Week #1, Item #1: McCain's Plan and Accomplishments

The year of 2008, marked as one of the most important year. It is marking the fifth year of the Iraq War, and not to forget the Presidential Elections. Not only is this Election important and big but it’s going to be the Presidential elections with the Iraq War.

John McCain who is a veteran and prisoner of War knows the truth of war. Having a Military background he believes that the Iraq War will end in the year of 2013, five years from now. He believes that troops shouldn't be pulled out of the war but kept in Iraq until they are confident that the Iraqi's can stand on their own. Currently the Senator of Arizona also hopes to help the Iraqi people with their government, economy, and etc.

John McCain wants to level with Americans as well. Making sure that the ones who have been or are spouses of people who have gone to the Iraq War the time. Time to express the way they felt about the war. All in one he wants to help Iraq to become successful and become a peaceful country while paying attention to the ones who served in the War.

“Strategy for Victory in Iraq”
http://johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues

Week #1, Item #1: Obama's Plan for Iraq

It can come as no surprise that Barack Obama is the liberal candidate for the presidency—and his approach to foreign policy is no exception. In fact, the term goes beyond the traditional divide between left and right and reflects the difference between the realist and liberal perspectives of international relations. A strong example of this is Obama’s plan for the war in Iraq, published in The New York Times this July.

In contrast to John McCain’s realist approach to the conflict in Iraq, Obama’s plan emphasizes negotiations and compromise. Diplomacy is a key aspect of the liberal perspective, as it advocates for the common good without creating competition for power between states. The realist perspective, on the other hand, focuses on material power differences between states. As such, physical conflict between nations plays a large role in realist strategy.

Even within the realist school of thought, the plan takes a defensive tact. Obama clearly did not support a preemptive war, and hoped instead to concentrate on the action in Afghanistan. This approach would be more likely to maintain an equilibrium of power between states, rather than seek to increase the power of the US.



"My Plan for Iraq" by Barack Obama:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/opinion/14obama.html?scp=1&sq=obama%20iraq%20plan&st=cse