A tale of two visions
Barack Obama, in a speech in Washington, D.C. today:
Imagine, for a moment, what we could have done in those days, and months, and years after 9/11.
We could have deployed the full force of American power to hunt down and destroy Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and all of the terrorists responsible for 9/11, while supporting real security in Afghanistan.
We could have secured loose nuclear materials around the world, and updated a 20th century non-proliferation framework to meet the challenges of the 21st.
We could have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in alternative sources of energy to grow our economy, save our planet, and end the tyranny of oil.
We could have strengthened old alliances, formed new partnerships, and renewed international institutions to advance peace and prosperity.
We could have called on a new generation to step into the strong currents of history, and to serve their country as troops and teachers, Peace Corps volunteers and police officers.
We could have secured our homeland—investing in sophisticated new protection for our ports, our trains and our power plants.
We could have rebuilt our roads and bridges, laid down new rail and broadband and electricity systems, and made college affordable for every American to strengthen our ability to compete.
We could have done that.
Instead, we have lost thousands of American lives, spent nearly a trillion dollars, alienated allies and neglected emerging threats – all in the cause of fighting a war for well over five years in a country that had absolutely nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.
In response, John McCain offered his worldview in Albuquerque, N.M., as reported by the Associated Press:
I know how to win wars. And if I’m elected president, I will turn around the war in Afghanistan, just as we have turned around the war in Iraq, with a comprehensive strategy for victory.
Same planet, different worlds…
Stumble it!
Tags: 2008 US presidential election, McCain, national security, Obama
July 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
$1 trillion. That’s $1,000,000,000,000.00.
Did I get the zeros right? I can never be sure. So many zeros, so little time.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Actually, I saw a forward projection of costs, like replacing all the military equipment destroyed, paying for all the prosthetic limbs benefits and military pensions, etc – total cost of the wars are now estimated at $3 trillion.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Aa, the things that might have been. Talk from a politician and the dreams of a butterfly. Ted Geisel made more sense using his own languages than any of these fellows ever will. Ted’s language only dealt in truth. Ours do not have that, well, luxury?
Since the money is gone, why not talk about what they will do? Not so attractive? John promises war we can’t afford. Obama talks about what might have been? Honestly, must we suffer another lifetime of useless talk? We have seen how they vote. They are not bound by their oaths of office to uphold the constitution. They swear to when they take the oath, but the vote to violate that law.
You get what you pay for.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
We could have, would have, should have. How brilliant.