Military-Iraq+and+Afghanistan

Questions
 * What is your policy for Afghanistan?**

We can still win in Afghanistan, but not until we reduce the amount of dependence Iraq has on us financially and in terms of troops. This will enable us to do what I called for last August, to provide two more combat brigades to the efforts in Afghanistan.

We should not fully end the war in Iraq but we should focus less in Iraq than Afghanistan. This is because most of the terrorists are in Afghanistan and we beleive that Osama Ben Ladin is there as well. We must set up a reliable democratic government that can run by itself in a more productive way than when we went into Iraq. The Bush Administration’s blank check approach has failed to press Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future or to substantially spend their oil revenues on their own reconstruction.
 * Should we end the war in Iraq to move the troops into Afghanistan to capture Osama bin Laden?**
 * How do we withdraw our troops from Iraq even though we would be leaving a war in Iraq?**
 * Which is more important: to have troops in Iraq or troops in Afghanistan?**


 * How do we withdraw our troops from Iraq even though we would be leaving a war in Iraq?

What is your policy for Afghanistan?**


 * Should we end the war in Iraq to move the troops into Afghanistan to capture Osama bin Laden?**

It is more important to have our troops in Afghanistan because the terrorists and we beleive Osama Ben Ladin is there. We should still have some troops stationed in Iraq but we have to reduce the number every month.
 * Which is more important: to have troops in Iraq or troops in Afghanistan?***

Caleb and Sam S.

Issue Overview: Iraq overview: We entered in March 3, 2003. Congress never officially declared war but agreed to it as did Bush. 800 billion dollars have been spent so far. And 4,176 killed. Over 100,000 wounded americans. Both Iraqis, British, and American lives lost in Iraq: 135, 733.

McCain Position:

Iraq: - Does not believe in setting a withdrawal timetable. In July, McCain said, "anything is a good timetable that is dictated by conditions on the ground. Anything is good. But the timetable is dictated not by an artificial date but by the conditions on the ground." - States on campaign Web site, "I do not want to keep our troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there. Our goal is an Iraq that can stand on its own as a democratic ally and a responsible force for peace in its neighborhood. Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops." - Thinks that the way to get out of Iraq quickest is to insure a secure economy in Iraq. - He says he will encourage micro-finance projects to spark the economy. -He believes that Iraq's neighboring countries should help but investing in Iraq's plentiful oil supply. - As stated in January of 2007, McCain believes that after the increase in soldiers, we are finally winning this way and on our way to getting out of Iraq. - "While negotiations with the Iraqi government are ongoing, reports indicate that all dates included in the draft security agreement are aspirational goals, based on conditions on the ground. ... We are today negotiating a conditions-based agreement that will enable us to withdraw troops in victory and with honor."

For Monday Briefing:

Caleb (McCain)

- Believes that we should continue in Iraq for as long as it takes. - Will continue to try and make sure that as few amount of people die. - Should make Iraq self-sufficient - Cannot give exact timetable: war is war and you can never know when anything is going to happen.

Sam (Obama)

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Obama Position: