John McCain...a hero?

Suddenly, during the presidential debate last night, I felt sorry for John McCain. Almost pity. It occurred to me that McCain was still living his prisoner of war experience. In Vietnam. McCain so much wants America to win a war. In Iraq. Maybe so he can forget the loss in Vietnam. But America can't win in Iraq. Because it's the wrong war at the wrong time. An indecent war. An obscenity. Just like Vietnam. America keeps going to war for the wrong reasons. Vietnam and Iraq have not been patriotic wars. They have been imperial wars. Meant for America to be a dominant force in the world. One must go to war for the right reason in order to win. I sensed last night that McCain feels the only way for his life to be redeemed is to find a way for America to win a war. At virtually any cost. At any price. Even if America has to sell its soul. McCain doesn't want Iraq to be another Vietnam. McCain sees himself as a failure in Vietnam. He puts the blame on himself to some degree. Like he could have been a better soldier. Like maybe he failed. Failed his country. He feels guilt. Remorse. And now McCain wants to show everyone that America can win a war. Any war. And that he can be instrumental in bringing it about. And then he will be recognized as a patriot. Another George Washington. And then McCain will finally have peace of mind. And he will think of himself as a hero. --Jim Broede