Change vs. Stay the Course

A wise man learns from his mistakes.

If broken it is, fix it you should.

Many would agree these phrases make common sense. They are logical, reasonable and speak of experience. However, these ideas don't seem in tune with today's Republican party. They especially don't seem to jibe with the views of 2008 presidential candidate John McCain. While Barack Obama, the likely Democratic nominee, speaks of change, John McCain and many Republicans want to stay the course.

Iraq
McCain, Obama in heated exchange over Iraq
Obama, McCain argue over Iraq

Iran
McCain, Obama trade jabs over Iran policy
Hagel criticizes McCain over Iran comments

Cuba
McCain, Obama argue over Cuba policy

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

The Real McCain
The John McCain Channel
The Bush-McCain Challenge

Shiites, Sunnis, What?!

Enlighten me, please.

Our military is befriending and arming the Sunnis in Iraq to help us temper the Shiites according to various reports. It's all part of the surge.

• The Shiites are the predominate force within the Iraqi government.
• Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister of Iraq, is a Shiite.
• Moqtada al-Sadr, theologian, political leader and militia commander, is a Shiite.
• Moqtada al-Sadr seems to have the backing of Iran.
• The leader of Iran, a predominately Shiite nation, thinks Israel was most likely behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks thus providing an excuse for the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions.
• Most Sunni's don't care for Shiite's and vice-versa.


• al Qaeda is a Sunni organization.
• The 2nd in command of al Qaeda, Al-Zawahiri, denied the conspiracy theory that Israel carried out the September 11 attacks on the U.S., and he blamed Iran and Shiite Hezbollah for spreading the idea to discredit the Sunni al Qaeda's achievement.

Bottom line: Our current administration has created one gigantic mess! The next U.S. President will certainly have his/her hands full and if it's a Democrat, the Right will be quick to point the finger if there are any missteps.

The Myth of the Surge offers more details.

I welcome a response from anyone (left, right, middle) who can unravel this mess and explain the best path forward.

info@ruinousright.com