Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCainspoke to members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, calling Democratic candidate positions on the war in Iraq “a failure of leadership.”
“To promise a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq, regardless of the calamitous consequences to the Iraqi people, our most vital interests, and future of the Middle East, is the height of irresponsibility,” the Arizona senator said.
McCain, a veteran of the Vietnam War and former prisoner of war, acknowledged the failures of U.S. policy in Iraq, but touted the success of last year’s troop surge.
“Instead of abandoning Iraq to civil war, genocide, and terror, and the Middle East to destabilizing effects of these consequences, we changed strategies,” he said. “We sent to Iraq additional troops, many of them on their third or fourth tour, and a great, seasoned general to lead them, with a battle plan that, at long last, actually addressed the challenges we faced in Iraq.”
General David Petraeus will join U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker in testifying before Congress Tuesday and Wednesday, giving a full report on both military and diplomatic progress in Iraq.
In his speech, McCain addressed evidence of progress in both areas, saying “there is no doubt about the basic reality in Iraq: we are no longer staring into the abyss of defeat, and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success.”
Ahead of Petraeus’ testimony, the Republican National Committee released an ad joining McCain in his attack on the policy proposals of Democratic rivals Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Both Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean and Sen. Obama fired back at McCain for Monday’s statements.
“John McCain’s irresponsibly political attacks are not a substitute for a workable plan for the future of Iraq, something McCain has consistently refused to outline,” Dean said, according to Reuters.
Obama accused McCain of proposing an “open-ended commitment” in Iraq, saying McCain “was wrong about the war from the beginning, he’s wrong to call for more resources in Iraq while American people are struggling, and he’s wrong to support a 100 year occupation of a country that needs to take responsibility for its future,” in statement.
Gen. Barry McCaffrey testified on April 2nd that the war is "over" and that it will take one to three years to extricate ourselves. I don't know how McCain can prolong the war. He sure isn't going to institute a draft. Under the circumstances, it seems wrong to assume that McCain is looking for a 100 years war there.
Dear Bill Moyers, I have been a Conservative from McCarthy, Buckley, Goldwater, Reagan. I am still conservative but have become a political hybrid of sorts: Conservative-Populist: sharing some of the views of yours, Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, Gore Vidal, and Lou Dobbs. God Bless you and your fine program! Hope Lou Dobbs runs for Pres. so I can vote for someone I really agree with this time. Proud to say I have never voted for either Bush! May vote for Ron Paul in NC Primary! No way I'll ever vote for that phony patriot McCain! He callaborated with his N.Vietnamese jailers and betrayed some of his fellow POW's! You know, the ones who never were returned alive but were abandoned by succeeding Rep. and Dem Admins. as it would be a unacceptable truth that the Evil and Corrupt Amer. Establishment couldn't hide from the People! The Truth is out there just search for it...
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Gen. Barry McCaffrey testified on April 2nd that the war is "over" and that it will take one to three years to extricate ourselves. I don't know how McCain can prolong the war. He sure isn't going to institute a draft. Under the circumstances, it seems wrong to assume that McCain is looking for a 100 years war there.
Dear Bill Moyers, I have been a Conservative from McCarthy, Buckley, Goldwater, Reagan. I am still conservative but have become a political hybrid of sorts: Conservative-Populist: sharing some of the views of yours, Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, Gore Vidal, and Lou Dobbs. God Bless you and your fine program! Hope Lou Dobbs runs for Pres. so I can vote for someone I really agree with this time. Proud to say I have never voted for either Bush! May vote for Ron Paul in NC Primary! No way I'll ever vote for that phony patriot McCain! He callaborated with his N.Vietnamese jailers and betrayed some of his fellow POW's! You know, the ones who never were returned alive but were abandoned by succeeding Rep. and Dem Admins. as it would be a unacceptable truth that the Evil and Corrupt Amer. Establishment couldn't hide from the People! The Truth is out there just search for it...
the DEMS are a joke.
the GOP will take 40 states in nov.