Serious Business

Ok, so same rules apply as Ryan's threads such as this. I can't make it as pretty or structured as his.

Before we get into actual policies, I'm going to begin with some McCain Quotes:





"On the subject of Osama Bin Laden, he's responsible for the deaths of Americans. He is now orcestrating other attacks on America. We will do what's nessesary. We will track him down. We will captu-, we will bring him to justice. I will follow him to the gates of hell." 
                                                                                     GOP Presidential Nominee Debate   01-06-2008




LARRY KING: "If you were president and knew that bin Laden was in Pakistan, you know where, would you have U.S. forces go in after him?"

MCCAIN: "Larry, I'm not going to go there and here's why, because Pakistan is a sovereign nation. I think the Pakistanis would want bin Laden out of their hair and out of their country and it's causing great difficulties in Pakistan itself."
                                                                                        Larry King Live 07-28-2008





"In the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations. And in future days we will decide who was right and who was wrong"
                                                    Press Conference Concerning Russia Invasion of Georgia 08-13-2008




ok, problem with quote number 1: When someone "follows [person x] to the gates of hell", isn't that a statement someone makes when showing utter loyalty and devotion? Ok, verbal flub...but then,

quote 2. You'll follow him to the "gates of hell" but not into pakistan because it's a "sovereign nation"? Going into a sovereign nation with troops in persuit of a specific known and documented terrorist who has acted against the persuing country is protected under international law as self-defense. So it wouldn't be invading Pakistan, nor would it infringe upon rights or laws or ethics (not that we tend to care about those factors when resources are involved). Besides,  technically, Iraq was a sovereign nation. Kinda questionable these days... But you (McCain) were all about that invasion, where the terrorist link was weak (non-existant). So much so you'll stay as long as possible. WHICH leads to

quote 3. yep.

yea, i'm not sure he even knows where he stands on the subject.  i suspect that he is just winging it.

I'm going to assume rules of engagement are covered in war.  Which makes me think of torture.

I really can't support a government that condones torture.

On a general principle I agree, but what constitutes as torture? Where do we draw the line? It's an unfortunate aspect of war, but no one ever gives up info easily. Personally, making someone listen to nothing but Celine Dion's Titanic song over and over again without pause relentlessly night and day, all the while allowing the captive to eat healthy and sleep at will would still be considered torture to ME!

It's like baby killing. In war, it happens to a degree. I hate it all, but where and how exactly do you draw lines? And how do you make sure everyone abides by them?

It's true, I don't know exactly where I draw the line on torture, but I do know that it's way before waterboarding.  If I recall correctly, McCain is OK w/ waterboarding.