WITH IRAQ WON, EXPECT THE LEFT TO TRY TO MAKE "BOTCHED AFGHANISTAN" THE ISSUE

THE LEFT'S WAR MEME IS THIS:

"IRAQ WAS A DISTRACTION - AND LOOK AT AFGHANISTAN: IT'S WORSE AS A RESULT OF BUSH'S ERROR IN LEADING US INTO IRAQ."

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE - FROM ABC NEWS:

As John McCain and Barack Obama attempt to boost their foreign policy credentials, both candidates may find that whoever wins the White House will likely have to focus more attention on the conflict in Afghanistan than the debate over Iraq that has dominated much of the foreign policy discussion this campaign season.

U.S. soldiers keep watch at the site where Taliban militants set fire to a convoy of supply trucks in Ghazni, southeast of Afghanistan June 24, 2008.(Shir Ahmad/Reuters)

After seven years of war and billions of dollars to support the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the security situation in Afghanistan is worsening as a resurgent Taliban mounts more attacks on U.S. troops. That makes it increasingly likely that the next administration will have to consider sending more troops to Afghanistan to meet the needs of military commanders.

As the number of U.S. fatalities has dropped in Iraq, those in Afghanistan have been steadily rising.

... . Obama has labeled Iraq a diversion from the real fight in Afghanistan and has expressed support for military commanders to increase the number of troops in that country. ... Obama, on the other hand, has made it a key element of his campaign that the war in Iraq was a costly diversion from the more critical effort in Afghanistan.

... Military officials cite several reasons for the increase in violence, namely the Taliban's "safe haven" in the western tribal areas of Pakistan, where they can launch operations across the border into Afghanistan. Also, unable to defeat U.S. and NATO troops in conventional fighting, the various groups that make up the Taliban insurgency have resorted to tactics like those seen in Iraq, primarily the use of roadside bombs. A third factor cited by American commanders is that with more American troops on the ground than ever there is more combat as they move into areas controlled by insurgents.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE LEFT'S ARGUMENT IS FALSE:

1. THE IRAQ WAR MADE US - AND THE ENTIRE WORLD SAFER.
2. THE REASON THE TALIBAN ARE STRONGER - AND INFLICTING MORE VIOLENCE ON AFGHANISTAN - IS THAT THE PAKISTANIS (AND THEIR NEW DEMOCRAT SUPPORTED REGIME) HAVE APPEASED THEM.

THE RECENT ESCALATION OF ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN IS THE FRUIT OF APPEASEMENT.

OBAMA WILL ONLY BRING MORE APPEASEMENT: UNCONDITIONAL TALKS WITH THE LIKES OF IRAN; UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT, ETC.

THIS WILL INCREASE TERROR WORLDWIDE.

VOTE ACCORDINGLY.