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Picking up the red phone

By Thomas Henriksen
March 28, 2008

Now that the Democratic Party's primary contest has reinjected national security issues into the presidential race, it's a good time to pose tough questions to all the candidates about the red phone ringing in the White House at 3 a.m., signaling a crisis somewhere in the world.

During the cold war, the red phone was actually a hot line to Moscow and its bell portended a nuclear alert. But Sen. Hillary Clinton resurrected the image to paint her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, as less seasoned to safeguard Americans. He countered by arguing that his judgment was superior to hers.

Mrs. Clinton's victories in Texas, Vermont, and Rhode Island stemmed in part from her characterization of a callow Barack Obama.

But their campaign duel should refocus us on the dangers we face; we should quiz all the contenders, including the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, about responding to international threats.

To date, most of the candidates' national security positions have focused on the Iraq war and what to do about a conflict has marked the fifth anniversary of its beginning and has, along with fighting in Afghanistan, cost about 4,500 American lives and more than $646 billion.

The two Democratic contenders differ only slightly on future U.S. policy toward Iraq. Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton have advanced timetables for the start of immediate withdrawals of U.S. troops, culminating in the removal of all combat troops not long after either takes office and shifting the U.S. emphasis to striking al Qaeda bases.

Mr. McCain shot back to a question during the New Hampshire primary about the length of the U.S. commitment in Iraq by saying a "hundred years." But on reflection he added that he envisioned a lengthy stabilizing mission, such as the ones in Japan or South Korea, long as Americans are not suffering casualties.

But all their answers leave a lot of gray areas. Details and time frames — such as from near to mid- to long-term, about U.S. missions in Iraq — would provide voters an understanding of candidates' thinking about Iraq. And, for a clincher, the likely impact of these decisions on the Afghan conflict and the global war on terror.

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