McCain rekindles Iraq spat with Obama

Posted: Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:38 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
This morning, McCain spoke at the James Baker Institute at Rice University and jumped back into his back-and-forth with Obama. After McCain criticized Obama for his statements at Tuesday's debate, Obama's comeback involved McCain's support for the war from the outset. And today McCain called that kind of thinking counterproductive to moving forward.

"So yesterday, Senator Obama said, 'Well we shouldn't have gone in in the first place, and if we hadn't gone in in the first place we wouldn't be facing this problem,'" the Arizona senator said. "Well, that's history. That's the past. That's talking about what happened before. What we should be talking about is what we're going to do now.

"And what we're going to do now is continue this strategy, which is succeeding in Iraq and we are carrying out the goals of the surge. The Iraqi military are taking over more and more responsibilities, the casualties are down, and we will be able to withdraw and come home. But we will come home with honor."

After leaving Rice, McCain traveled to an airport near Houston to receive the endorsement of former Secretary of State James Baker, and he succinctly reiterated his critiques of Obama's position.

"This is not about decisions that were made in the past," McCain said. "This is about decisions that a president will have to make about the future in Iraq."

Baker, also well-known for heading up the Iraq Study Group, voiced his agreement with McCain's view of the situation in Iraq.

"I think what Senator McCain's position is today is quite consistent with what we said in the Iraq Study Group Report," Baker said. "We negated the idea of setting a timetable, a withdrawal date...we also said and pointed out that we're going to have American forces in Iraq for a long time to come."

This last line may help sooth the ire of some independents who were upset by McCain's "100 years" in Iraq statement, and felt that more of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations should have been implemented.

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Comments

McCain's message: "Maybe we made a mistake, but we need to keep on making it until it's not a mistake anymore."

Crissie Brown (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:43 PM)

'...This is about decisions that a president will have to make about the future in Iraq."...'

BOMB, BOMB, BOMB
BOMB, BOMB IRAN .....

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:44 PM)

McCain's decision to vote for this needless war is relevant. His judgement in voting to give Bush/Cheney authorization to go into Iraq speaks volumes about the kinds of decisions he'd make as president.

Take ownership of your decision to vote for this war Senator McCain. Rather than go after those that attacked our our country on 9/11 Buah, Cheney, and McCain led us into Iraq under false pretenses.

America deserves leadership far better than that.

Enrique, Chicago (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:47 PM)

McCain/OBAMA STUPID? or STUPIDEST?
Save America, write in Hillary for president, there is space on your ballot, use it!

Write in Hillary (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:47 PM)

AWESOME!
McCain is the man! Period!
Way to turn the tables on this tax-n-spend-n-run candidate!
McCain in '08!

Kyd70,SC (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:48 PM)

As a Viet Nam vet, I hear McCain raising themes of that era such as the Nixonian "peace with honor". I can't help but wonder if McCain is still fighting that war in order to rewrite history and exorcise personal demons.

The sniping from the right about the patriotism of Michelle Obama also resonates with finger pointing 60's themes.

Do we really want to go there again?

Obie, Burtrum, Mn (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:49 PM)

Oh, John McCain, how silly can you be? "He's talking about the past! The past doesn't matter any more! This is about moving forward!"

So what's your strategy for moving forward, John McCain?
"The strategy of the past should be continued!"

Is this REALLY what Obama is going to be going up against? Obama is going to completely smother John McCain in a debate if that's the best reasoning McCain can muster...

Obama's right. He's the only choice on foreign policy. There are too many cheap outs for McCain if Hillary is the nominee.

Obama '08!

Ron, TX (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:50 PM)

Yeah you see there senator john that most of us are sick and tired of being lied to and led astray by well meaning but nonetheless wrong people like you and george bush who got us into iraq...why would we trust someone like you to finish a mess that you led the cheers for?

Mccain may whine about war execution but he sure voted for every single bush war budget and appointee he made...he is as responsible as bush for the abortion in iraq

Rick, NC (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:53 PM)

Obama has McCain on the defensive already. McCain's response here doesn't hold much water. "Let's not talk about my judgement in the past." That hasn't worked out so well for Hillary on Iraq.

Eric, Newtown, PA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:53 PM)

John McCain was WRONG in going into Iraq. Until he is willing to admit that, nothing is going to get accomplished. How can we expect someone who didn't have the judgment to see what was coming in Iraq lead the war in Iraq? Obama had the judgment to know what was going on and he understood that Iraq would shift our focus from Afghanistan where AlQuida really is. We can't let someone who got us into the war be elected into office if we expect our troops to come home. McCain is not willing to admit his mistake and without that there can be no reconciliation with the american public.

Johnson, New Orleans, LA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:54 PM)

With that line of thinking, McCain would be a perfect candidate for the White House.....

If we were still in the middle of the Cold War.

Joe - STL (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:56 PM)

McCain wants to keep the issue on Iraq as long as possible. It's the only way he has to firm up the republican base. Also, If conditions in Iraq improve dramatically before November, it will be his key to getting elected.

Wilson, Seattle (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:57 PM)

Never mind what we did...let's just do it some more!

Expelliarmus, OH (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:57 PM)

Is McCain serious? Is he really going to run a campaign on "Don't get your hopes up!" and "Don't bring up the past because it's irrelevant to the future!"?

Whether you're on trial, or in a job interview, what you've done and said in the past is important as its a great indicator of future behavior. Obama isn't bringing up something McCain voted on 30 years ago, he's bringing up something McCain voted for less than six years ago. If McCain doesn't want to be held accountable for his support of Bush's policies, then he should "denounce and reject" them.

Until he does so, he's fair game on all of them.

Mister Anderson, Milwaukee, WI (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:58 PM)

HOLD ONTO YOUR SEATS --- Next Hillary or Bill will accuse Obama of being part of "a vast right-wing conspircay!
=====================================================

ed ehdlam, sun city, az (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:59 PM)

So what is this old fool going to do about the future of AMERICA!!??

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:59 PM)

McCain and the Republicans have little credibility when it comes to the issue of Iraq as well as the war on terror. Any smart stradegist would have finished the job in Afghanistan(meaning staying there until we had captured and/or killed Osama Bin Laden) before evading Iraq. Furthermore, if McCain thinks that Americans are going to allow this war to continue much longer, he needs to check for senility. Nevermind the 100 more years he's been talking about.
Our troops need to be home or refocused on the war on terror by the mid-term elections. Anything else is totally unacceptable, in my view.

David Washington Savanah, GA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:59 PM)

McCain just took the bait. It's so sad. I liked him too in 2000, but he's lost some of it since then. In his effort to "sooth the ire of some independents", he just gave up his only stance.

Just watch, you'll see what I mean... I hear a freight train coming.

BL, Cincinnati OH (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:00 PM)

John McCain is a one note old song...war, war, war. We surrendered in Vietnam and keeping that protracted battle going long after we should have gotten out proved nothing and lost many more innocent lives. When McCain says we have to win in Iraq, I wish he would articulate what exactly winning in Iraq is as the current administration keeps moving the goal posts as does McCain. So please let the American people know what winning in Iraq constitutes! Most of the smart money says there is no winning in Iraq so I suppose we will just have to stay there forever. He will use fear and surrender as tactics to get elected just like W did. The only difference is McCain is a military man and all he knows is WAR and WAR is where he is most comfortable. It is in his blood! Be afraid America, be afraid!

MG, St. Louis, MO. (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:00 PM)

We'll continue babysitting an Iraqi government that has made minimal progress? (no mention of benchmarks any more) We'll continue to sit idly while the Kurdish rebels incite another "war"? We'll continue to spend billions every month while bridges collapse and children go without adequate health insurance? We'll continue to focus on Iraq while Pakistan and Afghanistan collapse into chaos?

Great plan.

Randy E (SC) (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:00 PM)

Of course this campaign is about past decisions. It's about learning from gross mistakes and NOT repeating it.

It's ludicrous to take that stance...it's a blanket pardon of all the ineptness of President Bush and Dick Chaney and Rumsfeld.

According to his words, John McCain's previous experience had no value for American, after all, it's in the past.

Donna Engstrom (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:00 PM)

So, if McCain doesn't want Obama talking about the past but wants to focus on the future, is it not fair that McCain do the same? Please don't ask Obama what has he done. That's the past. Just make sure you ask him what he plans to do...that's the future.

DJ Woo, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:01 PM)

Yes Mr. McCain it is about decisions made in the past. More importantly, it's about who will make those decisions in the future.

You Sir, inspite of your honorable service to this country, have not shown the judgement to be trusted with this decision making. So, please don't insult the intelligence of the American People with your attempt to convince us we should trust you now.

Rozetter, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:01 PM)

Obama can carry the same message to McCain that he is carrying to Clinton. Once you've driven the bus in the ditch, you gotta call someone else to get it out!

Andrew, MO (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:01 PM)

McCaain is forgetting that his support for this stupid war will be a liability in doing the necessary diplomatic work to bring a responsible end to the war.

The world needs to see that WE have changed, that WE elected someone whose judgement was correct from the outset; that WE will go the extra mile to repair the damage done; that WE are not a nation to fear and mistrust; that WE take responsibility for our mistakes; that WE were misrepresented by Bush.

McCain's support for the was negates that possibility. Electing him would signal to the world, that we have not changed; that we are afraid to take responsibility for our mistakes; that we were represented by correctly by Bush.

Obama gives us an opportunity to reintroduce our country to the rest of the world and that is something we desperately need.

adam/NYC (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:02 PM)

Didn't Jim Baker and Iraq Study Group say that there is no military solution to Iraq? Violence is down but at wht level is continued killing and maiming acceptable. The current level of the US military surge cannot be maintained beyond April 2008 without making some serious US International Military changes, meanwhile Afghanistan slips into more decay with Taliban, Al-Qaida, and druglords causing havoc. If Obama and McCain are the nominees of their parties, the Democrats would have to challenge McCain on how many lives, serious injuries, and national treasure America needs to commit to "win" in Iraq.

AJ, IL (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:03 PM)

McCain's judgement needs to be questioned. He supported the invasion of a country innocent concerning 9/11. 4000 Americans have died as a result..not to mention many thousands of Iraqi's and other "coalition" (joke-joke)forces. McCain says the invasion and the occupation are history and Senator Obama is wrong to talk about it. And yet the idiot says Bush's strategy is working. That's like a murderer in court saying what's done is done let me continue. This man shouldn't even be in the senate.

bill, okla (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:04 PM)

McCain likes driving buses into ditches, its heroic. After Barack Obama becomes President and is very busy restoring a FUNCTIONAL government, McCain, Bush, Cheney & their neo-con war loving buddies can take a couple of well armored tanks down to the ranch in Texas and play war to their hearts' content where they won't hurt anybody.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:05 PM)

The only way to gauge a person's decision making competence in the future is to look at their decisions in the past. McCain simply blew it and his vision of the world is only a mirror of his mistaken perceptions.
It's time for a new outlook.

Stephen, Farmington, NM (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:05 PM)

This back and forth is great and a heck of a lot more substantive and worth thinking about than the campaign of distractions that the Clinton camp was waging ...... but Sen. McCain would be on more solid ground if he *had* listened to the debate and realized that Sen. Obama's comments were made in response to a question that required him to *assume* that troops had been withdrawn and there was subsequently a significan built-up of terrorists in Iraq. --- Sen. McCain may well not know the full context of the comments that he is challenging.

Obama was NOT answering the question of what course of action he is proposing now ... with troops and terrorists already in Iraq. He has answered that in the past, however: he intends to gather the generals and others knowledgeable in the area and get their input on developing the safest, most responsible way to get out.

Elizabeth (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:05 PM)

" What we should be talking about is what we're going to do now."

You already have - "Stay the course. Don't think about mistakes, don't plan beyond next week and someday call it "glorious victory" no matter what the situation and even if it tears this country apart."

Give some thought to this country, John.

Next.

Lee in CA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:05 PM)

Justification for occupation is the current position our government has put us in. McCain would have us occupying Iraq just because we are there. Iraq is currently in worse condition than when Saddam governed the country. Al Quida did not enter and gain a foothold until we killed Saddam. We are the problem in Iraq. We need to get out and allow the Iraqui people put their own government together. We have absolutly no business imposing rule over a culture we know nothing about. I know McCain and the warbirds need to declare sometype of victory to preserve their honor, but it is now time for the peacebirds to fly. There is no honor in trying to shoot flys with a cannon. We do better fighting a defensive war.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:05 PM)

Donna Engstrom (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:07 PM)

I continue to laugh at how the populus can be missled by Mc Cain and the Repubs. The Surge is not working. At the monemnt al-Sadar just extended his Cease Fire for another six months. The Us Generals gave a sign of relief. They can now continue with their fairy tale that the Surege is working. Do you know that a another Army not agreeing with al-Sadar is opposed to his decision . This group is mainly in the South of Iraq. Booming and deaths have increased already. No doubt the Mc Cain will say this is Alqueida. Did you know that we the American tax payer and not the Iraqi government pays the Iraqi Millitary. We pay shias ten dollars a day in the al-Sadar area of Bagdad to watch the Streets. We pay shop owners up to 2 thousand to open their businesses. We pay the Iraqi army. American tax payers are trying to buy off their Civil War. The Iraqi Governemnt just past a bill for the Fall elections and then veto it. The Surge is not working Millitaryily or Politically. The New York Times has a new informational running article on "Bagdad Bureau" it is terrific. Where is the rest of the Press?

VI WI (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:07 PM)

To both McCain and Baker: Go to some one's nursing home and retire. We have had it with you old guys messing this country up. You have had your chance. It did not work. Baker needs to be hog tied and whipped for his role in giving us Bush. You all represent 60 years of bad policy, wrong thinking and attitudes that are completly out of touch with today's world. SHUT-UP!

loris bay (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:07 PM)

You're right,Senator McCain,this isn't about the past.That's why I'm voting Democratic.

Charles (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:08 PM)

Of course McCain doesn't want to talk about the past. He can't explain away mistake after mistake made by Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld. But, if he wants to talk about the future, let him explain how leaving 140,000 soliders in a country far away from Bin Laden's headquarters is going to make this country safe from a future attack by Bin Laden. We have squandered the resources of our wonderful troops in a war that had nothing to do with 9/11 (except in Dick Cheney's dreams) while allowing our real enemies, who we had on the run, to rearm. Now, instead of beefing up our security at home, we're throwing money down a bottomless hole in Iraq. If McCain wants to talk about the future, how does he define success in Iraq. Can he guarantee the American people that a pro-western democracy will evolve in Iraq? Of course not. Bush the Elder bailed out Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in 1991 and they're already giving us the back of their hand. Finally, the next time McCain praises Bush II for keeping us safe these past six years, remember that he's been president for seven years. The attacks at the Pentagon, in Shankville, and in lower Manhattan happened on Bush's watch. Remember that Rice and her deputy were warned by the CIA two months earlier and didn't do a damn thing to prevent the murder of 3000 people.

GW1970 (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:12 PM)

oh, that's right, John - my friend - we should take every politician at his word and not utilize the past to tell us more about your decision making, instead would should allow politicians to slick talk their way about anything without recognizing that it is contradictory to their past...hmmmm....my friend, you can't have it both ways

ATLhusker, Atlanta, GA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:13 PM)

I thought this was a global war on terror. Where are our allies in this war. The US and its citizens are in the minority and yet is supplying most of the people, equipment, and money to support this war. Either the Allies don't consider it a major threat or the US decided that it needs to police the world

Bob, Colorado (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:13 PM)

Baker, you're talking out of your hindquarters! We needed to be here this long, just to set a timetable? Horse poop! We haven't gotten a damn thing right over there, dating back to "oops, no WMDs! My bad!" What makes you think we'll get this right? Are there any Bakers in uniform?

Joe Einloth (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:16 PM)

We'll have to stay in Iraq 100 years. Someone has to guard the OIL Fields, Senator McCain. So, you can say it's all about the present.....because it is about the OIL and -- there is nothing more "present tense" more than OIL...$101.55 a barrel today.

Barbara C., Pompano Beach, FL (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:16 PM)

Tell the over 4,000 dead soldiers families "that's the past"...you drove the bus into the ditch, now you think you're best qualified to get us out. Your experience counts for nothing if you keep making mistakes.

John (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:17 PM)

How convenient that Senator McCain wants to forget "the past" when it suits him, and wants to run on his "experience" the rest of the time.

Nice try, but I'm not buying it. All the problems we are currently facing in Iraq were predictable and predicted, and John McCain needs to face up to the tremendous consequences that we are facing as a result.

America can't afford more foreign policy debacles to fulfill his narrow view of "honor".

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:17 PM)

First, it is about decisions made in the past, because without looking at past decisions, we wouldn't have any basis for judge the future likely judgments of either candidate.

Second, returning with "honor" is a relative term. Regardless of how stable or chaotic the situation in Iraq were to become, most of the world and a good percentage of Americans see no honor in this. They only see resources being spent, and probably just for the benefit of the future greater Iran.

The honor comment isn't a reflection on the military, which has performed honorably all in all. But McCain talks like he's still in the military. He's not, and despite the title "commander in chief," both candidates are running to fulfill the office designed by the Founding Fathers, which is one of civilian leader over the military.

Civilian leaders ought to be concerned with national strategy and cost/benefit analyses, I think, and perhaps less concerned with battlefield honor. That's a romantic luxury they can't afford to have.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:18 PM)

I agree with McCain on this one. When is Obama going to stop saying he was against the war. We get it-but what exactly is he going to do about it?? He doesn't really have a specific plan. I see Obama as a very risky choice for President and I am a registered democrat. I will vote for McCain in November, and none of the polls are talking about Dems who will vote Republican, but I know plenty of them.

Mary B, Dover, NH (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:19 PM)

Past judgement plays a role in future decisions. So it is very current to talk about the reason why AQ is currently in Iraq. Do we want the same people who got us into this mess in the first place making the same decisions for our future? After McCain and Co are done we may have AQ in every country across the globe!

Carl, Atlanta, GA (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:19 PM)

My friend, how long do we want to continue to Pay, Sunni's ($300)Not to fight American's?My friend, the Oil revenues are beginning to Pay divedends, just look, Oil is Only $102 a barrel.My friend, the Gates of Hell are in Iraq!My friend, my Mind is Only 71 years old, at this point in My life, There is No Hope. My friend, i only want to take you with me as I've not long to be on this earth.My friend, i borrowed $$$ & as collateral, i used matching fund's from the Government. My friend, You will Pay for my campaign also, one way or the other.My friend, my wife is Not a Druggie.O wait, which Wife are we referring to.One last thing, My friend!

S C R E W Y O U !!!!!

Rick,ky (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:19 PM)

McWar said; That's in the past; that's history. Guess what Bush Lite?......so are YOU! Time to get your afghan and go sit down....it's over before you begin. Have a nice retirement.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:20 PM)

The most reasonable response to McCain is to ask him where he was when Hurican Karina happens, what was his efforts to salvage the destroyed city? Non! but he needs to talk tough to have the vote because he is not alive when Karina happens. I want everybody to compare New Orleans to a city that natural disaster wages war against. Why don't we take the war to who causes tonado to destroy the city of New Orleans??
Go there and witness how that city look likes now, but we can talk tough to get elected while we are wasting trillion of dollars on sheding blood and we can not help your own people here. The stupidity behind this war was that because of one sole thousands of lives that has nothing to do with terriorism has die and it's a good policy???Republicans find difficult to take care of their own people but braging about to save America and they are all here when tonado ravage New Orleans

I hope all this issue of security works for him, because we don't want to die here but we can inflict dead on other humanbeign because they were helpless.

Bade Florissant, MO (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:20 PM)

I agree with both candidates. What we do going forward is what is important now, but to not understand why you drove the 'bus into the ditch' will only make it more likely that you will drive the bus into a ditch again in the future. Senator Obama has said 'we will be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting.' Senator McCain needs to say 'we should not have gone to Iraq, but we now have fix what we broke.'

John, Dallas (Sent Thursday, February 28, 2008 1:22 PM)

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