Have We Ever Been in a Worse Strategic Position, Wow - the GOP is Awful

Obviously, if you are reading this, odds are you know that I support Obama. I have from the beginning, and I continue to do so. Right now, in thinking of this solely from a Political-Economic perspective, these are components that we seldom see covered in the discussion of this year’s Presidential campaign. Obviously, components relative to Iraq and the Economy are too substantial to appropriately cover in a quick draft, but if reduced down to some smaller parcels, we can work our way into some conclusions.

From an Iraq-perspective, we fostered this war predicated on the idea that Sadaam was working to develop weapons of mass destruction, was supporting terrorists, and may have had something to do with 9-11. We took a position with the UN, where we made our case; we proceeded near-unilaterally into this preemptive war against the will of the world community; found no WMDs; we now occupy a war-torn country with internal strife and civil war.

One could construct the path to 9-11, from direct involvement in the Gulf States:
1. Residual occupation of Saudi Arabia following Desert Storm

2. Continued support of totalitarian governments, giving rise and fomenting terrorist activity

3. Continued presence in the Gulf States, due to demand for petroleum
o Demand for petroleum, due to over-subsidization fostering excessive demand for petroleum

4. Action taken against the US in 9-11, undoubtedly horrible
o Action taken in Afghanistan with the support of the world community

5. Not completing work in Afghanistan capturing or killing Bin Laden

6. Progressing into Iraq
o Iraq under false pretenses
o Continued demand for petroleum
o Continued occupation, due to the “break it, you buy it.”
o US strategy in occupying Iraq elongates time in Iraq
o Guantanamo Abu Gharib

7. During a war, we cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans, and expanded our national debt, thereby weakening the dollar

8. Dollar is weak against foreign currencies; commodities (including oil) are now at an all time high; we are maintaining a presence in a country in which we are further fomenting hate for America (see points 1-3)

I know W went to B-School, but seriously, from a strategy-perspective, this will be taught for the next few millennia in Strategy classes as an example of what bad strategy can do. The work we have done with this administration is absurdly compromising our world position.

We need a back-out plan, and McCain isn’t proposing anything contrary to the positions of the Bush Administration, for no good reason. His position on taxes, keeping them status quo is absurd.
During past wars, e.g. WWII, we had War Bonds. For the Iraq War, as Americans, we’ve been encouraged to go out and spend. The average household has immense debt, and we are suffering a massive housing crisis. With all of that, there has been no communication for us to constrain our spending. Rather, many were sent a check from the Government, spending money it’s no taking in through appropriate taxation...

Why would one vote for the party that delivered us the worst Political-Economic position in maybe our history? Moreover, why would one vote for someone not offering a reconciliation of these policies against a world in which we’ve compromised our position?