With a H/T to Richard Fernandez at Belmont Club, we find a world of difference between McCain’s view of the struggle against terrorism and Obama’s “let’s withdraw from Iraq and surge in Afghanistan” strategy. McCain noted in his article at Real Clear Politics:

Senator Obama will tell you we can’t win in Afghanistan without losing in Iraq. In fact, he has it exactly backwards. It is precisely the success of the surge in Iraq that shows us the way to succeed in Afghanistan. It is by applying the tried and true principles of counter-insurgency used in the surge—which Senator Obama opposed—that we will win in Afghanistan. With the right strategy and the right forces, we can succeed in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I know how to win wars. And if I’m elected President, I will turn around the war in Afghanistan, just as we have turned around the war in Iraq, with a comprehensive strategy for victory.

Fernandez provides some compelling analysis of McCain’s article, noting that he is now in a position to communicate the truth of the surge, how effective it has been, and why … with a bit more effort … it has a chance to continue winning:

McCain proceeds to demonstrate a grasp of the Surge which has eluded much of the MSM: that it’s key principle came from mobilizing the population against terrorists. Getting Iraqis to fight terrorists informed every aspect of Petraeus’ strategy from the redeployment of US forces to smaller outposts, the change in emphasis from pure Force Protection to the protection of the population, and even the generation of tribal and regular forces to augment US forces. McCain proceeds to show how he will apply the same principles globally.