Washington
What kind of commander in chief would Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama be?
What kind of commander in chief would Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama be?
National security issues loom large for the next president: He will have to manage the drawdown of thousands of American troops in Iraq, oversee the deployment of thousands more in an increasingly violent Afghanistan, and assess whether to grow the military to cope with the war on terrorism.
On these issues, the advantage might seem to be all on the side of Senator McCain, a war veteran.
But former defense officials, as well as active-duty and retired officers, say that the military – whose rank and file are perceived to vote Republican – sees positives and negatives in both candidates.
McCain’s big advantages are his experience and his familiarity with the military, but Senator Obama’s may be a greater willingness to listen to Pentagon advice.
That could be important because the past eight years under the Bush administration, especially the decision to invade Iraq, has left some Pentagon officers feeling ignored.
“Senior military officers have carried out orders they didn’t agree with all their professional lives,” says Dennis Blair, who retired as a four-star admiral in 2002 and who served in senior defense jobs during two administration transitions. “All they want is for their best military advice to be considered, and then they will salute and execute their orders. It’s pretty easy for an incoming administration if they are smart enough, to give them a chance.”
McCain’s strengths in the national security realm could be a weakness if he comes at the Pentagon with too many preconceptions, say former defense officials. The Pentagon may also be an ideal place for him to display his “maverick” approach.
“He is a reformer, and he will try to make sure there is a minimum of bureaucracy and a maximum of efficiency,” says Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) of California.Obama, perceived as a “listener,” is considered a national security neophyte who will need to make forceful decisions based on the advice he receives to establish his credentials within the Pentagon.
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22 comments:
I found Matt F's comment interesting about asking McCain questions about the military and see if he could answer them all. McCain does have a lot of experience being in the army and everything that has happened to him. I would love to see Obama as commander in chief because he would look towards the pentagon more and use their knowledge, where as I see McCain into making his own decisions being a maverick and all.
The race for Presidency is coming to a close. From the debates and other public speakings I agree that Obama is percieved as a listener and McCain, obviously, as a maverick. I think that Obama is the better choice in this race. The President has people working under him that specialize in certain areas. Listening is a more important skill especially in Democracy. The President needs to make educated and informed decisions. McCain campaigning as a maverick is scary, it makes me question his leadership and wonder if he will really give our opinions any thought.
Also, McCain’s service in the military is a positive addition to his campaign. McCain fought and took orders from a higher official. That does not make him qualified to lead the army. Just because he served does not mean that he understood the strategies and could give direction to soldiers.
The question is not about who's experienced or not. The argument needs to be who has a better and different policy towards the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator McCain wants to continue the same policy as George Bush as Commander In Chief.
Right now today the troops need to come home. Senator Obama wants to bring them home quickly and deploy those troops into Afghanistan. The person that will do a better job and do the right sensible thing is Senator Obama not John McCain. For those that participated today failed to mention the fundemental difference between the two nominees on what their policy is on Iraq and Afghanistan and tie into who would do better as Commander In Chief in this time of our country's history. We need a real change and not the ones that are experienced and want to continue the same failed policies.
"McCain’s big advantages are his experience and his familiarity with the military, but Senator Obama’s may be a greater willingness to listen to Pentagon advice."
This paragraph from the article made me realize that Obama would be the better commander in chief. Even though McCain has experience in the military doesn't make him a better commander in chief. Its not enough just to have experience but you also have to be able to listen to good advise and think about if you want to use that advise or not. McCain doesn't even bother to listen and Obama will listen. I think Obama will be the better commander in chief.
After reading todays article on "How McCain, Obama would do as commander in cheif" I agree with a part in the article which said
"McCain’s big advantages are his experience and his familiarity with the military, but Senator Obama’s may be a greater willingness to listen to Pentagon advice." I agree with this because under the Bush administration nothing really worked out good, it caused more problems like the invasion of Iraq, and President Bush really did not take advice from the Pentagon. Obama has a fresh look, and we simply can't just say that he would be bad, and the same goes for McCain. We are choosing McCain because he has alittle experience and he has been around in a war, which gives no positve proof of McCain being a better commander in cheif.
a.pervaiz
This article is stating that who is going to have a better relationship with the pentagon. Obama having no experience will go in office and listen to the experts about what has to be done. On the other hand McCain who has experience will just go in and want everything to go his way. I think that Obama will be a better commander in chief because he is new and will not just go in office and make a choice based on not consulting with the experts. He is also willing to sit down with people who are considered enemies to talk about how to have better relationships. This is part of his champagne speech.
-k.weston
I feel that Senator Obama would do better as a Commander in Chief. You don't need to have experience in the military to be a good Commander in Chief. Senator Obama seems like he would be more willing to listen to key military advisers. Senator McCain however, seems like he would be less likely to want to listen to advisers and he seems like he would make decisions without them.
In my view i think that this article supported both Obama and McCain in some ways. The article mentioned that Mccain has experience and served his country, but the article also mentioned that Obama is a better leader and speaker. I think that both Obama and Mccain would do fine as commander in chief because of their strenghts. Some people question Mccain, that his military experience is different then the experience he needs to beomce a President, well its better to have some type of experience then no experience at all. In my opionion it's going to come down on two things; if the people want change then Obama should get elected but if the people want the experience factor and have everything the same then Mccain should get elected.
Nobody should ever question a military veterans service record, especially a former Prisoner of War. Though what should be questioned is how it qualifies them to be eligible for the Presidency. We have seen it before, where George W. Bush's military experience was sometimes questioned.
Though if it's so out of this world to attack a soldier's service time, then any Republican disagreeing with that statement is an extreme hypocrite. During the last Presidential election, Democratic nominee Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts had his military service record degraded and defamed in front of our country. A man who was a hero and had received purple hearts for his service was being turned into a traitor and a horrible servicemen.
If anyone so much as mentions John McCain's service record in negative light, the Republicans easily play it off as a "un-american." I think it's an extremely good thing that Barack Obama never served our country at war because he would just be made to look a fool for his service time just like John Kerry.
Both Obama and McCain have great traits that they could bring to the table. Obama a listener and McCain a Military leader. Now all we need is to let our country decide weathers or not these traits is what our country needs, but they also need to determine who they vote for on other subjects as well.
I think Obama will be the better commander in chief. It's not only the experiencesas being the president of united states. McCain have experience in military but l dont think he can be better and strong commander in chief.
I feel that Obama would be a good commander in chief because he wouldn't make decisions without consulting them. Obama would actually take the time and listen to others and get feedback rather then just setting his mind to doing something and doing it without asking for any opinions. Now Mc.Cain does have more experience than Obama since he has been at the military for long and knows how it is there. Though this is also not good because Mc.Cain would just go right on and jump to conclusions and do what he thinks should be done. He wouldn't listen to what anyone has to say or take any sort of advice other than his own.
I think that Mcain and Obama have the same qualities in being commander in chief because neither one of them have experience in being president.I dont think I can really say who will be a better commander in chief; i dont think we will know until both of them runm a term.
Honestly, I believe that Obama would do a much better job as commander in chief than McCain. Everyone is saying that McCain has more experience than Obama but those experiences are about the amry, not running a country so both candidates are starting fresh. But Obama is willing to listen to us while McCain does what he feels like.
I think Obama will be the better commander in chief. It's not only the experiences that they had well no one have experiences as being the president of the united states. McCain have experience in military but l dont think he can be better and storng commander in chief.
The article is asking who would be a better commander in chief. The candidate i find eligable for such a topic would have to be McCain.He has seen the battle-fields with his own two eyes.He has been through hard times behind enemy lines.i beleive that he has many plans when it comes to military combat. Handsdown McCain would probably be best during conflict that involves wars,battles and/or fights. The only thing i am worried about are his plans for the economy.
-Ethan Rosenberg
OMG!
OBAMA WON =)
I believe that president obama will be a great commander and chief i really thing that he is very strong on his foreign policy and Joe Biden is a great vice- president but i cant disagree that john McCann has much more experience on the battle strategy etc. I really doesn’t matter anymore because we already have a president obama.
A. Deonarine
To me this article was somewhat wierd, but also informational. It was wierd in the sense that the author neither supports nor are agaisnt either of the candidates. The author gives good information to support his ideas, but doesn't really show favortism. He points out McCains strengths and weaknesses and he also does the same for Mr.Obama. To me ultimately it comes down to the person who has better ideas and who can run this country for the people. President bush was in office for 8 years and he didn't much for the country. This country doesn't really need someone with experience like this artcle says McCain has over Obama. What we need is someone who can "CHANGE" the problems and turn things around.
To me this article was somewhat wierd, but also informational. It was wierd in the sense that the author neither supports nor are agaisnt either of the candidates. The author gives good information to support his ideas, but doesn't really show favortism. He points out McCains strengths and weaknesses and he also does the same for Mr.Obama. To me ultimately it comes down to the person who has better ideas and who can run this country for the people. President bush was in office for 8 years and he didn't much for the country. This country doesn't really need someone with experience like this artcle says McCain has over Obama. What we need is someone who can "CHANGE" the problems and turn things around.
Even though McCain is a veteran doesnt mean that he is going to make all of his decisions on his own . He might come up with something and then work with the Pentagon for advice and final decision making. Obama having no military experience will go straight to the Pentagon for advice. But i dont see McCain having a "big advantage" because of his familiarity with the military.
-CMartinez
i think he would do good because mcCain has more experience in the war subject also he wouldnt be scared.because he suppose to be a war hero a true maverick.
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