Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Iraq, Afghanistan the the Presidential Candidates

    With a new poll showing Americans split down the middle on what to do in Iraq, John McCain and Barack Obama went point-counterpoint today on Iraq, Afghanistan and America's role in the world.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    With a new poll showing Americans split down the middle on what to do in Iraq, John McCain and Barack Obama went point-counterpoint today on Iraq, Afghanistan and America's role in the world. Obama defended his timetable for troop withdrawal, listing the strain on the military, the worsening situation in Afghanistan and the failure of Iraqi politicians to resolve their differences as proof that the surge did not accomplish what it was supposed to. McCain had a scornful rejoinder, accusing Obama of losing one war while trying to win another. Has Obama adjusted his policies because the surge has reduced violence? Is McCain pursuing "victory" in an unwinnable war? We ask those questions and get some perspective from an Iraqi point of view.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    McCain and Obama on Iraq and Afghanistan
    1. 1:34Bush and Bernanke Talk about the Economy
    2. 7:22Iraq, Afghanistan the the Presidential CandidatesYou’re reading this
    3. 43:15Pill-Popping Pets
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Gary Langer

      Langer Research Associates and ABC News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Crowley

      Politico

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jim Hanson

      former counter-insurgent operator, US Special forces

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    McCain and Obama on Iraq and Afghanistan
    1. 1:34Bush and Bernanke Talk about the Economy
    2. 7:22Iraq, Afghanistan the the Presidential CandidatesYou’re reading this
    3. 43:15Pill-Popping Pets
    Back to To the Point