McCain: Iraq war was for oil?

Posted: Friday, May 02, 2008 2:07 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
At the conclusion of a town hall held this morning outside in Denver, McCain decided to toss in a plug for his upcoming energy policy rollout. But in the midst of decrying the dangers of Americans reliance on foreign oil, McCain seemed to suggest that this reliance caused the current struggle in Iraq.

"My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will -- that will then prevent us -- that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East,” McCain said.

This comment was initially prompted by a compliment from a military veteran, who stated he hoped a group called, "Swift Boats for McCain come out and help" the GOP nominee, somehow leading McCain to go into an unprompted defense of the current attack campaign against him -- based on his 100-year statement.

"You have seen an ad campaign that is mounted against me that says I wanted to stay and fight in Iraq for a 100 years," McCain said to a crowd at a Jewish Community Center. "My friends, it’s a direct falsification, and I’m sorry that political campaigns have to deteriorate in this fashion, because there’s legitimate differences between myself and Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton on what we should do in Iraq. After we win the war in Iraq ... then I’m talking about a security arrangement that may or may not be the same kind of thing we have with South -- with Korea."

McCain thanked the man for his good wishes and his service in the military.

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Comments

Freudian slip?

Sick of corruption, sick of the Clintons (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:12 PM)

"My Friends" Its always been about the oil stupid!

Brother Odd (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:17 PM)

The fact that you cannot tell the American people HOW and WHEN you intend to win the war is in itself a clear indication that you meant every single word of 100 YEARS IN IRAQ.

Spin it all you want JOHN MCCAIN, You're for 100 YEARS IN IRAQ. That's the truth!

Ike (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:17 PM)

There is no war in iraq, there is only an occupation of iraq by us troops.

How do you win an occupation? You find a reason to declare yourselves unnecessary and leave.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:18 PM)

At least he is honest about the real reasoning behind the war. "Control the region and protect our oil supply source"...

If only he was that honest about the real price of oil; when you factor in the countless American and Iraqi lives lost or destroyed by this war and the billions of dollars spent to "protect" the source.

Does not matter whether or not we want to pay more for oil; we are paying more, one way or another!!

Tony, Dalton, GA. (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:19 PM)

We have seen oil prices skyrocket since we have been in Iraq. That is the same lie President Bush told us we would have cheaper oil and the cost of the war would pay for itself.

If McCain wants to distance himself from Bush that is not the route to take.

Tiffany, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:19 PM)

Ironically, McCain said a few years ago that an occupancy in Iraq is bad for America because Iraq does not want a U.S. presence. Another flip flop moment from McCain.

voter (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:21 PM)

McCant and HilLiar are both gaffe factories. And by voting for them, voters are expanding on these kinds of factories -- they really care less about the hypocrisy and dishonesty of our leaders.

Joh, TX (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:27 PM)

MCCAIN: IRAQ WAR WAS FOR OIL?

Tell it McCain. McCain dime-ing on Dubyah?

(As in just dropped a dime on himself, and W).

McCain: leave the polls without him (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:27 PM)

Hmmm... the war in Iraq about oil.
Well, I guess Bush's WMD explaination didn't fly.
Neither did his 'retalliation for 9/11' explaination.

Finally, someone has admitted a plausible explaination in public. Considering that he voted to authorize the war in Iraq, it would seem that he's okay with using millitary force as a for of economic 'negotiation' and lying to the public to justify it.

Somehow, I don't imagine that Senator McCain was the only senator privy to this bit of Iraq war justification.

David, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:30 PM)

Well what do you know?
The straight talk express found a little traction today, did it?
Majke me wonder if it is time for an; oil, Hagee, love feast with Hillary roll up?
Doubtful.
NBC/MSNBC has too much invested in McCain & Hillary to commit the minutes of negatrive coverage to them they have committed to Obama.
Neve happen..
Nice thought tho..
If even for a fleeting moment.

KT, Tennessee (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:32 PM)

So, what is McCain's answer to avert dependency on
oil. Will it be known before we invade Iran if Hill-
ary gets her way. And finally, how does McCain see
us win a war that not only cost us American's tons
of money, cost alot of family's to live in fear of
hearing the news that their loved ones made it on the
casuality and or death lists and IS NOT OUR WAR!

When will America realize that you just cannot win a
religious war.

Obama '08

Kim M--AZ (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:36 PM)

Senator McCain was at the forefront of the Iraq War cheerleaders who ginned up the importance of IMMEDIATE action to thwart Sadam Hussein's "proven" amassing of WMD such that he would BECOME an imminent threaten US interests (either directly or via his "proven" connections with terrorist organizations.

His support of this preventive war doctrine ALONE is enough to disqualify him as Commander-in-Chief and puts him squarely in the even-four-more years camp of our current neoconservative administration. The fact that he now semi-consciously admits that Iraq's oil resources provided a, if not the, but-for cause of the invasion simply adds to the argument against his candidacy.

Not to mention the fact that he hasn't exactly been at the forefront of alternative-energy investment over his senate career. (Imagine what the country could have done on this front with the resources poured into our nation-building adventure.)

Where is the judgment? Where is the accountability? On what basis do people give an edge to Republicans on national security issues?

bab23 (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:38 PM)

So the war was all about oil,not weps of mass destruction,not the nuks on trucks they had or all the other stuff that Lil bushie spun for us.And now we should belive what you say.Sorry McBomb you can spin this all you want this is yours, hillair and lil bush"s war.There is a big diff between staying in countrys that wanted us to stay,and ones that don't ,like Iraq.4000 lifes,couple trillion dollars,millions fleeing there homes,and no end in site.Good luck trying to sell this crap

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:41 PM)

Mr. McDraft how many young men and women are you going to let die for oil? How many young men and women are you going to let die due to your saber rattling? You and HRC helped cause this terrible condition now you both think one of you can solve this mess. DEFINE WIN.....bring our troops home.

Bob, Chicago

Bob, Chicago (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:41 PM)

""My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will -- that will then prevent us -- that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East,” McCain said."

Whoa!!! Thank you John!! You just gave the Dem 527s all the ammo they needed.

Margaret, Columbus, Ohio (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:43 PM)

We'll need Oil for at least another 100 years, so of course we'll be there for 100 years.

turnip (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:43 PM)

Remember the when we went into the war in Iraq the oil was suppose to pay for it I do and after 5 years where is the money? How about the black market that's going on over there plus in Afghanistan look at all the drug lords plus the taliban oh I would say this administration has done it's damage. Why would I vote for McCain and another Bush administration. I think not. I'm looking for a leader not someone that's going to pander me.

Concerned, Iowa (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:53 PM)

Mr. McCain. Thanks for you moment of candor. About time.

BTW... The attack against your "100 year" stance is not a direct falsification. All of my friends (about 2/3s dems and 1/3 ind. or rep) know what you said. We've actually looked at the full clip, read the words and have put them in context. Give us some credit.

Given this, we think two things: The tone of your comments was so flippant that we were really turned off. Second, we disagree about that type of S. Korean committment. We don't want to got there. You want to take us there. That's where we disagree - your attitude and your policy - neither of which are false.

Kevin, Austin, TX (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:53 PM)

I'm always suspicious when a politician uses a description like "my friends" because it's patronizing and often followed by a lie. I'm not a friend, I'm a voter. John McCain thinks his "friends" will give him a pass on his real friends: lobbyists. He talks a high end game and walks a low end game.

Because of his POW experience he gets a pass by the media, but that's not good enough for a presidential election. One can be a brave person who served his country honorably but not necessarily be the best person to lead it half a century later, especially if he champions military solutions. It's too easy to kill; as technology shrinks the world we need a better way.

KH, HI (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:55 PM)

Peace in the Middle East helps the free flow of oil. Barack 'Stick His Head Up His Butt' Obama though will pull all the troops out of the ME. He won't be happy until we pay $10/gallon.

Silas Moss, Glenburg, IN (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 2:56 PM)

McCain said we can't leave while the fighting is going on and then once it stops we have to stay to maintain the peace. Either way, if you vote for McCain our troops are not leaving Iraq for a long time. PS- they will still be dying even after the "fighting" stops.

Who's Sane (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:04 PM)

there's not a single comment by a McCain supporter.

Just noticing :)

Billy S Seattle, WA (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:04 PM)

uh, we have known this all along. Is he just figuring this out or does he think he is telling us something we didn't already know....like back in 2003.

TMC Tennessee (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:06 PM)

The REAL REASON for invading Iraq:

President Bush's vendetta against Hussien for trying to kill his father 70% and oil is 30%

Donna A. Reuter, Bremerton, WA (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:06 PM)

A couple of pols, Hillary and McCain, come up with an idea to reduce gas prices so whiney liberals like the Obama supporters will stop whining about it, but noooo, that's not good enough, can't reduce gas prices that way. There are dozens of ways to reduce the price of gas, but everyone of them will be shot down by the Obama-nuts. Almost makes you think the -nuts don't really want lower gas prices.

Tired of Obama (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:08 PM)

McCain is putting his foot in his mouth every day but Democrats are still fighting each other and we can't focus on what he's saying. I hope the good people of North Carolina and Indiana will bring to closure the race between Democrats. We've got to get to work to make sure McCain doesn't get to the White House.

Keith, PA (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:10 PM)

If Senator Clinton is the nominee I will stay home. 4 more years won't be any worst then what we have now. Maybe 3 wars instead of 2. What the heck my kids are grown with good jobs.

Dee Dee, York Pa (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:18 PM)

If Senator Clinton is the nominee I will stay home. 4 more years won't be any worst then what we have now. Maybe 3 wars instead of 2. What the heck my kids are grown with good jobs.

Dee Dee, York Pa (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:18 PM)

If you don't understand the war on terrorism you probably sucked at history. These people in the middle east have been warring for over a 1000 years. With oil revenues they have been able to reach their hatered accross the globe. It is best we deal with them in their yard.

Richard Hurn (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:19 PM)

I can't believe how stupid most people actually are.

It's really amazing. You have one person that wants to spend 100 years in Iraq and he's getting votes... and you have another that pulled a security umbrella out of her butt that will cover the ENTIRE middle east.

I really hope that when people hit the voting both they look at their kids first, then vote... that way they can blame themselves when loss hits close to home.

I heard that a marine died yesterday after his SEVENTH tour to IRAQ!! 7th!!!!!!!

They shouldn't even have a general election... that's how ridiculous WE ARE!!!! I mean 100 years? you're kidding me, right?

ya know (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:23 PM)

We don't need their oil. We have plenty right here, but none of these 3 idiots will let us go after it. Funny thing is it's been democrats all along claiming we went there for oil, and are now demanded a slice of their oil to pay for their slavery schemes here at home.

Dave, Tn (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:25 PM)

I'm just wondering what the first signs of Alzhimers are. I think not remembering exactly what you said might be one of them. Come on people, do we need an older more feble version of Bush in the White House. I think not.

Greg, New Mexico (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:25 PM)

Wow! McFossil is brushing up on his foreign affairs I see! Good of him to see the war was for oil; however, it still doesn't separate him from Bush.....nice try, McFossil, but you're a goner when we finally nominate Obama! Old politics vs new politics. New will win!

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:27 PM)

McCain flip-flopping and gaffe-ing all over the place and speaking the truth in this case (wonder how he'll try to spin this one?) seems much more important than the hours wasted of endless focus on/talking about Wright.

carmen, fl (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:30 PM)

I listen to an reported on the BBC news and he was saying that the plan for Iraq oil was written by EXXON. To keep production lower so the cost would go up and up, and this would inturn make their profits up.

This was know before Pres Bush said "fire" that OIL was the main reason that we went into Iraq. They knew that was no WMD and if there was it was what we provided to Iraq.

Garmel from Oregon (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:32 PM)

Now we are going to "officially" go war over oil? Is this guy's solution to everything more war? When is the press going to take the gloves off on this guy? He's under no pressure right now and its gafee after gaffe after gaffe.

No More War (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:32 PM)

Anyone who thinks the Iraqi's will allow our soldiers to occupy their country without fighting them has not been paying attention. A lack of awareness and understanding of their culture is what got us into this mess. The Iraquis think we are trying to destroy their religion. Do you think they are going to just let us hang around? McWar is delusional.

Heartlight 3, Maui, Hawaii (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:33 PM)

At least in this slip-up he is admitting the truth that the largest reason for the invasion was for oil. I have trouble believing most other "reasons" for the invasion and for the conflict.

Connection to 9/11? None really...
Build up of WMD? Not really a factor; none found...
Hussein was bad man? We knew that before the first gulf war but didn't take him out then...
Large profits for oil companies and military contractors? The most believable to me!

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:33 PM)

Nice to know he's caught up with the rest of us. What else would it be about? What else does Iraq have over there that this country would want, sand?

I suppose McCain finally had a "lightbulb moment." Do you think?

Dee/Warwick (Sent Friday, May 02, 2008 3:34 PM)

People, I watched the debate it is documented, on video no less! Find it on youtube, that he said he would stay a 100 years if that's what it takes to win. Win what? the oil? I guess as he has said that is why we are there, to steal the oil. He calls others liars for saying he said this? Great American! He is a war monger and apparently a senile one at that. There is another choice, buck the system and vote to nominate Ron Paul for the republican ticket or vote for and independent. If an independent won that would sure shake up the powers that be. EXON and the likes would lose control. Find a true American there are some running! One who will bring the money back into our pockets. We are paying for the control of the oil,... Control for who? You and me? don't think so.. Please no one will be worst than what is on offer!

gannojo SF, CA (Sent Sunday, May 04, 2008 4:58 PM)

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