It may not be polite to say so, but the US, the world, and the next Presidency will be far better off if none of the Presidential candidates take what they are now saying about Iraq and Iran, or are failing to say about Afghanistan, all that seriously. The appendix to this report compares the positions of all three candidates on these issues as reflected in their websites. Some take strong stands based on current perceptions, but it will be nearly a year before the next President is elected, sworn in, and has his or her team in place.
The next President will inherit new facts on the ground about two wars in January 2009, when he or she takes the oath of office. Even if the new President chooses to withdraw form Iraq, his or her actions will have only limited initial impact on the forces in play as the next campaign season begins in 2009. In practice, it may well take until June 2009 to get their senior appointments in place, and it will take months longer to do adequate planning and begin to execute a comprehensive strategy. In the real world, the next President may not be able to fully shape a policy for either war, and gather real momentum in implementing it, until the fall of 2009.
This means the new Administration may only be able to have its full impact on the Iraq and Afghan-Pakistan Wars after two military campaign seasons and a host of political developments from now. A pragmatic, realistic policy should not be based on the exigencies of political campaigning. It should be based on how events change between spring 2008 and mid to late 2009.....
The Coming Year of Uncertainty
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