Afghan and Iraqi wars to challenge next president

By Todd Hansen

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan weigh in as major issues on the next president’s agenda.

Papillion resident Mark Noziska, 23, a member of the U.S. Army, said the war is an issue that matters to him. “Things are going well in Iraq, but we are going to need to focus on Afghanistan, as well,” he said. In regards to how the president will handle foreign policy, Noziska said: “He needs to be open-minded, but at the same time, conservative. He will have to stand a hard stance on some issues.”

Voter Tom Reber, 47, said “We need to use diplomacy, and we need to respect other countries.”

Both said honesty was a trait the next president will need in dealing with foreign countries.

The war could be the biggest difference among the candidates. Barack Obama has opposed the war from the start, citing the lack of an exit strategy. The troops have been in Iraq for more than five years.

While Saddam Hussein’s reign ended a month after the U.S. invasion, civil disorder ensued. The goal since has been to stabilize a democracy in Iraq, but troops are challenged with suicide bombings, as well as a civil war between the Sunni and Shia groups.

In 2007, John McCain supported a troop surge that he said would help Iraq take control and “impose its rule throughout the country.” The surge called for over 20,000 additional troops into Iraq.

Andy Leblanc, 21, of Papillion shared Noziska’s feelings that the troops need to finish the job in Iraq. “The president needs to keep us in Iraq to stabilize the region,” he said. When dealing with foreign countries “he needs to be personable, relatable and well spoken.”

Gen. David Petraeus said while the violence in Iraq since the surge has reduced significantly, the improvements were “fragile” and “reversible.”

The next president will also be dealing with the still at-large Osama bin Laden, whose terrorist group Al-Qaeda was believed to be responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. Both candidates have said they would go after Bin Laden, who is thought to be in the Afghan countryside.