The '100-year' war continues...

Distort — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:07:37 GMT

If McCain doesn't like it--he should not have said it.
How many times has Hillary distorted--well--everthing she says!

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Ron, TX — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:10:21 GMT

So, if it's not 100 years, is it going to be 50 years?

McCain and the Republicans are just completely disconnected with reality. It's not 100 years specifically that scares anyone, it's a war with no goals and a war with no end. Even 20 years is MUCH too long.

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Class Warrior, D.C. — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:10:46 GMT

This from a man who is telling us Shiite Iran is training Sunni Al Quaeda, and still insists on ginning th country up for war with Iran. I'll take Obabma's words over Mcwar's saber-rattling.

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sweeetback, london, UK — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:15:29 GMT

I think obama should stay off this one and get real.

America will be in Iraq for the nest 100 years in some form or another. Military occupation as everyone know is not the most effective way of controlling the destiny of a country simply the most expensive.

As a way of attacking Mccain and aligning him with bush's failed policy I suppose. but its bit clumsy and unrealistic to think that millitary forces in iraq under obama would disappear within a year or two would be helpful option for the people of Iraq and the US.

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hussein — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:16:45 GMT

Yeah, so McWar can say that there will be wars and more wars, that he is okay with having American Troops in Iraq for 100 years (regardless of what the RNC claims I actually saw this interview) like in Korea. Without addressing how many bloodly years of occupation he has planned before the 100 years of peaceful presence starts makes this a 100 hundred year war.

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ME, CA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:16:57 GMT

Great Brian Rogers. Instead of asserting that YouTube shows Obama was dishonest, why don't you mention the quotes. You don't because the clip doesn't say what you says it does. Your man said 100 years. You guys are squirming because you know it was a terrible mistake. Prediction though: Hillary Clinton will come out and make some sort of comment subtly supporting McCain and saying something along the lines of "well, maybe this whole 100 years item has been overblown." You watch. And when she does, everyone who is thinking clearly will understand that she's playing for Barack's defeat in '08 so that she can run in '12.

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Jerry S. Oakland, CA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:17:43 GMT

Obama is saying this -- that McWar did not actually want 100 years of war -- as a courtesy to McCain. It would be obvious that McCain wants American troops to remain for as long as 100 years given his staunch support for the war.
Also, you cannot make an analogy of Iraq's situation with that of Japan or Germany. Japan was not thrown into the trumoil of religious bloodbathing like the Sunnis and Shiites that American is dealing with, though the conflcit seems in decline. And we did not create insurgencies and religious extremist groups in Japan or Germany with our occupation.
Bring that video where McWar talked about 100 years of war or occupation in Iraq.

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twocanpete — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:17:44 GMT

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Iraq is not Germany. We didn't purge Iraq of the enemy the way we purged Germany of Nazis and the Iraqis are bent but they are not broken the way the Germans were. As long as we are in Iraq we will be at war, period.

The '100-year' war continues...

Joe - STL — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:17:49 GMT

I guess at some point old man McBush is going to start yelling "get off my lawn" at the Dems...

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Jerry — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:19:02 GMT

This is pretty easy..John McCain said it and you can watch it..and if the RNC doesn't like it, then maybe they should find a candidate who doesn't say it

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VFknKVjuyNk

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Nicholas: Minnesota — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:19:05 GMT

Oh my goodness, McCain and the RNC whine like Democrats.

--And it is amazing how little coverage McCain is getting over this. The Democrats are labeling him and he cannot respond. Ode the the Clinton-Obama battle ...

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CitizenJ — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:20:20 GMT

Too bad for American families that it has taken 5 years to get nowhere, and who knows how long it will take to stabilize. If McCain wants to stay until we win, and then wants more war after that, perhaps he should start by telling us what "winning" means. It changes every couple of months.

McCain is a war monger running on the politics of fear.

Not this time.

No Country For Old Men

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C A, Tuscaloosa, AL — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:25:17 GMT

The RNC needs to quit playing on words in order to defend McCain. No matter what one wants to call it, presence, occupation, whatever, the fact is that McCain has stated he would keep "troops" in Iraq for 100 years if necessary to win this conflict. Of couse McCain never defined what "win" means and frankly has no idea what it means in relation to Iraq.

Tell McCain this Obama: This is not a war that our troops find themselves in. This is a POLICE ACTION that no matter how mighty and strong your military is you cannot, and I repeat you cannot, win a POLICE ACTION against a population of millions with 140,000 troops. You cannot win a POLICE ACTION where the population is embittered in a religious conflict between the factions. You cannot depend on Iraq forces that will drop their weapons and join the insurgents without US involvement. You cannot force a democracy or even any sense of stability on a government that is weak and corrupt or a people who neither trust their own government or that of the ocupiers, the US.

Pound it hard Obama, get angry and keep hammering. Tell McCain and the RNC where to stick it and bring the troops home. And tell them we would not have been in this mess if they had not voted to invade Iraq in the first damn place. Now you and we have to fix their mess.

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John, Dallas, TX — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:25:30 GMT

Um. . .McCain *did* say he was fine with 100 years of presence in Iraq. What he did *not* say was it would be 100 years of "war" - he's clearly talking about troop presence like we continue to have in South Korea, etc. - i.e., the aftermath of war. Both Obama and Clinton are exaggerating (but not "lying") on this one.

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RandyH, Reno NV — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:26:01 GMT

As long as we "occupy" or "have a presence" in Iraq, they will be at war with us. That is what happens when you illegally invade another country an expect them to submit your will. They fight back. There will be chaos in Iraq until we have left, whether that be tomorrow or 100 years from now. Maybe we should just get out and let them and their neighbors resolve the differences in the region. Occupiers can't do that for them.

No more warmonger presidents!

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Diane from Illinois — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:29:17 GMT

It's okay. By summer McFossil will "forget" what he actually DID say concerning Iraq. He'll be wanting to invade Iran by then. But he might get those two countries mixed up, too. I don't know. It's just plain scary. Where are his medical records? I want to know if he's "fit for duty". Can't tell me he doesn't have some issues with post traumatic stress syndromes since being held as a POW. How do you explain his "anger" issues?

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HP Boston — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:29:25 GMT

See that the RNC can negate OBAMA in a Flash!

They will pick apart every word he utters, every look he poses, and dish him up as a plate of MUSH!
They will be relentless in their quest to destroy him as they have already driven Hillary to the ground. You see how they have made you all in to a snarling pack of dogs at the mention of her name. Get ready for the same for your barack, he is doomed!

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squintz, philly, pa — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:34:38 GMT

It took me about 15 tries to actually locate this quote in writing (damn my office's YouTube block!), has the RNC scrubbed Google clean? McCain is stronger on the stump when he has these manly outbursts (Make it 100! Bomb bomb bomb Iran!), so it's either that or he bores us all to death with the large type-face teleprompter speeches. Take your pick, RNC. Al Gore invented the internet, eh? How do you like a taste of your own medicine? Snap!

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kevin,fl — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:35:25 GMT

To say that Hillary wants Obama to lose in 08 so she could run in 12 is ridiculous. She wants to win now for the good of the democratic party. She wants to win now because we all know that Obama can not win the general election especially without Florida and Michigan. Trust me people- I live in Florida- We will boycott the GE if our votes are not counted or there is no re-vote- Do way left democrats understand what Florida means in the GE?

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Thursday — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:56:30 GMT

hey Ron in TX,

how about progress with no goals? that's what obama and clinton promise. they have no objective standards as their personal philosophies don't allow them to. with no standards to work towards, what is it they want to work towards?

if they do have standards, it's only been socialism that i've seen so far. i believe in helping out the next guy, but the moment i'm forced to, that's when you've crossed the line.

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Andre, Seattle, WA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:02:41 GMT

The majority of Iraqis don't want us there. Sunni or Shia (sic) If we are there for a 100 years they will be shooting at us for 100 years. We can not participate in the stabilization of that country because our extended "presence " will undermine our efforts. McSame is still thinking in a WWII Vietnam mindset that we need to stick around to make sure that the place stays stable. Its a recipe to give the military industrial complex and the Halliburtons and Bechtels more money and more oil.

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Randy E (SC) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:04:49 GMT

John from Dallas,

on Hardball, Matthews asked a McCain supporter to identify when the "presence" will begin WITHOUT casualties. Why don't you give this a stab. When will we have a "presence" WITHOUT losing American lives? When does this start? A 100 year "presence" after how many more years of American deaths?

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Eric — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:06:04 GMT

"Presence" in Iraq equals war, it is that simple. We will never have a "presence" in Iraq that is accepted by the greater Arab world. If we have a military base there, it will be attacked. The Islamic world in not Korea, Japan, or Germany. There is no time in the 1400 year history of this religion that Muslims have stood by and idly accepted occupation. This is the exact (lack of) logic and historical perspective that Bush and Co. used to get us into this mess. This misunderstanding of the mid-east is exemplefied in McCain's 100 year comment. I cannot decide if these attempts by the RNC to portray a "100 year peaceful presence" is deceit or failure to learn the tragic lessons of the last five years.

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S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:12:00 GMT

Where are the actual quotes from both McCain, who seems to favor this conflict and appears to want to keep it going, and Obama, who seems to want to find a solution of our continued presense/occupation of Iraq. I would like to see these quotes for myself so that I can make my own decision.

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cedrickcalloway — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:13:56 GMT

Kevin of Fl what good does it do Floridians to boycott the general election? Don't boycott...if you do not like the Dem nominee whoever that may be then vote Republican if you agree with their politics and their policy.

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You Said It Old Man, Liberty USA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:19:07 GMT

The old buzzaed did say it, there's a video to prove it and that vidoe has been plastered across millions of televisions for several weeks. I think it is hilarious that the RNC is going after Obama so strongly on this. They know it was a huge gaffe and are trying to attack his character about something that was plainly and passionately said by McCain. Didn't Hillary say it too? Why so much focus on Obama? I think the Republicans really do want to see Hillary as the nominee.

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Yola,CT — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:20:27 GMT

Oh Please Kevin, FL... the Democrats have lost FL in the last GE! You need to watch MSNBC a lot more - Obama can win without FL.

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Mel — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:22:20 GMT

Fine. If McCain wants to clear up the distortion, then he needs to define victory and his conditions for withdrawal. If he can't the "hundred years distortion" may very well be a distortion - because it would be an underestimate.

How long are people going to fall for this nonsense?? The United States, for all its power, does not have an unlimited amount of resources - this war is draining our economy and weakening our military.

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Eric, Phoenix, AZ — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:35:36 GMT

What people need to start questioning is why we still have troops stationed in Germany and Italy and Korea, etc in the numbers we have. Bring those troops home too. It costs billions of dollars to maintain those bases which aren't necessary anymore. If Russia or China declare war those troops won't stop them.

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Nader's the man — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:39:24 GMT

The people that interpret McCain's 100 year comments to mean anything other than doing what we have done in Japan and Europe for more than sixty years are idiots. What you should be worried about is how many "Amen!"s came out of Barry's mouth when Muqtada al-Wright was screaming "God dam* America!".

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Sa, Petaluma, CA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:40:43 GMT

McCain needs new communications people. His don't seem to speak English. This is absurd. Thank goodness I have that speech saved in the middle of some spoof ;) It looks like they tried to take them off of youtube?

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Chad, Grand Rapids, MI — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:50:20 GMT

I understand that we need to have a "presence" in certain areas... but not Iraq! Not until the have civil war (which would be supervised by the rest of the world). We can not afford the lives or the cost financially.

As far as RNC attacking Barack because of his statements... perhaps they should Duct tape McCains mouth as he said it!

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Tired of Michigan & Florida 's Threats!!!! — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:50:27 GMT

Kevin in Fl:

These comments are very disturbing. Do you really think it is in the best interest of the country to boycott an election because your preferred candidate did not get nominated??? The revote will not happen because of the expense, time involved and logistics. It was NOT the candidates' fault your votes did not count. It was your Republican Governor. Be mad at him.

Saying you will boycott the GE is selfish and irresponsible. Does that really help the state of this great country of ours that is hurting on SO many levels?? Do you really think it is appropriate to threaten to withhold your vote unless a revote is conducted??? Grow up and act like the responsible, educated American who has been given the FREEDOM to vote. Quit threatening to withhold your vote just because you are not getting your Way!!!!

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rebecca, Michigan — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:53:30 GMT

McCain did say 100 years. I heard it out of his own mouth. So Obama is not mis quoting anything he said. If McCain has changed his mind about that he should makew a new declaration and not try to blame Obama for getting McCains quote right in the first Place.
Vote; No troops occupation in Iraq also get Blackwater(civilian paid combat units) out of there.

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Robert Smith, Seattle, WA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:54:09 GMT

The RNC knows that if a Democrat Candidate had said the "100 year" remark they (the RNC) would be replaying it on an endless loop and the RNC news outlet, Fox News.

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Pete - Albany, NY — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:54:22 GMT

"Remain calm! All is well!" - Chip Diller (Kevin Bacon), Animal House

Regardless of length of time it has taken us longer at this point to "win" in Iraq than it took for us to defeat Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito in World War II. Why is that? Does it really take longer to secure one nation than it does to win a World War?

Maybe it's because "victory" in Iraq has nothing to do with what our brave soldiers are doing. Maybe it's time for Iraq to take care of itself.

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Houston — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:07:15 GMT

[[The RNC also took issue with Obama's word choice of "occupation" this morning ("presence" is probably more accurate). ]]

It's an OCCUPATION, and one of the bloodiest and dirtiest occupations since Viet Nam. No amount of Orwellian Double Speak is going to change that fact.

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tom fabius NY — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:15:04 GMT

Nobody with a IQ over 100 could hardly interupt that McCain ment we will be fighting in Iran for a 100 years. Get real people and listen to what he actually said. By the way he did dodge enemy fire and paid for it dearly even when he was oftered his freedom, he said it wasn'st his turn. Now thats takes courage and he did not embelish his heroic act.

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Sue, Corning, Ohio — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:48:17 GMT

WE invaded Irag, they did nothing to us!! Ask yourself if Georgie would have gone in there if he and Dicky were not oil men. Yes, I support my boys, I want them home and when they come home ask these great leaders we have to take care of them. As for John McCain, my friends, how about signing the VA bill to take care of the boys and girls YOU sent to invade a country that had been our friend.

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REG in AZ — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:55:06 GMT

Calling his position of accepting a 100 year war irresponsible, is far more accurate and fair than his calling the Democratic desire to bring the troops home ASAP a surrender. Barack has always said 'we should bring them out as carefully as we carelessly put them in'. Again, who is really being truthful.

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bernadette — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:59:49 GMT

how about McCain's 'bomb bomb bomb Iran' song - what kind of leadership is that? Not Presidential and in fact scary as I believe it represents his attitude about war. I wonder what world leaders think about him being so careless about such a thing.

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Louis, Missouri — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:09:58 GMT

It is not going to matter in Florida if it is Clinton or Obama. The state is crimson red. They are both going to lose Florida's electoral vote. Disenfranchised or not -- it automatically goes into the Republican column. So all this talk about Democrats are not going to vote in Florida or vote for McCain is nonsense. McCain is going to win Florida regardless.

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Susan Erickson, North Branch, MN — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:11:58 GMT

I just received an email from my nephew who is in Iraq. He was with the invasion, was stop lossed then to fifteen months. Came back here dealing with depression and guilt which are not uncommon, stationed in Texas and found out when he had four months left on his contract that he was going to be sent back to Iraq with his unit and would then be stopped lossed for their entire tour unless he re-upped and contracted to go to another post. He took what seemed to be the best of his poor options, went and served for a year in South Korea and then on a technicality they violated his contract and reatteached him to a battalion in North Carolina that was preparing to go in for the surge. They were expecting to come back home in July, although his year tour should have been up in April, but the latest word is they will now not be released to return home until Sept. He was supposed to be out on this latest contract in September but now when he will be released is put off indefinitely. Just saying

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OBwan, IN — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:19:31 GMT

Iraq to the US is no different then Gaza and Palenstne is to Israel. Perhaps a better analogy Afghanistan and the Soviet Union in the 1980's.
There will be a steady drip, drip, drip of life, capital, and goodwill expenditure.
The only question is what is the risk analysis (risk vs payoff).

I would never question McCain's service or heroism, only his leadership. There is a reason that he was 4th from the bottom of his graduating class.

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chuck, richmond, tx — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:29:13 GMT

How are "presence" and "occupation" different if the people don't want you there? And John McCain is being incredibly naive if he thinks that a 100 year "presence" of American forces in Iraq won't lead to violence against Americans everywhere. It's astounding the way people and the media just grant him this title of military genius when he can't see the forest for the trees. Let's face it, he's been for this war from the beginning -- as pro-war as one could get and it's been a colossal mistake. Two-thirds of Americans recognize it. Unfortunately, John McCain doesn't.

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Houston — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:35:39 GMT

tom fabius [[Nobody with a IQ over 100 could hardly interupt that McCain ment we will be fighting in Iran for a 100 years. ]]

Nobody with an IQ over 100 should believe that if the US occupies Iraq for a 100 years, it WILL be fighting for 100 years.

And by the way, McBomb was talking about a 100-year occuupation of IRAQ, not IRAN. Iran is the next war he's eager to start while we're bogged down in the other two wars that he and Bush are losing.

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Coy Reese, Shady Spring, West Virginia — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:40:38 GMT

Iraq is not Post WW2 Japan, German, nor post Korean War...Korea. Parallels have no basis in fact. Mc Cain said what he said..we have all heard it...and attempting to parse his words falls on deaf ears. John Mc Cain is clearly the wrong man at the wrong time and certainly wrong for our Nation.

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Maritza — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:40:46 GMT

I really don't think that this is a big deal. The question is are we still in a war or we in an occupation? Some say we are still in a war and some say we are in an occupation.

I just think that this is semantics that the American people are not going to understand since they think we are still in a "war".

McCain has made it clear that he would be happy to remain in Iraq for 100 years similar what is happening now which in the American people's mind is "war".

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Perry "Hussein", NYC — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:44:57 GMT

If McWar wants to talk the talk, he should be able to walk the walk! Next time maybe he won't be so CAVALIER in his sabre-rattling. ("Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran," etc.)

For all he's framed himself as this steady straight-shooter, he sure comes off as teetering on the brink of control.

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Chicago — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:45:29 GMT

Are you guys still looking for weapons of mass destruction and how many have you found??? Please declare. Inquiring minds want to know. What is America looking for?? Who is ready to tell us??

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JK, Denver — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:51:20 GMT

Obama, nor Hillary has said a number, but, maintaining a significant presence to show force and keep the peace is an occupation. Obama has said he would maintain a force to protect our assets, such as the American Embassy and our civilians stationed in Iraq. McCain just say's forces to maintain a presence and show force. Lately this also means having a force in place that can occupy, oh, I'm sorry, have a presence in Iran when they finally decide that they have WMD's in place and ready to strike the U.S.A. Oh yes, it's comming or the rhetoric when Iran is mentioned wouldn't be so strong.

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Kyle, Sacramento, CA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:57:21 GMT

Please watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKg1xdGJtPw

McCain has no problem being in Iraq for 100 years as long as there are no AMerican casualties. What planet is he living on. There is no way Americans will ever be in Iraq and not have a casualty. No way.

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bill, okla — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:58:15 GMT

McCain like "W" is an imperialist. They think America should be the planet's "democracy" police, particularly if oil turns up in the situation. And for the RNC to say presence is a better word than occupation in regards to Iraq is as stupid as it is insulting.

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CJ, TAMPA, FL. — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:07:11 GMT

Anyone from FL who either does NOT vote in the GE or votes for MCWar to get back at Dem's is playing right into the GOP's hands! 4 FOUR TO 8 EIGHT MORE YEARS OF WAR AND INCOMPETANCE!!
GROW UP and VOTE SO WE CAN HELP TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY!!!!

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Lawrence, Richmd CA — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:09:09 GMT

OK, "100 MORE YEARS, how do you like THAT!" ...says Geraldine :-)