McCain addresses Obama's trip

Posted: Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:18 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security

From NBC's Adam Aigner-Treworgy and NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
KANSAS CITY, MO -- At a town hall here, McCain spoke about Obama’s upcoming trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. “I know that Sen. Obama is going to Iraq. I was very interested that he articulated and announced his polices and approach to Iraq before he went, not after. Remarkable. I’ve been on a lot of trips around the world -- usually at your expense -- but I usually issue my policy statements when I get back," he said.

"I hope he’ll sit down with General Petraeus and General Odierno, who’s taking General Petraeus’ place very soon," McCain added. "That -- and that he will understand what’s at stake here, and what happens in Iraq affects what happens in Afghanistan. Yes, we need more troops in Afghanistan. But if we’d have failed in Iraq, my friends, the consequences would have spread throughout the region because the United States would have lost and then left in retreat."

In an additional rebuttal to Obama's trip, the McCain campaign released a video -- entitled "The Obama Iraq Documentary: Whatever the Politics Demand" -- which accuses Obama of shifting positions based on Iraq. The eight-minute piece includes 22 video clips of Obama speaking about various aspects of the war in Iraq, including the surge, withdrawal and troop funding.

Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan replied to the video, “All John McCain has ever looked for in Iraq are reasons to stay there indefinitely. He has stubbornly championed a strategy of fighting an unnecessary war in Iraq regardless of the shifting facts offered to justify it, regardless of the levels of violence and political progress in the country, and regardless of the gathering strength of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan."

"And now," Sevugan continued, "as he advocates a policy of staying in Iraq indefinitely, it is clear that he is going to continue to adhere to George Bush’s ideological agenda even as every other critical national security challenge is neglected, and our troops continue to fight tour after tour of duty and our taxpayers spend $10 billion a month in Iraq,” said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Ira:

Thank you.

The Truth (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:20 PM)

I'm so glad Senator Obama is going to the Middle East. There are still millions of people in this country who are wondering is if he is too inexperienced. They seem to like him, however, there is still some hesitation.

So I think now is a good time for him to go - before the convention. After June and July he won't have many opportunities to go.

He'll do well. There are people all across Europe standing on bridges with huge signs these days in anticipation of his visit. They're very excited.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:27 PM)

The more McCain critiques Obama's every move and word, the more desperate he appears.

Linda Montgomery, AL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:29 PM)

I don't know how Obama stands the split personalities coming from the MSM and McCain. Two weeks ago, Obama got slammed for suggesting he might refine his positions on Iraq AFTER his visit there. At that time, McCain and the MSM accused him of flip-flopping. Now Obama has re-stated his policy positions on Iraq and Afghanistan, and McCain and the MSM accuse him of prejudgment. Ugh.

Dear Mr. McCain, please explain to me what America has won by staying in Iraq. There was no WMD, 4,000 soldiers have been killed, gas prices are sky-high, terrorists have taken root in Pakistan, and Osama Bin Laden is nowhere to be found. What, exactly, has America won?

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:33 PM)

"That -- and that he will understand what’s at stake here, and what happens in Iraq affects what happens in Afghanistan".

What happens in Iraq only affects what happens in Afghanistan because we cannot send troops to the theater of operations they are needed, Afghanistan, because there are not sufficient troops available that can be deployed. So said Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,echoing Obama's position.

Until there is a draw down of troops in Iraq, our troops in Afghanistan will reamin undermanned. McCain does not seem to recognize this reality stating that additional troops for Afghanistan could be supplied by NATO. NATO troops now deployed, to a very large extent, are playing a support role and are not involved in combat operations.

The Iraqi's want us out, Obama wants us out. McCain refuses to leave under any conditions.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:36 PM)

Since McCain's election is based on petty criticizing Barack for EVERY LITTLE THING, these comments were expected. But I must admit it's getting pretty boring.

It is either that or the McCain FLIP-FLOPS from one day to the next.

This does not appear very presidential to me.

I am so glad that Barack is above all of this pettiness.

Andrea, New York City (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:38 PM)

To address comments from a previous blog:

Ira, I agree with almost everything you post....
But, not this time
The so-called 'Financial Services Modernization Act' was an abomination
It allowed anti-competitive mergers and combinations
It also loosened regulations on financial institutions
In large part, this contributed to the current mortgage melt down we're now experiencing

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 3:24 PM)
....................................................

Respectfully, this law did NOT loosen regulations on banks and other financial institutions and is in no way responsible for the current mortgage crisis.

Deregulation of the mortgage industry was the handiwork of Mr. Gramm acting as a lobbyist for UBS.
It has absolutely nothing to do with this legislation.

This legislation revolutionized and modernized the financial services industry.

.................................................
Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:36 PM)

Yeah Ira, and that is why we had Enron and the mortgage meltdown. Just another way for yuppies who create nothing except paper to make stupid amounts of money and con hard working Americans. That was one of the great blunders of the Clinton administration. We would be better served to let banks be banks and stockbrokers be stockbrokers and insurance agents be insurance agents.
TorpedoYou Tempe, Az (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 3:37 PM)
.............................................
The mortgage meltdown and the Enron debacle and resulting loophole have nothing to do with this legislation. Both were caused by separate legislation passed by congress at the behest of lobbyist Phil Gramm. Deregulation of the industries has NOTHING to do with this act.

As for liberal yuppies, if you mean people who stand up for themselves against a government that desecrates the Constitution and infringes upon our rights, then yep, I am fire breathing, kick butt liberal.

Oh....you meant that in a bad way!

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:38 PM)

I don't exactly like McCain but I do think he has a point. Obama is trying to play catch up experience wise now. You can't strategize, form and opinion and offer a solution without consulting the experts and perhaps experiencing it first hand.

What I find stunning everytime I read about it is how he did not hold a single committee hearing about Afghanistan - sub committee he chairs. Biden's latest attempt to defend him did not really say much nor answer the question. Why was he not around to perform that duty - something he got elected for?
Because he was busy campaigning for the Presidency.

Again, it's kinda like i'll form an opinion first then find out what the problem is.

I want a Democrat in office. It's just that Obama's playing it safe, inexperience, crowd pleaser, and perhaps not really having a full graps of the issues scare the living daylights out of me.

But it's a choice between these 2 men isn't it?
God help us.

Joyce, NY (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:39 PM)

I watched the whole thing. what did I learn? The GOP likes to play with photoshop a little too much.

Oh, and McCain has nothing on Obama, that isnt 10x worse for himself.

Landslide win for Obama in November, count on it.

Matt, Idaho (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:39 PM)

Senator McCain is an angry,sarcastic, old man. He is narrow minded and whatever Senator Obama proposes he finds fault with. He would not make a good dog catcher much less a President. If I had to listen to four years of "My Friends" I think I would consider visiting Canada for the duration.

Dottie Swarthmore PA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:39 PM)

John McCain makes me want to vomit.

Michael Chicago (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:40 PM)

John McCain can't dispute the truth of what Senator Obama has been saying for more than a year, so instead he just gives a smarty retort about the TIMING of the comments.

Senator spoke with General Petreus at the recent hearings held in the Senate, or did John McCain forget that too?

Now that the Bush Adminsitration is planning to deploy troops from Iraq at an expedited pace, and the Iraqi government wants a timetable, and more troops are being sent to Afghanistan (just like Senator Obama said they should) Senator McCain wants to pretend this was always his position.

John McCain is the status quo. The status quo is BAD. What more do you need to know?

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:41 PM)

Apparently John McCain still thinks we can make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear" and Iraq is the quintessential "sow's ear" if ever there was one. Is he ignoring the Iraqi people and Maliki, who say they want a timetable and want us to leave? Or does he think they'll have to do what he wants? The Bush administration is now talking about bringing troops home in September (a timetable?), they are talking to Iran (hmmm talking to the enemy?) Both of these are things Obama said he would do and McCain says they're wrong. Would someone please wake up the oldest man in the room?

ShirleyS. Bethelehem, PA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:42 PM)

The beauty of final cut pro. Interesting that Barack never says the surge has actually worked in terms our presence in Iraq being less of a organizing tool in the middle east, he simply acknowledges that more troops equals suppressed violence. Winning in Iraq means Americans are no longer there, if our interest is long term security. I don't see a change in his overall read on the situation.

Jonathon Mello, San Diego, CA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:43 PM)

McCain sez: "I’ve been on a lot of trips around the world -- usually at your expense -- but I usually issue my policy statements when I get back"
------------------------------------------------

This is one of McCain's stupidest attacks yet. McCain's last couple trips to Iraq were mere photo ops. His infamous stroll throught that Baghdad market protected by Army snipers and attack helicopters out of camera view was a complete fraud.

Obama's already responded to this attack: trips to Iraq might help in understanding tactics, but they don't help much to develop America's overall strategy for the Middle East. Of course, McCain has no strategy, and no understanding of what the word "strategy" even means so it's not surprising that he doesn't get it.

Houston (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:43 PM)

Steven Colbert seems to be the Only one who picked up on GWB's "Psycological effect on Drilling" from Tuesday's news conference. This being the 3rd attempt from the Gay Ole Party to say thing's are just in our head's, is just another example of the MSM being more concerned with Shiny object's, than actually reporting something American's should know.

Media Bias, no way!

The Mccain camp is a bunch of Wiener's, no wonder Grahm said that. All he ever has to say is My Friend a 1000 times, your Jobs are gone & Not coming back, Barack does'nt listen to me even tho i'm as Old as Methusala, yada, yada, yada. When you start treating him as an equal(and only then) will you come close to being in his League, Mr. John I've done nothing but spend Taxpayer $$$$ on all my Worldly adventure's Mccain. What a sad excuse for the GOP to put up as the Top guy yall have.

What a Joke he is!!!!

Rick,Ky (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:44 PM)

John McCain - we don't care about how you feel about Barack Obama's decisions.

Not one bit.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:45 PM)

," McCain added. "That -- and that he will understand what’s at stake here, and what happens in Iraq affects what happens in Afghanistan. Yes, we need more troops in Afghanistan. But if we’d have failed in Iraq, my friends, the consequences would have spread throughout the region because the United States would have lost and then left in retreat."

if we would have never attacked iraq for no reason we would have already solved the problems in afghanistan and our troops would be home, there will never be an acceptable closure to iraq so why not get out now

MK,MO (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:45 PM)

Hmmm, another interesting thing happened at that town hall:

McCain Gets Social Security But Criticizes System

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gwHGMYappR5eiPj4JoZ8L-7YUacAD91VPP78E

Gotta give it to Big Mac - the guys got nerve!

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:46 PM)

Honestly, McCain should not be paying so much attention to Obama's trip, it's demeaning. It's like Obama's throwing a party and he's the neighbor who's not invited, peaking over the fence.

He's playing right into Obama's hands. Every comment just looks petty at this point, because he hasn't left yet.

I predict more double digit leads for Obama very shortly.

A Charles McBush (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:47 PM)

I'm sorry, what Obama supporter is going to sit through almost 8 minutes of this GOP on LSD trip?

The parsing of statements, flashing lights, tingler music, with swaying footnotes, and numbers is supposed to be scary, but comes off like a carnival funhouse that's no fun. At over 7 minutes long? No thanks.

donna (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:49 PM)

Did FDR go to Japan or Germany before declaring war? no.

Did Truman go to Korea before starting a police action? no.

Did either Eisenhower/Kennedy or LBJ go to Vietnam before increasing our presence there? no.

Did Bush/Cheney go to Iraq shortly before declaring war on that country? no.

We have intelligence gathering organizations in this country, and we have had them for years. Since no president could be every where, they must rely on their 'eyes and ears' to give them the information that they need to make intelligent decisions.

Only an idiot would insist that either a President or a Candidate for POTUS MUST go to Iraq in order to see for themselves exactly what is going on.

A true leader surrounds themselves with knowledgeable people, synthesizes the information received and makes a decision.

A follower depends on others to tell him how to think and act and only gets his information from one source.

Obama 08.

NoMcCain (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:50 PM)

First Read: a serious question: can you guys dig up the coverage of McCain's trip to Bagdad in 2007--the trip during which the marketplace he visited was sealed off by American soldiers and covered by Blackhawks? Senator McCain came home and said something along the lines of "things are progressing incredibly well." This was the same trip the Indiana congressman (who was with McCain) said that he "was able to walk through the market just as easily as if he were at home in Indiana." I had been a McCain fan up until that day. It was then I realized his ambitions for the White House had hijacked his historical tendency to tell the truth.

A Request from a former McCain Fan (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:51 PM)

The purpose of the surge was two-fold. One military and one political. We have had some success on the military front but politically it has been a huge failure. No reconciliation between Shia and Sunni. No agreement on the division of oil revenues. A stalemate on virtually every major issue in from of their Parliament.

By the way, McCain takes credit for the surge. Can anyone tell me what part he played in the planning and execution of the strtaegy? What is he taking credit for?

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:52 PM)

Let's keep making this election about the Iraq war. As Republicans tie themselves to an unpopular war and are consistantly seen as worse on the economy, keep reminding voters that we're stuck in a quagmire fighting a war against a country that had no weapons of mass destruction and wasn't involved in 9/11.
The tactics of fear aren't going to work this year and it's a lot of fun watching Republicans fighting the battles of 2004 again. The country has moved on without them but apparently they didn't get the memo.

Andy Glover (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:52 PM)

if obama put together all the gaffs an flip flops mccain has made in the last 6 months it would rival an epic movie in length, maybe they could split it up into several 3 hour segments or something

MK,MO (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:53 PM)

There is a really simple question that I feel reporters have the responsibility to ask Senator McCain:

The so-called "troop surge" in Iraq is over. That being the case, if, as Sen. McCain has asserted, the surge was working, that implies that it worked. If it indeed worked insofar as it achieved its goal of providing security to Baghdad and al-Anbar, when can we begin pulling our regular ground troops from the region? If Senator Obama's endgame is a horrible strategy, and if indeed he is not fit to lead, then what is Senator McCain's endgame? How does Senator McCain propose we end the war in Iraq?

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:54 PM)

OMFG! Will you PLEASE quit saying "MY FRIENDS"!!!!!!

That got old and annoying a loooong time ago.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:55 PM)

This from the guy who takes a two block walk in Baghdad accompanied by a fleet of Apaches and several dozen armed soldiers and then proclaims tthat Baghdad is back to normal.

On the one hand, McCain says that Obama is too committed and stubborn in his position and then he issues a video attempting to show that Barack continuously shifts positions. Doesn't make much sense. And never mind that McCain bought into Bush's bogus justifications for the war. He shows no appreciation for the costs of the war and his own chief adviser on the issue was a primary enabler of Ahmad Chalabi, the fraudulent Iraqi nationalist who sold the Bush Administration bogus intelligence and swindled the American taxpayer out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

jbentley, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:55 PM)

McCain once again demonstrates his lack of geopolitical understanding of the Middle East or his derailment of the straight talk express. Any relative stability had in Iraq presently (a pause in the civil war) is a result of the insurgency (the Sunnis) banking on us to advocate for them with the Shia government. We paid the Sunni chieftains handsomely and additionally, they were tired of the abuse at the hands of their 'dementors' - Al Qaeda - whom they initially supported as their military arm. Now the Sunnis realize that Al Qaeda (who cut off the fingers of their sons for smoking and drinking) were more trouble than they were worth and decided to try their luck with the U.S. as their protectors. The surge of 20k troops although undoubtedly helpful was not the main effector of change.

McCain should know this as he should know that the pateince of the Sunni will wear thin if they do not get the representation that they feel that they disserve in the Shia gov't. (actually, most Sunni feel that they should be back in control of the gov'ts as they represent the beaurocrat and technocrat class). McCain should know that this quiet in the storm, is just the eye of the hurricane, unless we forge a political settlement in Iraq that is amenable to all parties; it is unfortunate this will not likely occur.
The only tenable proposal, that of a highly federalized state, will only work if oil is found in Al Anbar (a real possibility). The question is as to whether either Shia or Sunni will accept a federalized state (each seems to put primary importance in dominating the other) seems to be answered with a resounding ‘no’.

The MSM continues to tow the McCain line that the surge was a success and we all know (including McCain) that the cause and affect relationship is tenuous at best.

Let's not be fooled again with the bravado and 'yellow journalism' of the Republicans. How did Bush put it?...Fool me once shame on you...fool me again and…and…shame… it's a real shame? Whatever! Let's not be idiots and replace ignorant and disingenuous Republicans with more of the same.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:57 PM)

I am very happy to see that the press will cover Senator Obama's trip extensively, with full coverage by the networks. That way there will be a semblance of certainty as to what did and did not happen on the trip. It should be quite interesting to see such excitement for an American politician after these eight years of Bush. And yes, it is important what the rest of the world thinks of our leaders. Obama's fundraising numbers caught the press off guard, and I expect they will continue to rise as we get into the nasty part of the campaign. McCain should really start going off the deep end after 100,000 Germans show up yelling "Ja, wir konnen!"

Jim, Santa Cruz (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:00 PM)

Too bad Bush didn't visit Iraq before he made HIS policy decisions. Maybe Saddam would have invited him to relax in a well-equipped, comfy, 'spider-hole" and saved us all a lot of grief, national embarrasment, and financial ruin.

Buzz (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:01 PM)

Don't know if this will make it through, but speaking of Obama's trip, I'm off for a weekend visit to see my only grandchild tommorow.

When Lisa, New Britian CT, disappeared, (she said she, and her children would work for Senator Obama over the summer), and Jerry, Patty, Pat from Huntington, and Nobama etc., don't post for a while, we have noticed their absence, and inquired after them. Who else misses Eric from Salinas? Capt'n Smash, glad you're back!

I might not be able to post, but will surely, G-D Willing, read your posts in the evening. Hope to be back on Monday.

donna (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:02 PM)

It's a shame that Hilary lost. McCain is too old and Obama is too young and inexperienced. She would have been perfect to lead the country out of this mess. Bill's advice would come in handy at her side.

As it stands, God help us - either one of this men isn't good enough.

Joyce, NY

JFK war 43 when he was elected
Bill Clinton was 46
Barack will be 47 on August 4th!!!
He had more experience in the Illinois Legislative than Hillary had in the Senate. Now.....who is too young and inexperienced!!?

Kris STL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:04 PM)

Mr John mcCain your a complete ass Hole!! this is what your saying That -- and that he will understand what’s at stake here, and what happens in Iraq affects what happens in Afghanistan. Yes, we need more troops in Afghanistan. But if we’d have failed in Iraq, my friends, the consequences would have spread throughout the region because the United States would have lost and then left in retreat."

the only reason why we are there is because of a lie, this lie has gotten 4000 plus killed and the civilions casulties are not known because so many have been killed. every body knows your whole campain is centered around us staying to win, but in the end who will win, if you elected president you will try to win at all cost to our soldiers and the civilens!!!
also the region is in turmoil because we are there!!! and you just don't get it!!! we can not keep 150,000 troops there for ever!! what are you thinking, even nixion knew that we needed to get out of the vietman war!!! but all you have to hang your hat on is that we must stay, because the region needs us!!
NO, JOHN MCCAIN THE REGION NEEDS US TO GET THE HELL OUT SO WE CAN GET THE TERRORIST IN Afghanistan. THE REASON WHY NO OTHER WORLD COUNTRYS WOULD GO WITH US IS BECAUSE THIS WAR WAS A LIE!!

jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:04 PM)

McCain does not understand that even if all Amercians agreed the surge was working (both in reducing violence and improving the political climate of Iraq) some have to be held accountable for this idiotic and senseless invasion that has cost thousands of Amercian lives. And those who should be held accountable in some manner include Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Rice, others in the Bush Administration, and yes, those like McCain who gave Bush approval to invade Iraq and continued to support this policing action even after seeeing it was a mistake. That would include John McCain. This does not mean by holding accountable we want to impeach McCain from the Senate or in any way disparage or disrespect his own personal service to this country. It simply means holding McCain accountable for his position on Iraq then and his position on Iraq now by rejecting him as a legitimate candidate for President of the United States. Even if Obama were to realign his position on Iraq by withdrawing troops at a slower pace then what he has proposed, McCain should still be rejected as a legitimate candidate for President for taking part in getting the U.S. into this catch-22 mess in the first place. Yes, decidng what to do and when regarding Iraq is a tough question for anyone to deal with, especially for a new President. But those responsible for placing the U.S. in such a tight squeeze in the first place and that caused the loss of Amercian lives have no business running for the President of the United States.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:05 PM)

This is silly. Just yesterday McCain adviser Randy Schuenemann was comparing Barack Obama to George W. Bush as someone unable to adapt to the changing circumstances in Iraq. Now Obama's someone who shifts with the political winds? Maybe it's just me, but I don't get it.

Jim Smith, Quincy, Mass. (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:05 PM)

Let's see: All the McCain flip-flops, if put into a YouTube video, would be a full-length feature movie:
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16124.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miyyzpb_mVA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nthTfuGT2go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jul_Aia50Qo
I could go on; but it is WAY too easy to put together a list of McCain's greatest hits when it comes to flip-flops.
McCain is a Bush/Cheney fraud.

Walt, Ohio (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:13 PM)

McKnowNothin said today that we have succedded in Iraq. Can't wait till MSNBC reports this...

Lee-- Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:14 PM)

I could only imagine an interview with this guy...

McCain: Obama wants us to lose the war in Iraq
America: What are we losing?
McCain: The War
America: And how exactly do we win the war?
McCain: By Staying in Iraq.
America: And what are we going to win by staying?
McCain: The War
America: No, what is it that we are winning?
McCain: I told you, the War
America: No, why are we fighting...
McCain: We are fighting so we don't lose
America: What do we have to lose?
McCain: The War!

Does he have any Idea or any goals...I thought that ousting Saddam, replacing the government, and confirming that there are no WMD's would've been enough. But obviously there is some magical endgame that he's waiting for. Yes I saw charlie wilsons war, and unlike afghanistan...Iraq has enough resources to make it on their own.

Enough of the Win Lose dog chasing tail routine...out of Iraq. America wants it, they want it. And we really can't afford it anymore

GP Chicago (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:14 PM)

McCain’s comments today in KC underscore how ‘out of touch’ he is. “…I was very interested that he articulated and announced his polices and approach to Iraq before he went, not after. Remarkable. I’ve been on a lot of trips around the world -- usually at your expense -- but I usually issue my policy statements when I get back…”

It’s called PLANNING. It is what some ‘thinkers’ do before they rush into wars on Sovereign nations. I know, it’s a little radical. Some of us actually do this with our finances, too. That’s called a budget. I know you’ve heard the term, I’m just trying to give you practical application. That budget thing, which you claim you will have balanced at the end of your first term. Well that, my friend, will require a plan. I’m sure Phil can help you manufacture the data for that one. Come to think of it, that may be the only manufacturing left in this country once you’ve given corporations tax breaks to send the jobs to Columbia.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:14 PM)

Have to ask this question. Exactly how is this trip going to bolster Obama's "foreign policy" experience? He won't be there "making" policy. He'll be on a sight-seeing tour basically. And, BTW, who is paying for this CAMPAIGN trip?

NObama (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:14 PM)

This is a very poor ad. It is out of order chronologically and it makes no sense. I sure hope the republicans spend alot of money on this one, because it reeks of what it is: a smear ad that doesn't work!

Another republican failure (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:18 PM)

DuDe!!! I do not believe Truman or Roosevelt ever went to Japan or Germany-yet AMAZINGLY enough they were able to understand and formulate policies with out even GOING there! AMAZING!!

Pam Husein Reed (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:19 PM)

I will give McCain credit for insisting over the period of the Iraqi policing action that we always needed more troops. Not only during the initial invasion but certainly when it was decided by the Bush administration to nation build and to keep our forces there as the Iraqi national police department. But when his call for more troops was originally and for months ignored and rejected by the Bush Administration then McCain should have been just as insistent of getting out of Iraq. If your intent is to nation build and you do not or cannot provide the necessary troops to provide security throughout the country you wish to rebuild, then you had better not go in at all or get out after the evil leaders have been eliminated. McCain did not have a clue that raising troop levels to 150,000 would reduce the violence. But because it appears that violence is down as a result of this increase in troops along with Sadr's orders to the Shitte militia to cool it for a while McCain is trying to take credit for a successful surge.

One final point on the surge that was supposed to give the Government of Iraq breathing room to get their stuff together. The Sunni's still reject the current government of Iraq that is dominated by the Shitte and refuse to participate in the government proceedings. And recently the Kurds walked out. The country is still factionalized, will remain factionalized, and will one day either by way of fighting and force of arms or some form of agreement break into three different nations.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:23 PM)

lets see...

1. McCain's position on going into Iraq was hawkish before we ever had a single person on the ground in Iraq.

2. He was for the shift in american personnel and equipment into the Iraqi theater from Afghanistan even though there was still a War going on in Afghanistan (against the people who attacked us)... BEFORE he ever visited troops in Afghanistan or a single commander in the region.

3. He still thinks there's a Czechslovakia

So... pot meet kettle!

McCain's policy (prior to ever stepping foot in Afghanistan) was to move resources out of that country and plant them in Kuwait so that we could invade Iraq (a country that was being inspected by the UN) and secondly, his policy is to stand with Poland and the Czechslovakia in face of Russian pressure.

he's a complete and utter idiot!!

ya know (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:25 PM)

By the way, McCain takes credit for the surge. Can anyone tell me what part he played in the planning and execution of the strtaegy? What is he taking credit for?
---------------
Ira, depends on how you look at it. Was he there on the ground commanding? No. In his chairman capacity, though, he had visited in Iraq, conferred with the generals about situation at that time, gathered their opinions about what needed to be done. He then returned and pushed for the "surge". If it weren't for McCain and his bucking up against Rumsfeld and Bush, there wouldn't have been a surge. It was not politically smart for him to buck them. But, he knew that if something didn't change we probably really would have been there 100 years in full war and not in a peacekeeping role. I do wish Obama and his supporters would give McCain credit for having the courage to buck the system on that.

NObama (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:27 PM)

PS. to the former McCain Fan, I just looked this one up the other day. Lindsay Graham was also on the trip. Talk about funny. But not in the laugh out loud, hold your gut kind of humor. You have accurately assessed the situation, McCain was a maverick, and now he is more like a gelding.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:27 PM)

Obama is smart... he's pivoting towards Afghanistan so people remember... Bin Laden is the one who bombed us and this is where we should have been all along. Iraq will get real calm once we start getting all the brigades out of there.

By the way.. with McCain in office, he'll just ask for more troops and implement the draft because he'll want to fight two or three wars at once and the joint chiefs will tell him they will need the bodies to do it!

ya know (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:28 PM)

Someone tell the old man to stop calling me his friend. I'm not and never will be.

Ed, 1SG, retired peoria, il (Sent Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:28 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1204990