Former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, Aug. 21, 2007. Photo: Dick Whipple/Bloomberg News.
by John McCormick
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Two men with White House aspirations offered starkly different assessments of the war in Iraq today before a national convention of military veterans.
"Some people in this country apparently think that if we can pull out of Iraq, our problems are going to be over," said former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who is expected to announce his Republican presidential bid early next month.
"You and I know better than that," he continued. "We know that Iraq is an important front in this war. But we also know that if we appear to be divided and weak in this nation, that it is going to ennoble an enemy."
Thompson's appearance addressing several thousand members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars came before one by Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who renewed his call for the removal of American military forces from Iraq.
"No matter how brilliantly and bravely our troops and their commanders perform ... they cannot and should not bear the responsibility of resolving grievances at the heart of Iraq's civil war," Obama said to tepid applause. "No military surge, no matter how brilliantly performed, can succeed without political reconciliation and a surge of diplomacy in Iraq and the region."
Later, the Illinois Democrat told reporters the military surge backed by the White House cannot work without successful negotiations on the part of Iraq's feuding factions.
"What I have been clear about, even before the surge started, was that if we put [an] additional 20,000 or 30,000 American troops in Baghdad, then it's going to have an impact, because they are doing an outstanding job in carrying out their military operations," he said. "The question has always been: what then? Do we actually have a mechanism to trigger the kind of negotiations ... that can stabilize the country over the long-term? And on that front, we have seen complete failure."
Arguing that America's forces are stretched thin, Obama called for an additional 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines to the size of the U.S. armed forces to "relieve the strain on our ground forces."
A member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Obama received stronger applause as he called for improved services for America's veterans. "We also need to provide more services to our military families because they go into battle whenever their loved ones go into battle," he said.
Thompson, meanwhile, said the nation needs a more frank conversation on the amount of resources and unity it will take to defeat global terrorism.
"I'm concerned about my country," Thompson said. "If we don't take the right path, we are going wind up with a weaker, less prosperous and more divided country than when we came into it."
Both men were welcomed respectfully and received standing ovations from an audience that included veterans from every U.S. war since World War II.
Thompson, who plays a character on television's "Law & Order," joked that he left the Senate because he "longed for the realism and sincerity of Hollywood."
After his speech, Thompson said he feels no rush to formally enter the presidential race. "We've got plenty of time to get our message out," he said.
Earlier today, Obama announced a well-timed endorsement from Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, the only member of Congress who served in combat in the current war in Iraq.
Solidifying his armed-forces credentials is important for Obama, who has had a couple missteps with military jargon in recent months.
In May, his campaign sent out a news release that spelled "flak" as "flack," when referring to a flak jacket. Although some dictionaries say both spellings are acceptable, the campaign of GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona pounced on the typo to suggest Obama lacks military experience.
And last week at the Iowa State Fair, Obama asked two soldiers what "squad" they belonged to, rather than asking for their "unit." The question might be seen by some as the military equivalent of asking someone for their home's street number, but not the street or city where they live.
On Monday, the VFW convention heard from two other presidential candidates: McCain and Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.
The VFW invited the two top candidates from each party, based on polling. When Republicans Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney were not able to attend, the group turned to McCain and Thompson.
McCain and Clinton also presented vastly different approaches on Iraq.
"The best way of honoring their service is by beginning to bring them home," said Clinton, who also received respectful applause.
Clinton said parts of the surge strategy are "working," a notion McCain and the VFW support.
"Our defeat in Iraq would be a catastrophe not for Iraq, but for the United States," McCain said. "And I cannot be complicit in it."
That four candidates took the time to visit the VFW convention is no surprise, since veterans and their families are a large and important constituency.
The VFW said polling from the 2004 presidential election showed veterans break slightly more Republican than Democrat, 47 percent to 42 percent. It also said roughly 90 percent of veterans vote in presidential elections, a proportion significantly higher than average.
Still, the VFW's political leanings do tend to be more conservative. In a 2006 congressional race in west-suburban Chicago, for example, its political committee endorsed Republican Peter Roskam over Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a VFW member who lost both legs in the Iraq War.
The VFW's political arm is not expected to endorse a presidential candidate. President Bush, meanwhile, is scheduled to address the convention Wednesday.
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Comments
Thompson said --"Some people in this country apparently think that if we can pull out of Iraq, our problems are going to be over," said former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who is expected to announce his Republican presidential bid early next month.
"You and I know better than that," he continued. "We know that Iraq is an important front in this war. But we also know that if we appear to be divided and weak in this nation, that it is going to ennoble an enemy."
If he gets to the general election, he's got about 29% of the vote locked up, and not much more.
Posted by: kb | August 21, 2007 2:54 PM
"Thompson, Obama Give Starkly Different Views On Iraq"
Get in the race or shut up, Freddy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87563349@N00/744653403/
Posted by: John E | August 21, 2007 3:01 PM
I keep reading about Obama's call to add nubers to the military, but has he explained how that will happen with enrollments surrently missing their minimum targets.
Posted by: kb | August 21, 2007 3:03 PM
"FRED THOMPSON TAKES THE TORCH"
ANOTHER GOP FLUNKIE STEPS UP TO THE PLATE. FRED THOMPSON TURNS OF LAW AND ORDER AND THINKS HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD THIS NATION.
LEASHING OUT THAT HE HEARD THE GOP VOICES. PROPHET GEORGE SAID, I NEED AN ESCAPE ROUTE, TENET IS TAKING THE HIT ON 9/11, BUT DICK NEEDS A WAY OUT HERE IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
OBAMA IS FAR MORE INTELLIGENT THAN FRED. BUT FRED IS CAUCASION AND QUITE THE MORAL VALUE MAN IN AMERICA THESE DAYS.
DISTRACTIONS DISTRACTIONS
HEY WHERE IS GEORGE TENET? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT GEORGE ARE YOU?
TO TELL THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
Posted by: Roger Morris | August 21, 2007 3:05 PM
"The VFW said polling from the 2004 presidential election showed veterans break slightly more Republican than Democrat, 47 percent to 42 percent."
John D...you have lied to us. How could you!!!!
Posted by: Disillusioned | August 21, 2007 3:09 PM
"We know that Iraq is an important front in this war."
- Fred Thompson
Which war? The so-called "war on terror"?
If that is what Thompson means then we can count on him to continue the Bush vision of taking on the terrorists: Don't get them were they are. Create a new playing field and drag others into the conflict.
This is like raiding homes in TN in a war against the Crips and Bloods.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | August 21, 2007 3:24 PM
Wait until all the Repubs get to check out Thompson's Trophy Wife. This crack is pushy and has already alienated half of Thompson's staff. Basset Hound Face Thompson landed a Trophy. Think that all the old GOP wives are going to be jealous and not vote for Basset Hound Face Thompson because of it? Thompson's Trophy Wife is going to scare all the old GOP away.
Posted by: MASTER of REALITY | August 21, 2007 3:25 PM
The above article purports to offer the starkly different views of Obama and Thompson. But it quotes Obama 166 words, 50% more than it quotes Thompson (113 words). Guess Obama's position is so ill thought out that the Swamp reporters who are promoting his candidacy feel he has to be given 50% more space to make it an even fight versus a Republican.
Posted by: Bruce | August 21, 2007 4:12 PM
Disillusioned, whether numbers were down or not, more still voted Republican. No matter how and your ilk try to spin it, the fact is more current military and ex-military vote Republican than they do Demoncrat.
But you can keep daydreaming, I suppose.
Posted by: John D | August 21, 2007 4:17 PM
"Still, the VFW's political leanings do tend to be more conservative. In a 2006 congressional race in west-suburban Chicago, for example, its political committee endorsed Republican Peter Roskam over Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a VFW member who lost both legs in the Iraq War."
What's the point of the VFW when it cannot even support its members?
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | August 21, 2007 4:17 PM
Roger Roger
Are the black helicopters hovering around your house?
You need to take your meds and calm down....
How did George Tenet get into this?
Your hero Obama cut his political teeth in Illinois THE most corrupt state in the Union and you rant about Fred?
Boo!
Posted by: Bob | August 21, 2007 5:00 PM
Your hero Obama cut his political teeth in Illinois THE most corrupt state in the Union and you rant about Fred?
Boo!
Posted by: Bob | August 21, 2007 5:00 PM
Ted Stevens is from Illinois??
Posted by: jethro | August 21, 2007 5:29 PM
As long as neo-connies are applauding the NYT and Michael O’Hanlon/Ken Pollack for their assessment of the war (non-soldiers, BTW), I bet they are going to love these guys too!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/opinion/19jayamaha.html?ex=1345176000&en=5a8349a0e944e61b&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
REAL soldiers telling us all the illegal occupation of Iraq is as bad as most of America thinks it is. Ooops. That's right. The only correct opinions are those that buttress the pre-conceived notions of chicken hawks, bush fawners and ultra-right wing fanatical foamers like bruce, terry, and william "the bloody" kristol.
Posted by: snitramc | August 21, 2007 5:59 PM
No, snitramc. The only correct opinions are the ones cherry picked from six soldiers out of 160,000. By the way, excellent use of name calling. It makes you appear so much more sophisticated.
Posted by: Herbie H. | August 21, 2007 9:03 PM
In reference to snitramc,
better a "neo-connie" than a neo-commie.
Posted by: LaShawn | August 22, 2007 8:16 AM
I lost respect for the VFW as a organized group when, as Bud McFarlin mentioned, they turned their back on Tammy Duckworth in her election bid over an opponent who apparently has no military service in his background. That to me was unfathomable and hypocritical of them.
Posted by: GW | August 22, 2007 9:51 AM
"better a "neo-connie" than a neo-commie."
OMG! What, are you like 13 yrs old? Better log off now, Mommy is home.
Posted by: RetroPaul | August 22, 2007 10:06 AM
McCormick's 3-2 Dem over GOP Swamp article above is a model of even-handedness compared to McCormick's article on this same event in the print version, where he basically kept everything Obama said and deleted everything Thompson said.
I'd expect nothing less from the Obama press office known as the Swamp.
Posted by: Bruce | August 22, 2007 10:06 AM
Brucie is really getting desperate now - counting the quoted words in an article??
Come on Brucie - you can do better than that!!
Posted by: BobinATL | August 22, 2007 10:24 AM
[quote]
By the way, excellent use of name calling. It makes you appear so much more sophisticated.
Posted by: Herbie H. | August 21, 2007 9:03 PM
[/quote]
It's a skill he learned from all of John D's posts here in The Swamp ("Loony Lefters", etc.)
Posted by: BC | August 22, 2007 10:53 AM
Blogbot Bruce upgrade status
complete
media attack function.......
enabled
cut & paste function........
enabled
spell check function........
enabled
word count function.........
enabled
original thought............
disabled
launching Blogbot Bruce applications
Posted by: RNC Talking Pointbot 3000 | August 22, 2007 11:01 AM
GW,
You've got a point there. A strong one.
Posted by: Doug Zook | August 22, 2007 11:10 AM
Pity poor BC, so offended by Loony Left. Just look at the names your ilk uses all the time here on anyone to the right of far left: Nazis, Johnnny DooDooForBrains, etc.
Get a clue, FOR ONCE, BC!!
Posted by: John D | August 22, 2007 11:48 AM