McCain 'optimistic' about Iraq plan

Posted: Friday, February 27, 2009 10:50 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Republicans, Security, The First 100 Days

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Earlier this morning on the Senate floor, GOP Sen. John McCain said, "I am cautiously optimistic that the plan as laid out by the president can lead to success."

McCain was among those congressional members briefed on the President Obama's Iraq withdrawal plan yesterday at the White House. "I believe the president's withdrawal is a reasonable one. I think the plan is reasonable."

The Arizona senator credited "the surge," as well as the work by Gens. Petraeus and Odierno and Ambassador Crocker for improving security in Iraq and thereby allowing Obama's withdrawal plan to be implemented. "The failing situation in Iraq has been arrested and reversed," he said.

But he quickly added "the president's plan is not without risk. We have not yet completed the mission in Iraq, and the gains we have made there remain fragile." McCain also said the greatest risk will be the period leading up to and during Iraq's elections in December when "conditions could worsen."

With that in mind, McCain urged Obama to keep the full complement of 50,000 troops in Iraq "and not succumb to pressures, political or otherwise, to make deeper or faster cuts in our force levels."

"After all the tragic losses of life, after the hundreds of billions of dollars spent, after all the other costs our country has absorbed as a result of the conduct of this war, we are finally on a path to success."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Oh, so NOOOOOWWWWWW McCain wants to be a "supporter"???

I don't trust him!

Lesa, Texas (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:01 AM)

McCain huh?

I guess we all now know that confirms Obama is screwing up.

Josh Larson, FL (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:01 AM)

John McCain and Lindsey Graham need to take a long vacation,neither has much influence in the Conservative party. They are incapable of accepting their fate, lack common sense, and are blind as to how much they are destroying the goofy old party. Follow Palin's footsteps and settle down in Alaska.

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:02 AM)

Remind me again, what was our mission in Iraq? Didn't we go there to catch the people responsible for 9/11 with the catch that they aren't in that country?

Deb, NYC (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:04 AM)

It is encouraging to see Senator McCain agree with the President on this decision. Don't get used to it though because before long you will see the Party of NO return in full force. The Republicans only agree when it is politically correct.

Dottie, Swarthmore PA (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:05 AM)

And for the 5000 time Senator McCain...Define the mission and endgame in Iraq. What is the goal? You have yet to ever state that. What is the definition of win?

GP NW Indiana (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:06 AM)

How fortunate we are that MaGoo's evaluation of sucess just so happens at the same time our President is planning to pull out the troops. Yes, declare victory, hand out some medals, puff out some chests, but get our soldiers out of harms way.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:08 AM)

This won't sit well with the pretend tough guys on the right who sign others up for war but heck none of them wanted to go fight...

Rojer that chickenhawks (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:13 AM)

Though I'd rather see all the troops come home yesterday, I'm sure no responsible president would actually let the Iraqis try to defend their own freedom, because they're not very good at it. So having troops there for awhile to go after the worst elements and protect the "advisers" (ah, I remember Vietnam!) will keep the Iraqis from tearing into each other like rabid animals, though they ARE GOING to do that whenever we leave, because they just dig doing that, apparently. But Obama's trying to be responsible here, so I give him points for that.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:18 AM)

McCain can go back further with his praise. There would be no "path to success", no withdrawal from Iraq or a surge if there had not been an invasion. Given another 20 years and another few trillion dollars, Iraq and its people can be back just as functional and prosperous as it was before we destroyed the country. Of course the 600,000 dead will not come back to life, but that can't spoil our "success"

nuanced (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:21 AM)

McCain is optimistic? Sheesh. Now I'M worrried.

Anna Molly (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:22 AM)

Has McCain told Obama how to get Bin Laden yet, or end the wars, or is this a secret to be used only if he had won?

John Bohlman in Wis. (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:22 AM)

"We are finally on a path to success." Words well spoken John. Slowly, ever so slowly, bipartisanship is being built, one small compliment and kind word at a time. What will Rush Limbaugh and John Boehner do? Just talk to one another.

Ron Indiana (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:23 AM)

Just what is the Mission in Iraq, Sen McCain? How long would that mission last if you had won the election? 100 years, 50? McCain keeps talking about the surge but he never mentions the diplomacy in the provinces that made the surge effective--selective memory. Of course the fact that we should never have started the war in Iraq is beyond his comprehension. As a result of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated significantly and who knows whether anything done now will help. I'm glad we're leaving Iraq whether its 16 months or 19 months for most of the troops; the rest will follow gradually to ensure that things remain relatively stable. No matter when we leave, there will be problems.

Jody, IA (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:32 AM)

Johnny,Is there more then a few folks that give a hoot what you or what anyone from your party has to say about your ill conceived (OIL WAR).Maybe the rich Oil company's with there record profits could cough up a few Billos to help out the good ol USA,After 8 years,these guys have to have enough socked away in coffee cans in there yards,they have mountains in there yards now.Now Johnny we all know that the serge had some effect,but don't ya think that once we started to pay them to behave things got better?See your party still knows how to buy peace.Not to worry Bomber,Obama has said he will be more caring getting out,that means thought will go into the problem,something that was never done by your Boy George.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:39 AM)

Lets grow the bipartisan love, shall we? Thanks for the nod, John. I do find it interesting that you have so changed your opinion since the campaign but still, thanks for the nod.

BamaBoy (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:45 AM)

Democrat Philosophy In Life

Agree with me and we will like or apease you.

Oppose me and we will unleash the biggest name calling hate bomb on your butt like you never had.

Yes, Life Is A Highway, A One Way Street.

Bi-partisan is you agree with me.

Josh Larson, FL (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:50 AM)

I wish these GOP clowns would go sit down somewhere and get a clue. Why is what John "The Fundamentals Of The Ecomony Are Sound" McCain even being given a forum? He did not win. He is not our president. He had his say and day and now frankly I could give a sh*t what he thinks about anything President Obama and his administration says or does. They will rise or fall of their own accord not because McCain or his ilk deem it to be so. The GOP is only concerned about preserving their way of life, mindset, etc. They don't give a sh*t about this country or the people in it they deem beneath them to help but are thankfully stupid enough to slobber over their "message" and carry out the "word" of insanity, hate, etc. as long as it serves the party.

Enough Already (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 11:57 AM)

If we can use the same sort of diplomacy using the tribes and tribal leaders in such a way as to destroy those bad elements, they'll be as glad to see them gone as we do but to save face they can't be seen as supporting the infidel, as we did in Iraq but in Afghanistan/Pakistan too. That will keep the bloodshed to a minimum and save treasure too. Those folks are not like us or most of the rest of the world. We have to use them and treat them diffrently. Once we figured that out in Iraq we had success.

It is good to see Sen. McCain finally awake and alert. The nursing home (which of his nine is it?)must be taking good care of the OLD fellow.

eagle1776 (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 12:27 PM)

Well at least McCain is man enough to give Obama some credit for the decision,even if it does fly in the face of his commitments during the election. Remember, ALL troops will be out first in 2009, than 2010 now they are there AT LEAST until 2011.

Obama can't even recognize that the surge worked, and allowed him to look like a hero for pulling troops out. For once, I wish he would give others credit besides himself. He is not the next coming as much as he likes to think he is, he is just a simple politicain, and that is it.

Broke his promise again (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 12:36 PM)

"Democrat Philosophy In Life

Agree with me and we will like or apease you.

Oppose me and we will unleash the biggest name calling hate bomb on your butt like you never had."

------

And the last time President Obama called someone a traitot was . . .

never?

schriendog, colorado springs (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 12:45 PM)

NICE. Obama informs the terrorists exactly what date we're pulling out. Now they can sit back and wait until that date to continue their terror.

Makes Sense (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 1:21 PM)

Has anyone looked at a map lately. Let's not forget the Iranian Nuclear threat. Keeping troops and bases in Iraq is a counter point to the Iranians and is a subtle reminder that we are still in the region to protect our (Isreal's) intrests. The Turks would never allow us to use their bases to attack an Irananian nuclear facility if that (god forbid) became necessary. Even John McCain knows this.

TorpedoYou (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 1:35 PM)

What "Insane McCain" does not understand is history. No nation can win a "two-front" war, and history has proven this to be true. Just ask the Germans? There is a very logical reason for this. This "two-front" war strategy, stretches everything too the brink. Fighting on two fronts? Means a nation needs to have two of everything at once. Already our military is spread too thin, and the costs are just enormous. The physical/mental stress on our military is doubled, and so has the economic costs. Other very important factors are stretched too thin as well. The real "war on terror" began, continues, and needs to end in Afganistan. Time to move forward America!

Rock,Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 1:37 PM)

Hopefully, by withdrawing from Iraq, the military can do something with Afghanistan and maybe prevent Pakistan from imploding. It probably will require several stragegies but it would make sense to try dealing with the tribal leaders. It's a tragedy that Bush decided to invade Iraq at the expense of Afghanistan. From what I've read, the puzzle pieces were there, but Bush didn't fit them together and instead chose to leave; now President Obama has another Bush mess to clean up. How many does that make? I will say this, I'm pleased with all the new administration has accomplished in 5 weeks.

Seems to me it's the GOP who has the definition of bi-partisan confused with agree with me or you'll not get my vote, or Bush's famous my way or the highway attitude, or Cheney's secret society so as not to let the democrats participate let alone tell the American public anything. Now that's bi-partisan republican style.

Jody, IA (Sent Friday, February 27, 2009 3:34 PM)

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=1813423