Voter interest in November's presidential election remains high, despite the fact the public has been exposed to candidates through an extended campaign season, with many more months to go. Why? While the topics may sound familiar, much has changed in four years. In 2004, the Iraq war was in its early stages, "subprime" was an obscure term, and the realities of illegal immigration had not neared the tipping point. Voters have a chance to vote for a viable female, African-American, or Vietnam vet. Res Ipsa asked a diverse group of California Western professors to weigh in on some of the most critical issues in the campaign.

The War in Iraq

Voters have made it clear they care about the Iraq war. Associate Dean William Aceves believes that the war remains one of the most divisive and difficult issues in the campaign for Democrats and Republicans.

"The United States is involved in two different wars today - the war in Iraq and the broader war on terror," says Aceves, whose scholarship focuses on human rights and international law, including his recent bookThe Anatomy of Torture. "The Bush administration has tried to define the Iraq war as part of the war on terror, but I disagree with this assessment. The U.S. invasion of Iraq was about weapons of mass destruction; it was not about terrorism," he explains. "While terrorism is now widespread in Iraq, this is a consequence of the U.S. invasion and occupation. It is regrettable that the U.S. occupation has caused terrorism to flourish in Iraq and has undermined our stature in the international community. It is even more tragic that this policy has led to the death of thousands of U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians."

Aceves is not optimistic about the short-term future of Iraq and the ability of the U.S. to withdraw soon. "Regardless of who wins the election, we face a difficult situation," Aceves says. "Maintaining a U.S. military presence in Iraq may be necessary to promote stability in the country, but U.S. troops will die because of this. At the same time, an immediate U.S. withdrawal would likely lead to even greater instability in the country and the region."