McCain agrees with bin Laden?

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:16 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Adam Aigner-Treworgy
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Usually the political response to a new message from Osama bin Laden is one of universal condemnation, but at a VFW hall in Chula Vista here yesterday, John McCain announced his agreement with an aspect of a recent bin Laden message.

"General Petraeus is correct when he says that the central battleground in the struggle against Al Qaeda is Iraq, and Osama bin Laden just confirmed that again with his comments last week," McCain said before quoting a line from a recent audio recording of bin Laden calling for support of the Mujahadeen in Iraq.

VIDEO: McCain tells an audience that he agrees with Osama bin Laden's statement that Iraq is a primary battleground in the U.S. struggle against Al Qaeda.

McCain told reporters after his town hall, "General Petraeus and I and Osama bin Laden are in agreement. It is hard to understand why Senator Clinton and Senator Obama do not understand that [Iraq is the central battleground]. I don't know if it is naiveté or what the problem is but it's obvious that they're dead wrong, and they're wrong when they say that we should leave Iraq immediately… and it's time that they acknowledge that the surge is succeeding and the benefits of success in Iraq will spread throughout the entire Middle East."

Although the sentiments of his comments are not new, by asking why Clinton and Obama disagree with Osama bin Laden, Gen. Petraeus and himself, McCain selected some strange bedfellows. Like his statement that American troops could be in Iraq for more than 100 years, this sound bite seems ripe for Democratic criticism or at least advertised exaggeration.

While calling on Clinton and Obama to get with the program on acknowledging the importance of the current battle in Iraq, McCain also called on Clinton to apologize for statements she made in September that believing the surge was succeeding would require a "willing suspension of disbelief."

"I don't think I would change the strategy [in Iraq] now unless General Petraeus recommended it," McCain said. "But I would also argue that when Sen. Clinton said that you'd have to suspend -- a willing suspension of disbelief in order to believe that the surge was succeeding, I'm wondering when she's going to apologize for that statement. I'm wondering when they're going to stop advocating a date for withdrawal when we are succeeding in Iraq."

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Comments

Shouldn't the central battleground on the war against al-Qaeda be where al-Qaeda actually is?

CitizenJ (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:24 PM)

I wonder if the Senate will censure him similar to how they censured MoveOn.org...

Funny how clueless half-wits like John McCain cannot figure out that the only reason Al Queda even has a presence in Iraq in the first place is BECAUSE people like Bush, Clinton and himself chose to invade it!

...of course, McCain seems to get all of those goofy non-Americans mixed up, so we should cut him a little slack because I am told he is some sort of "Maverick."

Brian Hussein (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:30 PM)

Hear-Hear. Sure Osama Bin Laden wants us to believe that Iraq is where we should focus our anti-al-Qaeda effort. That way he can guide his "forces" safely from Pakistan and Afganistan.

McCain continues to show just how naive he is about the "War on Terror" and how he cannot differentiate between it and the tragedy in Iraq.

Democrat (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:34 PM)

[["General Petraeus is correct when he says that the central battleground in the struggle against Al Qaeda is Iraq, and Osama bin Laden just confirmed that again with his comments last week," McCain said ]]

McCain could fly a plane. Sort of. But he sounds like he doesn't have a clue about military strategy: never fight a battle on the field chosen by the enemy if you can avoid it. But that's exactly what Bush/McCain have done and that's why they are losing the "war on terror" so disastrously.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:34 PM)

Yep, that's what America needs - A president who agrees with Osama Bin Laden - - where are all the Republicans NOW who said al-Qaeda would be dancing in the streets if Obama won??????? Looks like they've got a friend in McWar, no Obama. Will McCain's patriotism be questioned as Obama's has? Course not; he was a prisoner of war.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:36 PM)

Goes to show that McCain is senile. He needs someone next to him to make sure he doesn't 'mis-speak'. And one thing that worries me about him, or anyone, who leads off every sentence with 'my friend', is that he doesn't even know you, and really doesn't care to. You are a means to an end, and that's all it amounts to. My friend. Why doesn't he just say, 'hey stupid'. It means the same thing. And now he is willing to hang homeowners out to dry. No bail out for homeowners. Why not? Easy. They can't do anything for him.

Doctor Doubt, Ill (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:36 PM)

Well, he's long, long, lost john
long, long, lost john.

Lost john standing by the railroad track
a-waitin' for the freight train to come back.
The freight train come back but never made a stop
lost john thought he'd ride to the top
Well, he's long, long, lost john
yeah, long, long, lost john.

Pat Burns, Santa Fe NM (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:36 PM)

Of course Bin Laden wants us to believe the central battleground against al-Qaeda is in Iraq. How silly is this to believe his "confirmation"?? While he stays tucked safely away in Pakistan plotting his next move ... he encourages us to keep our eye off the ball in Iraq. He must be laughing in his sleep.

sunny, nv (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:37 PM)

There are militants who call themselves "al Qaeda in Iraq" but they have no direct connections to and do not take orders from the _real_ al Qaeda now rebuilding itself in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The two are not the same. McCain has shown that he doesn't know the difference between Shia Iran and Sunni al Qaeda, so I doubt he'd be able to pick up the more subtle distinction between the two al Qaeda's.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:38 PM)

"Shouldn't the central battleground on the war against al-Qaeda be where al-Qaeda actually is?"
-CitizenJ

They ARE in Iraq, as well as some areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Who else, besides all leading US generals, experts, and Al-Qaeda leaders, do you need to convince you that THEY ARE IN IRAQ. Were they there before the war? No, but they are NOW. Deal with the problem we have NOW, not the stupid mistakes GWB have made.

Student, Newark, NJ (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:39 PM)

"the benefits of success in Iraq will spread throughout the entire Middle East."
-------------------------
Could someone please explain what SUCCESS in Iraq is exactly? Is it an occupation like Korea? These people have been killing each other forever.... when are they going to stop and how much money should we pay? How about we go after Al Queda where they are hiding instead of waiting for them in Iraq?

Chuck K, Buffalo, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:40 PM)

First Read, I rarely attack your posts themselves, but it is very irresponsbile to use this phrase...

"John McCain announced his support of bin Laden's most recent message."

Though you mean to use it ironically, it aligns John McCain with the message itself, rather than the concept that Osama believes Iraq is the primary battleground. The message in it's entirety is anti-American and calls for our destruction, so if you want to use irony, then you need to be careful that you don't make all-encompassing statements like this.

This is an election year, and you of all should know that words like "support" and "message" have connotations that make them buzz words to the American political discourse. Please update this with a change to that line.

I noticed when Obama said he wouldn't decry his pastor on a personal level, you didn't say, "Obama supports Rev. Wright's message." Please do the other candidates the same COURTESY.

However, I do appreciate that you said that McCain's 100 years comment, which he referred to asa military presence, which does not have to be hostile, and can actually be a symbol of long-standing cooperation, such as in Japan, Italy, and Germany since WW2, was "ripe for Democratic criticism or at least advertised exaggeration." You're basically begging democrats to attack McCain's Osama comment.

McCain 08 (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:43 PM)

CNN reported today that there is more violence in Iraq this month, so how can it be said that the surge is working?

Judy (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:44 PM)

I thought McCain was supposed to be somewhat bright. Of course Bin Laden will do and say all he can to keep our forces bogged down in Iraq so that Al Quaeda can flourish in other parts of the world. So he has McCain and Patreaus chasing ghosts in Iraq while keeping our troops bogged down and breaking our piggy bank while his forces strengthen themselves in Pakistan and other locations. He has McCain right where he wants him.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:45 PM)

I hope that quote is splashed across the papers tomorrow morning. This wasn't a gaffe, flap, or senior moment. John McCain agrees with Bin Laden...because that's who we should be listening to about fighting al-Qaeda right?

Get the old man outta here!

AJ, Philly (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:48 PM)

McCain is showing his true colors when it comes to his knowledge of al-Qaeda: he knows nothing. Of course Bin Laden wants us to think that Iraq is the battleground for al-Qaeda because he is probably in Pakistan or Afghanistan.

Democrat, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:48 PM)

If this were Obama or CLinton it would be on Msnbc's main page in giant font. He is so mired in warmongering that he is willing to agree with a killer who also loves war. Disgusting!

Al, Toledo OH (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:55 PM)

I watched Frontline last night. Chilling. Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush and now McCain, living out their meglomanic fantasies, playing with our military like little boys playing with tin soldiers. What a demented administration. I'm not a Hillary supporter, but even she would be a more effective commander-chief than the insulting, angry, Bush-loving McCain.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:55 PM)

al-Qaeda is in Iraq. They are not a significant (~2%) part of the problem there, but they do exist in Iraq. However they have much greater numbers in Pakistan, where Musharaff has placated this administration by handing over members of the Taliban and allowing al-Qaeda to flourish. But they're probably all the same to Sen. McCain, who thinks Iran is training all the Sunnis, what with them being the only Shia power in the Middle East.

Seth, Kalamazoo, MI (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:56 PM)

Senator McCain, sir, Mr. 'hundred years war'; can you say 'weapons of mass destruction' w/o misspeaking, or misvoting for a needless war? You did'nt find any WMDs. Let those people solve their own problems. We were not invited there. We invaded. We should pack-up, back-up, and get-out.

If you are so concerned with Democracy, admonish Rush, and his adherents that their shenanigans interfering with the Democratic primaries is the height of un-American behavior.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:57 PM)

The policies of the Bush adminstration are succeeding...in pushing the death toll of american troops over 4,000

mdt (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:00 PM)

Hmn, when did bin Laden come to be seen as a reputable source of information? If bin Laden thinks things should be certain way, we should too? Gadzooks, McCain is
FRIGHTENING!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:08 PM)

If we had stayed out of Iraq, then Al Quaeda would have too, now we have opened the door for them. We used to call really stupid people "dumb as a rock", now we can honestly say "dumb as a bush".

Union Baby, Tennessee (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:09 PM)

Shouldn't the central battleground on the war against al-Qaeda be where al-Qaeda actually is? CitizenJ (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:24 PM)

Sure, but if Osama bin Laden can convince Bush/McCain to buy something different, he's happy to oblige. False intelligence used by the falsely intelligent to perpetrate (and perpetuate) an unnecessary war. Where have we seen that syndrome before?

Amy Anderson, Eden Prairie, MN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:09 PM)

CitizenJ is correct. The vote to go war in Iraq gaurantied the survival of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Not only did this move leave terrorists in an unstable country with nuclear weapons, but it probably is the reason why Benazir Bhutto is dead. That is if a Taliban truely shot her.

Dwaine, Colorado Springs, CO (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:11 PM)

I have a hard time understanding why McCain is on this Iraq bandwagon. Bush, Cheney, et al., I understand their reasoning (or lack thereof). But I guess I like to think of McCain as a reasonable fellow and this just doesn't follow. If there is any justice in this world this man will NOT be our next president.

No Bush on the ballot (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:13 PM)

This guy wants to find any reason to stay in Iraq even if means agreeing with terrorists. Very scary thought for McSame to continue this lossing war.

Earl Fridley, San Antonio, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:14 PM)

Maybe McCain should think about this for a minute. Then he might realize the only reason that Bin Laden agrees with McCain on this issue is because Iraq has been one of Al Qaeda's best recruting tools and has been an obvious drain on U.S. resources. He would like nothing more then to see us there for decades, and if we are, chances are Bin Laden will be commenting on it then as well.

Republicants (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:15 PM)

When your policy is in agreement with Bin Laden, it's time to take a step back and ask: WHY?

Of course Bin Laden would like us to stay in Iraq. We're the catalyst for terrorism there. What better motive to recruit than: "get the infidel colonialists out of the Land Between the Rivers!"

Not only is our presence in Iraq a great rallying point for radicals, it is also a training ground. People come to Iraq for a chance at "Jihad". They learn to shoot, to build bombs, to hide, terrorize, and murder.

The argument for prolonged presence in Iraq is that Al Quaeda will "take over", "set up shot", garner Iraq as a base and coalesce, etc. What proof or reasoning is there to back this up? Why should we believe that Iraqi citizens would want this to happen, or would let it happen. Why should we assume that Iraq would stand idly by while Sunni religious radicals hang out and blow things up day in and day out? This goes against common sense.

One final question no one seems to address. What is preventing us from returning to Iraq, as necessary, if the worst case scenario should realize?

JTS, Seattle, WA (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:16 PM)

If McCain would stop and think for a minute, he might realize that the only reason Bin Laden agrees with him is because Iraq has proven to be an excellent Al Qaeda recruiting and training ground and has been a giant burdon to the U.S. The terrorist leader would like nothing more then for us to stay for decades, and if we continue the same strategy, Bin Laden will be commenting then as well.

Republicants (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:18 PM)

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID. Bin Laden would love nothing better than to have old "Bomb Iran" McCain in the White House. And dumba-- "W" and his chicken hawks are the only reason Bin Laden still exists for McCain to agree with.

bill, okla (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:29 PM)

Falcon, Singapore (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:34 PM)

One of the dumber things I heard about McCain last week when he 'misspoke' about the Sunnies, Shiites, Iraq, and Iran was that one of his aides said something to the effect that the senator doesn't need to understand religion, only foreign policy !??!

HE CAN'T *POSSIBLY* BE SERIOUS !?!?!

If he doesn't understand even the MINOR differences in the religions, HOW can he think he can even BEGIN to exercise something that resembles SMART foreign policy? And he actually CLAIMS to be a:
"Foreign Policy Expert"

I am hard-pressed to believe that the GOP couldn't do any better then this !?!??!!

Pat Brooklyn, Ct (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:13 PM)

First of all, if you have no military experience: please stop spouting off. Second, you need to listen to Sen McCain on this one.

Wendy, Georgetown, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:58 PM)

Is there any difference the DNC and MSNBC?

Mark E., Mokena, IL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:59 PM)

Wow!!! As I read all these blogs I realize how dumb you all really are. Most of you are just stuck on the " I hate Bush crap"Get over it. The votes were counted over and over and he still won. Most of you have no clue of what is going on outside the US. How many of you have been to Iraq? maybe one or two. As a soldier I detest your comments. Of course with the support of drive by media and the "I hate Bushies", the terrorist will win.It makes me sick that spineless fools like you even talk. Yes we are beginning to win but I am sure you do not what that to happen. Not to worry though, cut and run Obama will stop that. Not to worry about Obama though, Hillary will steal this election from the voters.(and with out any recounts, that only applies to the Republican party when the Dem's loose) Heck she can finish the last war she and her husband started. Oh, you all forgot about that. Remember Kosovo. We are still there. You think she will leave Iraq? Nope, she just wants to be in office. Had the liberal media been as critical Kosovo as they are about Iraq, we would still be fighting there as well. Not to worry though, you all can thank Jimmy the peanut farmer for starting all this crap in the 70's. There will be no end. We leave Iraq, Afganistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Africa, South America, the war will continue on US soil. But it seems that is what you all want. And I bet they will not want to hug and sing songs of love. BETTER WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!

Jim, Pa (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:13 PM)

(To the tune of "Barbara Ann")

Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran
Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran
Why bomb Iran?
Because we can!
Let's nuke Tehran,...
McCain's rockin' and a rollin'
He's leadin' in the pollin'
bomb bomb bomb; bomb Iran

War is underway, we'll make Mahmoud pay
but our missile parts accidentally went to Taipei
Let's bomb Iran please
(how do say that in Chinese?)

but first we gotta get back

BeachBoy (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:52 PM)

First off, ITS A RECORDING!! of Osama Bin Laden, we dont know if its him, or an impostor....who knows, it could've been someone in McCains camp who put this radio transmission up to support his issues to stay in Iraq.....McCain keeps saying the war is a success when the 2 reasons we went into Iraq have now been disproven by our own government...1 we never found WMD's, we found canisters from the 1950's, 2.Sadam Hussein had no ties to Al Qaida.....Obama08

Oregon4Obama (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:09 PM)

Does that make McCain not electable? Siding with the most wanted man in the world? Seems to me he is saying "God damn America"!! Under no circumstances should a candidate agree with Bin Ladin. Nor should a member of our military services agree with that terrorist who planned 9/11. I am appalled at Senator McCain, most especially because he is running for President!! Is this how he is going to make his decisions as President of the USA? God help us all!!

NinaK (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:37 PM)

I find it very likely that Osama Bin Laden released this message hoping to get the USA to continue staying in Iraq. The occupation is like a yoke that is crushing the US economy and allowing Al Qaeda to rebuild in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Hopefully, America doesn't fall for it.
---------------------------------------
McCain, the Republican nominee for President, has already fallen for it!! God almighty, is he going to base his decisions by automatically agreeing with our enemies? Folks, this is downright frightening!!

NinaK (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:40 PM)

These polititions dance around Iraq, they should have dropped a bomb on Al-Qaeda and erraticated them. But their alternative motive's are what drive the war decisions(oil, political interest, etc) Instead of solving the problem, they sacrifice our young troops and americas money. Their are a small handfull of people in this country making all the decisions, and they are making them for their own benifit, not the american peoples benifit. It become more and more apparent each day.

Mike Halls, Cinci, OH (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:02 PM)

Oh, wow. John McCain agrees with Bin Laden. "Gee, that's not spin. . ."

Jason, Mishawaka IN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:08 PM)

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