So far as I can tell, McCain has absolutely no original ideas of his own.  "Stay the course" seems to be his philosophy not only with regards to Iraq, but as to all problems facing the country today.  The question is whether the American people would view an Eisenhower-type president, even an extremely competent one, as enough of an improvement over Bush that that would be sufficient to carry McCain to the presidency.

The reason he plays the war experience card is because it is the strongest (and perhaps, only) one in his hand.