The Oracle assesses the issues: America’s foreign policy

The Oracle’s editorial board is running a series of editorials leading up to the election tackling subjects the board deems important. Whichever candidate wins two out of three will secure the Oracle’s endorsement for the presidency. This is editorial No. 3.

Iraq
The war in Iraq is a long-debated subject. It has caused the deaths of thousands, regardless of their nationality. Whether the U.S. should continue the war is a question that requires a great deal of attention, especially considering that the Iraqis declared Sunday that they want full American withdrawal by Dec. 31, 2011.

Sen. John McCain
McCain has argued that the U.S. shouldn’t leave Iraq yet. Leaving Iraq, according to him, would be detrimental to the country’s morale and security. He said he feels it is imperative that the U.S. secures Iraq in order to stabilize the region. By ensuring that Iraq has a democratic government, the U.S. can show Iraq’s neighboring countries an example of a country that can run itself without the support of terrorism.

McCain said the American public might not be happy with his decision, but he feels that keeping them in the loop and well-informed is the best way to retain support for the ongoing war on terrorism.

Sen. Barack Obama
Obama said we should leave Iraq as soon as possible. If he assumes command, Obama plans to remove one to two brigades a month for the next 16 months. He will leave a few troops that he will cycle in and out to ensure American civilians are protected. Of those troops, some will remain behind to continue the training of Iraqi forces. Once most American troops return, Obama plans to redeploy them to Afghanistan, where they will resume a full-force hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Conclusion
The editorial board does not agree 100 percent with either plan. The board feels that there is no need to continue a war that loses its worth with each passing day and is rampant with insurgents who kill countless civilians and U.S. servicemen. Abandoning Iraq and leaving it in turmoil is not a wise move, but continuing to invest money in the war is not in the best interest of this country, either.

Obama’s plan to withdraw might be better, however. The American public was told that the country was entering a war to break an Axis of Evil and that Iraq would be the key to finding bin Laden. Five years later, bin Laden is still at large and America has not received closure for the Sept. 11 attacks.

It’s time this country stops spreading its resources thin and concentrates on the most important thing — finding the person responsible for the deaths of more than 3,000 people. Based on the board’s research, Obama’s foreign policy appears to be the best for the country, with the caveat that he listens to military advisers and acts prudently enough so that Iraq is not left in anarchy.