McCain: Al Qaeda May Intervene To Tip Election Towards Dems

"Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday he fears that al Qaeda or another extremist group might attempt spectacular attacks in Iraq to try to tilt the U.S. election against him," Reuters reports.

McCain, at a town hall meeting in this Philadelphia suburb, was asked if he had concerns that anti-American militants in Iraq might ratchet up their activities in Iraq to try to increase casualties in September or October and tip the November election against him.

"Yes, I worry about it," McCain said. "And I know they pay attention because of the intercepts we have of their communications ... The hardest thing in warfare is to counter someone or a group of individuals who are willing to take their own lives in order to take others."

TPM's Greg Sargent notes: "You know, I keep hearing from Republican pundits and operatives that the specter of terrorism inevitably bolsters the electoral prospects of Republicans. But here McCain says that Al Qaeda would amp up their attacks in Iraq to hurt him. Hard to keep track of this stuff sometimes."

Comments

[Vurz]

This was trumpeted during the 2004 election too: http://www.buzzflash.com/farrell/04/04/far04011.html

Trumpeted during 2006.

[BobSF94117]

If he's REALLY worried about it, maybe he should withdraw, just to save lives....

[cdnnewsjunky]

That shouldn't be too hard for Al Qaeda, they just have to buy out Diebold.

[thirteen13]

al Qaeda loves McCain mostly for his temper. They know that if you are elected president you will send more troops to Iraq. McCain has already told us that a majority of Americans do not agree with him. That doesn't matter because the Supreme Court works for the Republicans and will award the presidency to him.

Here we go again being threatened by a Republican fear monger. A criminal mob known as al Qaeda
can affect the presidential election in the USA? al Qaeda is financed with US DOLLARS. These dollars come from the Saudi coffers. Think about it, we are throwing unlimited amounts of dollars at Iraq. If you count the Corporate Mercenaries and the US Military, there are well over 200 thousand heavily armed Americans in Iraq. McCain is saying that even with our Corporate and Military presence of five years, al Qaeda is calling the shots. That does not sound like we are winning and proves that we cannot win.

My funds are maxed out. I am being co-payed and deregulated into poverty. The present USA is not such a nice place to grow old.

[SadButWiser]

McCain is actually Al-Qaeda nominee, here is why:

The presence of the US army in Iraq actually serves Al-Qaeda better. For a start, one of Al-Qaeda objective is to drain the American economy. And it is succeeding. Secondly, having the US forces there means that the Iraqi Shia's will not have the full control of Iraq they would love to have. Thirdly, Iran would be the dominant influence if the US forces leave, and as Shia's their ideology is a complete contrast to Al-Qaeda ideology.

So if McCain wins the Presidency, Al-Qaeda would celebrate, but will not dance as they consider dancing sinful.

[jaschrod]

Actually, Al-Qaeda has already won this war because of the stupidity of the Republican party leadership. Ben Laden stated in the beginning that they could not defeat us militarily, but could cause us great harm financially, and they have accomplished that. The problem is that a large number of people in this country do not understand how bad off we are financially, but will soon find out. We are teetering on financial collapse. Our financial collapse did not start with the Bush administration, but they gave it the shot of adrenaline that was needed. The universities must really be proud of what they have produced in the form of intelligence, or as I should say the lack of.

[tumblewind]

I will have to agree with you 100%. It's to bad most American's haven't figured this out yet! The terrorist's are destroying us without ever having to hit us again. I firmly believe that's why they haven't again. George W Bush is doing the job for them.

[ErikW65]

Thank you. We need to realize that Iran and AQ are not of the same division of Islam. The war in Iraq is obviously a huge boon to AQ recruitment. We need to focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan. That's where the AQ leadership is. AQ in Iraq is just a franchise operation.

[GhostintheMachine]

I understand Bin Laden is in talking with the Obama campaign on the possibility of a Obama/Osama 08 ticket

[dora rice]

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT 08 TICKET. BUT I BET YOU A DOLLAR OSAME IS CURIOUS WHO
THIS BLACK MUSLIM PRESIDENT REALLY IS.

[batgirlevi]

The Bin Laded family is great friends with the bush family. Isn't that the sort of thing that would cause you trolls to squeal like stuck pigs? Oh wait. That's only for Democrats.

See why you have no credibility?

[mgloraine]

Not likely; Osama works for BushCo. They share the same objective: the destruction of the U.S.A. and Constitutional Democracy.

[HumeSkeptic]

A five-year old can do better than this. Pathetic.

[1differentdrummer]

Yes, and the moon is made out of green cheese.

[Jacky1]

This may sound really un-American but sometimes I think the al qaeda and the Bushies [I don't believe their Republicans any longer] are working together. It seems that everytime they need something passed or someone elected they bring up an al qaeda situation that seems to always work in their favor.

[GhostintheMachine]

No, it sounds like your foil hat is too tight.

[in4success]

hey ghost . . . time to catch a little reality: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5948263607579389947

[mgloraine]

It sounds like you're a BushCo TROLL.

[transendentilist]

No, Jacky1 makes a good point. It's been going on ever since 9/11. I wouldn't say the bushies are working WITH bin Laden, or al Qaida, but they sure have millked the whole terrorism thing for all it's worth. If it weren't for 9/11, bush would never have gotten elected to a second term.
Obama is the GOP's favorite scare-crow. Every time, it seems, when the dems are poised to win an election, or everytime there is a major GOP scandal, a bin Laden, "video," magically pops up out of the blue. Or they ratchet up the terror attack rhetoric. Their color coded warnings have already been proven to be a scam, just to keep the electorate scared silly.

[drumz]

And you have your binders on too tight

[zizyphus]

Our CIA trained and armed Al Qaeda, and the Bushes and Bin Ladins are best friends and business partners. That's about all you need to know.

[Ookiecay]

Grandpa needs to take his meds and stop the crazy talk.

[dax49]

TO JOHN MC CAIN: what ever you need to believe to make it through the night, buddy. maybe hagee and parsley will pray for you, that should get the job done.

[KevinLoyalAmerican]

More fear mongering...so what else is new?
Let's not forget who ACTUALLY interfered with the last TWO elections...That would be the RNC, right?
No one is buying your nonsense any more, John.

[harriscrl3]

This guy FRIGHTENS me. If he becomes the next president we are so doomed.

Carol

[Rehbock]

There were many terrorist attacks and they have wanted to attack us throughout seven years of Bush. If they are able to do more attacks in hopes of influencing the election but were able to attack, did attack and still want to attack us, that has been so throughout the Bush years. Senator McCaiin, they can and will attack this summer in spite all the wars and surge,in spite the spending, incusrions on liberty and the rest,. Doesn't that mean we need to stop what we have been doing like by electing a Democrat?

[BWonka]

More pathetic feaqr-mongering by a tired old man who has given up his principles and core beliefs for one last chance at the Presidency.

Sorry, John - but just like your NEW best friend, Bu$h, you are wrong for America's future. Please do the right thing and go to the Old Republican's Home for Failed Presidential Candidates and pass your time thinking back to when you had balls and a spine.

[longislandlol]

could not he have focused on the ecomomy- instead of being the voice of projected fear...

[transendentilist]

Karl Rove is his political advisor now. Really, he started last week. This must be his one trick pony. Fear-mongering is all Karl knows. And McCain is so desperate, he'll say anything to get elected.

[DavidE]

I guess maybe Al Qaeda is feeling sorry for us after they got us to elect Bush for 4 more years and got us to spent hundreds of billions of dollars fighting a war that didn't need to be fought.