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Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



McCain goes after Obama on Iraq

Posted: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 11:41 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
The big news from today's McCain town hall in Tyler, Texas, is his decision to emphasize Obama's answer to a hypothetical question from NBC's Tim Russert in last night's debate about reserving the right to send troops back into Iraq if Al Qaeda was to set up a base there. Here is McCain's response from the beginning of the town hall and then Russert's questions and Obama's answer.

"I'm not embarrassed to tell you that I did not watch the Democrat debate last night," McCain said, "but I am told that Senator Obama made the statement that if Al Qaeda came back to Iraq after he withdraws -- after the American troops are withdrawn -- then he would send military troops back, if Al Qaeda established a military base in Iraq. I have some news: Al Qaeda is in Iraq. Al Qaeda, it's called Al Qaeda in Iraq, and my friends if we left they wouldn't be establishing a base, they wouldn't be establishing a base, they'd be taking a country. And I'm not going to allow that to happen my friends. I will not surrender. I will not surrender to Al Qaeda.

"It's pretty remarkable when Al Qaeda is in Iraq, and want to withdraw from Iraq and then say you will go back to Iraq if they have a base there. That's -- when you examine that statement it's pretty remarkable."

RUSSERT'S INITIAL QUESTION TO CLINTON: I want to ask both of you this question, then. If this scenario plays out and the Americans get out in totality, and Al Qaida resurges and Iraq goes to hell, do you hold the right in your mind as American president to reinvade, to go back into Iraq to stabilize it?

RUSSERT'S QUESTION TO OBAMA: Senator Obama, I want you to respond to not holding oversight for your subcommittee. But also, do you reserve a right as American president to go back into Iraq once you have withdrawn with sizable troops in order to quell any kind of insurrection or civil war?

OBAMA'S ANSWER: Now, I always reserve the right for the president -- as commander in chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests. And if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad. So that is true, I think, not just in Iraq, but that's true in other places. That's part of my argument with respect to Pakistan. I think we should always cooperate with our allies and sovereign nations in making sure that we are rooting out terrorist organizations. But if they are planning attacks on Americans like what happened on 9/11, it is my job, it will be my job as president to make sure that we are hunting them down.

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I find it funny that Obama gets attacked on his name, his so called affiliation with Louis Farakhan and etc. It seems as though it’s a direct ploy to show him as disingenuous & scare politics. All the media affiliates are doing it and it rather distasteful and ignorant. We get on Senator McClain about his comments based on what he heard concerning the debate last night but what about Bussert whatever his name is questioning about the Farrakhan issue. For those who didn't hear the speech of Farrakhan he didn't endorse Barack Obama for the simple fact that you see what's happening now the true colors of good old American hypocrites coming out in full force. As for Hillary I have never seen so much whining and complaining and crying for sympathy votes. I thought a Commander in Chief stands strong & firm despite mud or rocks be thrown. Let me say this there is not doubt about her service to this country but she is not equipped to be a leader. Leadership isn't something that can be manufactured or strategically planned you have to be born with it. She has all the tools as a supporting cast player but doesn't have that "it" factor to carry the leading role but there is something about Obama, it’s like he is destined no matter what. We can knock him about his lack experience internationally but the key thing I see is when everyone else wanted to jump of the cliff to get involved in Iraq he used better judgment stayed true to his convictions and said no.  As far as the negative issues with the slum Lord, he was the highest bidder for the property according to the Chicago Tribune, don’t take my word for it read it for yourself. If that is all the Clintons, McClain, and various media outlets continue to harp on then it’s just plain ignorant.  
I find it funny that Obama gets attacked on his name, his so called affiliation with Louis Farakhan and etc. It seems as though it’s a direct ploy to show him as disingenuous & scare politics. All the media affiliates are doing it and it rather distasteful and ignorant. We get on Senator McClain about his comments based on what he heard concerning the debate last night but what about Bussert whatever his name is questioning about the Farrakhan issue. For those who didn't hear the speech of Farrakhan he didn't endorse Barack Obama for the simple fact that you see what's happening now the true colors of good old American hypocrites coming out in full force. As for Hillary I have never seen so much whining and complaining and crying for sympathy votes. I thought a Commander in Chief stands strong & firm despite mud or rocks be thrown. Let me say this there is not doubt about her service to this country but she is not equipped to be a leader. Leadership isn't something that can be manufactured or strategically planned you have to be born with it. She has all the tools as a supporting cast player but doesn't have that "it" factor to carry the leading role but there is something about Obama, it’s like he is destined no matter what. We can knock him about his lack experience internationally but the key thing I see is when everyone else wanted to jump of the cliff to get involved in Iraq he used better judgment stayed true to his convictions and said no.  As far as the negative issues with the slum Lord, he was the highest bidder for the property according to the Chicago Tribune, don’t take my word for it read it for yourself. If that is all the Clintons, McClain, and various media outlets continue to harp on then it’s just plain ignorant.  
Richard so if we leave Iraq where will they go then. If their goal is to kill Americans where will they go when we leave. Oh yea right they will go home diavow violence and live a peaceful life. Iran will agree with the UN all problems will end. Hell we can disarm the military. The fact that we have not been attacked since means something. Wake up!
John Doe. You're an idiot. Obama is a s mcuh white as he is black!
Al Qeada, Fear mongering, Osama, 9/11, and more of the same Bush crap then Vote for John McCain/Alan Keyes ticket!

If you want the madness to end. Vote Obama
McCain/Jeb Bush 08! that's the ticket
McCain/ Jena Bush 08! This a way to get the youth vote as well as the geriatric vote.
It is odd that neither Russert or Williams followed up on the Farrakhan issue. The glaring issue here is why Sen. Obama would continue to attend a church and have a close relationship with a pastor who is a Farrakhan supporter.  Apparently this pastor is on the record as having made anti-semitic comments himself. Shouldn't this have been the obvious follow-up question?
The open question that now remains is when is McCain going to tell you that Al Qaeda is in Viet Nam or Cambodia and that it is now necessary to go get them out of those countries.

Once you believe that then, of course he will be telling you that they are in your living room and that is is necessary to get them out of there too.

Ect. Until the only one left standing is Mr. McCain.

If you do not see the words  dogmatic fundamentalist written all over Mr McCain, please look again. The boogeyman is everywhere.  
Hey Just..., you are cracking me up, stop it!! ROTFLMAO!  Oh, and I agree with you on your opinion of that John Doe character.  John Doe, if you REALLY wanted to know who Sen. Obama is,  and what he's about try "r-e-a-d-i-n-g".  It's fundamental.
McCain/ justice Clarence Thomas 08! To get the consevative votes.
McCain/Limbaugh 08! to get the comedian votes.
McCain/Coulter 08! to get the transvestite vote
Look, this doesn't require a 3 paragraph answer like so many above. Obama made a mistake answering that question and his " I've got news for McCain" line obfuscates  the main point of the question.  As long as there are people in Iraq who want to do us harm, no candidate will be bringing the troops home. Period!
KJ. hope you enjoy the other combos that followed.
reality sucks wrote, "The fact that we have not been attacked since means something. Wake up!"

What fact are you talking about sucker? We have over 4,000 dead in Iraq from your non-attacks. Perhaps you mean that we have not been attacked at home. But that has nothing to do with the actions (or non-actions really) of the Bush/McCain mob. Other than engaging in PR they have done little to improve security on our borders, ports, airports, power plants, chemical plants, bridges and tunnels. Wake up yourself, or are you in a coma?
McCain/Foley 08! to get the pedophile vote
I apologized if I offended any transvestites for putting them in the same reference as Ann Coulter. ;)
Doug: It has never been ''proven beyond a shadow of a doubt''. The Saddam Era Documents,which were enticingly displayed for a short while by the US Armys Fort Leavenworth,which was the original repositor of these captured documents,over one hundred thousand pages,did show such a connection,however slight. The complete review of these documents[which were never seen by the 9/11 Commission],will be remanded to future historians. The jury is still out.
Peter, if we are so exposed then why have we not been attacked here at home? To think that there is no corelation to me is not being completely honest.If we suck so bad at protecting the home land, why has it not happened? Do you think it was a one time deal? Could be, I dont know. The only fact is that it has not happened. To listen to most anti-war people we have never been so hated around the world. So my question is... If we are so hated and so unprotected why has it not happened?
Felix, no Republican is saying we need to keep the same combat force in Iraq forever. If you ask the typical anti-war Democrat, they believe that Obama and HRC are going to pull out our entire force starting immediatly. I hope that they are inferring this just to satisfy the base. We can not abandon Iraq completely. HRC knows this but she will not talk about troop levels after the initial pull-out. She and Obama only talk about pulling out not about who they will leave... If I am wrong , I could have missed statement please let me know.


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