McCain: 16 months a 'good timetable'

Posted: Friday, July 25, 2008 6:06 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Security

From NBC's Mark Murray
In an interview on CNN today -- which the DNC is passing around -- McCain said that withdrawal from Iraq in 16 months is "a pretty good timetable."

That answer came when McCain was asked about Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki's earlier claim to Der Spiegel that Obama's 16-month plan "would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes."

Of course, McCain did stress that such a withdrawal would "have to be based on conditions on the ground." But calling 16 months a "good timetable" is something McCain hasn't said before -- and probably never would have said a week ago.

The transcript:
BLITZER: What if Maliki persists? You're president and he says he wants US troops out and he wants them out, let's say in a year or two years or 16 months or whatever. What do you do? Do you listen to the prime minister?

MCCAIN: He won't. He won't. He won't. Because it has to be condition-based.

BLITZER: How do you know?

MCCAIN: Because I know him. And I know him very well. And I know the other leaders. And I know -- I've been there eight times, as you know. I know them very, very well.

BLITZER: So why do you think he said that 16 months is basically a pretty good timetable?

MCCAIN: He said it's a pretty good timetable based on conditions on the ground. I think it's a pretty good timetable, as we should -- or horizons for withdrawal. But they have to be based on conditions on the ground.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Ira, Ira, Ira:

There would be talks with the Iranians if they would meet our conditions for talks.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008
6:58 PM)
.............................................

...and it is with your first sentence you miss the point. "They must meet our conditions in order for talks to begin". That's a demand not diplomacy. That's not the basis of a debate it's a monologue.

Obama's intent is to engage the Iranians in talks, to discuss differences not exacerbate them. That's the difference between the two men.

By the way, Bush called Iran the "Axis of Evil". Fact

Bush said all options are on the table but meant it in the sense that we were willing to go to war over
the Iranian nuclear program. It was reported that we were feeding intel to the Israeli's so they could carry out the mission. Fact.

Bush called Obama an "appeaser" for suggesting talks wit Iran and then did the very thing he accused Obama of. Fact.

I think I pretty much have gotten the facts correct. My cognitive senses need not be expanded. May I respectfully suggest that you re-examine yours.

Have a good weekend.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 7:55 PM)

He won't. He won't. He won't. Because it has to be condition-based.

Those poor Iraqis think they can get rid of us without us taking their oil, they underestimated our incompetence!!!

John (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 7:58 PM)

mccain is a sad pathetic old man with his whining about obamas coverage and the fact that obama and the iraqis are on the same page but mccain-bush are on their war agenda still

Rick, NC (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:02 PM)

Well, first Bush started taking pieces of Obama's foreign policy, why not McCain?

The popping sounds you hear are those of wingnut heads exploding.

Ah, so nice.

oxfdblue, NYC (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:10 PM)

Don't worry, Keith's got him on this. Good ol' Keith.

Nice try, Johnny Mac.

Ken, Sterling, VA (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:11 PM)

Richard, Richard, Richard. Just in case you haven't been paying attention, Bush has consistently refused to negotiate with Iran because they were part of his "axis of evil." Talks with any hope of success, which is the whole purpose, don't start with one side telling the other what they must do first. It is in the negotiations where skillful diplomacy wins the day, not the iron fist. I know, I know, this is just liberal nonsense to your cretin mind.

Obama's trip is so galling to you neocons because his intelligence, personality, and fresh message draws people and nations to him that McCain couldn't even dream of accomplishing. While he was speaking to 200,000 cheering Germans in Berlin (and at the same time restoring a bit of the lost American prestige squandered by seven years of Bush's non-diplomacy), McCain was busy discussing the sausage at Schmidt's Sausage Haus in Columbus, Ohio with a few customers. As one of our local Portland columnists, David Sarasohn, put it: "Message: Ich bin ein wiener?" A bit of a tired, tarnished, shrine that you kneel at...

Ted, Oregon (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:14 PM)

So, there's a certain phrase that I keep hearing, from Senator Obama, from Senator McCain, from Senator Clinton back when she was still campaigning, and, originally, from President Bush, when asked to discuss timetables or, this new word, 'horizons'. And that phrase seems to always be some variation of "based on the conditions on the ground."

The politicians in Washington can talk as much as they want, but none of them are going to ignore the advice of General Petraeus and his people who are actually in Iraq. If conditions on the ground dictate a sixteen month withdrawal, then that's what will happen.

Brandon, Anchorage Alaska (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:26 PM)

They agree then, after all the constructive converstaion. That setttle it. There is no other option. It' Obama/McCain 08

Kent, Victora, BC (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:33 PM)

He is beginning to remind me of Ross Perot more every day - retire already Senator, there is no need to embarrass yourself further.

Brian M., San Diego, CA (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:34 PM)

Just in Mcsurge claims he's half black !!!

the realslimshady/ richmond, va. (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 8:38 PM)

Well does that mean that McSame wants to SURRENDER? How lame is this OLD MAN

Now is is ALSO following Obama's plan along with Maliki, Bush, PM Gordon.<P>

HILLARIOUS

tr (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:00 PM)

Benson - Obama has ALWAYS said he would take into consideration the information on the ground

McCain is willing to SURRENDOR, what a traitor

tr (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:03 PM)

Jake Robbennolt says vote for Obama.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:17 PM)

Anybody out there wondering why a 72 year old man has to go shopping with a woman in 2008 to know how much bread, cheese and milk cost?
You don't think THAT is a tad bit out of touch with America?
I think my dog knows how much that stuff costs.

mkn (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:20 PM)

if anyone saw Senator McCain, on CNN tonight there has to be fear in their mind. How could someone who is so unqualified possibly become President of this great nation. It is not his age, but his unability to accept and understand the world we are now in. To say that "I can win wars, I know how to win wars, I have found in wars." Is this the type of person that we need to lead this nation. We are trying to get over such a person, and will we elect a carbon copy? Please America, lets wake up a vote in someone with the intellingence to lead not only this nation, but the world.

LSharpley, Spring Hill, FL (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:22 PM)

Is this a joke???? Can you folks imagine what the outcry would be if Obama flipped or flopped like this??

This election is about judgment, not experience. Elect Obama.

Jim , Rockville MD (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:29 PM)

Will the United States will soon withdraw from America when conditions on the ground get too rough? More people are killed in the streets of North America than in all of Islamic countries combined ncluding those slaughtered by the Crusader bush. Some of you are probably involved in or near a violent crime as you read this. America is so corrupt and all of you so reprobate that your society is unsalvagable, you will purge yourselves from your own land through your own debauchery corruption filth and the murder and disease you freely share among your vile compatriots. Those who survive will die of their own stupidity and ignorance. Your only hope if for Mr Obama to remove all the corrupt justices from the profitable court system and replace them with Muslim clerics to instill a true legal system to america which will bring justice back and remove the vile corruption from you.

AbuBakerSmith (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:31 PM)

Within a period of less than 2 weeks, McCain has completely reversed his position. He was completely opposed to any withdrawal. He talked about being in Iraq for a 100 years. Now, he is using the 16 month timetable that is, and consistently has been, Obama's position. And all Mark Murray has to say is that McCain's new position is "probably never would have said a week ago"?

It's a 100% reversal on one of the most critical issues in the campaign. So how about calling McCain out on it?

If Obama had made such an obvious and enourmous flip flop, you would make sure the public never heard the end of it.

Joe (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:35 PM)

I AM NOT SURPRISE AT MCCAIN THIS OLD CRAZY MAN IS SICK I MEAN REALLY SICK IN THE HEAD. EVERY THING THAT OBAMA CAN COME UP WITH HE CLAIMS IT. OH MY GOD AND NO ONE CALLS HIM ON IT EXCEPT KEITH ON COUNTDOWN NOT CHUCK,OLD BOY ON HARDBALL OR NOT ONE OF THE CHICKEN HEADS ON MSNBS,CNN PLEASE FOXHOUNDS NO WAY . BUT MAN THEY ATTACK OBAMA LIKE HE SLEPT WITH THEIR MOTHERS.SOMETIMES I WISH HE WOULD TELL THEM TAKE A FLYING FART TO NOMANS LAND AND I AM BEING KIND TRUST ME.

SANDRA (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:39 PM)

Richard, Washington State

Are you joking. The very first face to face talks we have had with Iran just happened about a week ago. Pres. Bush has been saying for years that we wouldnt meet with them until they met our demands. Well, if the whole point of meeting with Iran is to get them to stop enriching uranium, how can we say the only way we'll even sit down to talk is if they stop enriching uranium. Seems kinda backwards to me. Usually you sit down and talk, then set demands. Not set the demands before you even talk.

ERIC, MN (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:41 PM)

For the first time in the last 8 years of my adult life i am proud to be an american AGAIN!!!!

GO OBAMA08

lisa jones (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:47 PM)

Either McCain is going to have a complete media breakdown in the next two weeks or he's going to continue to talk about the surge in front of every dairy display in America until election day. He could very well settle for both, but the debate about the surge--there is NO debate about the surge. The fact remains 60 percent of the country believe it was wrong to go to war and that same 60 percent support a timetable for withdrawal. Having said this, no one gives a crap about the surge; the majority of the American people simply want us to leave Iraq because based on the financial cost, the cost to our national security, prestige and standing in the world, and lastly the human cost of the war--well, sorry, Senator McCain but Iraq is not worth it. If only you presented a clear, cohesive vision for our country or a viable economic policy for that matter, perhaps you could still do well, but no: you're attacking Obama because you have nothing else to say. Shame on you.

Jared, Tallahassee, FL (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:50 PM)

Let us all not forget that the supposed "foreign policy guru/expert" who called his competitor a LOSER has now adopted this so-called LOSER's stance on the war!!! O MMMMMMMMM GGGGGGGGG.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
But quick question.... why are the state polls in Minnesota, Michigan and Colorado slipping. Did the good citizens of those states undergo a McCain-ectomy brain fart or what? I know that the numbers are not back on Obama's oversees trip, and that the current numbers are from at least a week ago... but why isn't Obama mopping the floor with this bozo?? Michigan Minnesotas or Coloradans??? Would anyone like to explain what the heeeeeck?? I live in AZ and McNutty's numbers are slllllllippping.,, I am so so proud of us right now :-), but for you swing state voters.. call your friends, your relatives, harrass your neighbors, get out a register, get out and campaign... this is too too important to be caught sleeping at the wheel!!
God bless and good night.
Love from McNutty's AZ Obamaniac neighbor

ps: why is that everytime he comes home for a little getaway the Obama sign in my front yard disappears. I'm not pointing fingers, but still.... you'd think he'd have better things to do... :->

Debbie in Phoenix (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:53 PM)

He has been saying what he said in this interview all along. He is basing his plan for Iraq on how conditions are on the ground. He has been saying that Obama was wrong for setting this timetable without talking and seeing how conditions are on the ground. In this interview he says if conditions on the ground okay a 16month timetable then we do it if not then we won't. The prime minister is saying the same thing. Y'all really need to pay more attention to what is being said, and not just jumping the gun!

Ayla, LA (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 9:56 PM)

Has anyone told this man that Vietnam is over?

lisa (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 10:01 PM)

OK, let's see if the press is going to do its job. McMoron's incessant lying and distortion about Obama's commitment to this country and our troops should be confronted. Does he really think Obama would choose failure over success in foreign policy? Does he really believe that Obama would rather loose a war than a political campaign? If so, he is dumber than he is acting. It is time he is confronted with his outrageous and infantile behavior. Let's see if the media has been castrated.

PS: While he is slinging that BS he is also saying the 16 months is a "pretty good" time frame for withdrawal. Too much like Bush and we know where it is coming from...Rove's man is now in charge of McSame's campaign. Shame on you John.

Truthpatriot (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 10:20 PM)

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY:

You characterization of this conflagration as a conflict with Islamofacism is so simplistic and so downright ignorant that it is easy to see how your leadership would lead us to an Orwellian state of endless war. You are more dangerous than GWB because you actually have convictions and they are so painfully misdirected.

P.S. I am flippin' amazed at this statement from McCain. You know, most important to me is changing the mindset (as Obama has said) so that we get out of this conflict and never act so irresponsibly again. I sense the very beginning of a change in this mindset and this is gratifying. I want to live in America and not the Roman Empire.

Bravo and spot on! Mcain's convictions; maybe not just misdirected, but the wrong ones to begin with.

Obama/Biden 08

Single Senior (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 10:30 PM)

You know I used to kind of at least be fond of McCain but recently I am becoming afaid. Is he really that out of touch?? He drew a line in the sand a bunch of times and this one was a doozie!! He totally agrees with Obama who by the way was right all along. He doesn't know where Afganastain/Iraq/Pakistan are. He doesn't know who Suni and Shia's are-what is next-he is old.

Cherie Kansas City MO (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 10:41 PM)

McCain camp: The American people are not dumb. We see how you have flip flopped!! We don't buy it!! We do see how you are trying to jump on the Obama band wagon......LOL. Give it up you don't belong in our band!!!!

OBAMA 08

Obama all the way!!, Florida for Obama!!! (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 10:44 PM)

How many times does McCain have to say BASED ON CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND for you guys to get it? Sure, just take a tiny snippet of what he said and twist it to your own designs. Sheesh. Just goes to show that people who are partisan believe what they want to believe, no matter what. Blind followers.

Anyone but Huckabee, CA (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 10:48 PM)

I find these comments amusing. Obama and McCain are saying the same thing about Iraq, but coming at it from different angles. Neither McCain or Obama want to stay in Iraq indefinitely (although McCain would like to keep permanent bases in the country, Obama would not), and both advocate "conditions based" withdrawal. So, McCain doesn't want to be there for 100 years, and Obama doesn't want to precipitously withdraw and ruin the gains that have been made. The REAL difference is that only Obama has been clear about his ideas on Iraq. McCain is just now moving to the center to meet Obama.

ChrisNBama (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 11:04 PM)

Haha, oh wow. Did John McCain just finally come to the reality that his George W. Bush position on troop commitments in Iraq isn't going to fly with anybody?

Ry (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 11:09 PM)

Flip flop or just following the one he says has bad judgement. Sounds like he is endorsing the fact that Obama had the right judgement all along. Obama call for talks with Iran, was denounced and now the Administration is doing it. Obama calls for quick withdrawal, is denounced by McCain who is now following Obamas assessment. McCain is as dishonest a politician as we have seen. I don't listen to talk radio but it would be interesting to hear their bable on this one. Anyone who thinks that McCain is the "right stuff" should join Rush and take additional pain killers.

mexed, san antonio, texas (Sent Friday, July 25, 2008 11:17 PM)

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