe that Obama will be proved right again. After the surge is drawn down, it will not have “worked,” whatever that means, and we will still be locked into this dreadful war with pre-surge troop levels.

Carol Sokol

West Hills

Goldberg reveals the major flaw in Obama, which is his immaturity, shown in his waffling stance on the war in Iraq and his devotion to, followed by his denouncement of, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Voters are not leery of Obama because he is a black man but because he lacks the courage to stand behind his convictions and because he is too eager to please our political whims.

We need a president whose logic isn’t ultimately influenced by the dynamics of a popularity contest, but one who will wisely and courageously lead us through these turbulent times.

Sarah Hill

Anaheim