Iraqis See a Candidate's Agenda in McCain's Visit

New York Times:

Senator John McCain arrived in Iraq on Sunday morning on a trip that was described as a visit by an official Congressional delegation, but that also served to showcase his foreign policy credentials as he campaigns for the White House.

Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was scheduled to meet with officials including the American ambassador to Iraq, Ryan C. Crocker, and the senior American military commander in the country, Gen. David H. Petraeus. He was also scheduled to meet with the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, said Yaseen Majid, a media adviser to Mr. Maliki.

Many Iraqi politicians are closely monitoring the American presidential race, and some said the visit bolstered their belief that if Mr. McCain, of Arizona, succeeded President Bush in the November election, the American military would have a large presence in Iraq for a very long time.

"This visit confirms that the Republicans believe that the Iraqi war is very important in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East," said Wael Abdul Latif, an independent Shiite member of the Iraqi Parliament. "It's a message to Iran that the United States will never leave, even after Bush is gone."

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Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[pahpah25]

WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS CAMPAIGN TRIP?

[SEQUOIABISON]

To my way of thinking McCain is even more dangerous than Bush.

He has no reasoning for the invasion of Iraq or even why we committed so many troops to Vietnam.

His only mantra is that we must win, win what?

What were we trying to win in Vietnam?

He has no real explanation for our commitment to war, he simply does not like to see America lose a war even though losing had no significance in Vietnam, we are now freely trading with that country, a waste of millions of lives for what?

McCain is a tired senile old man who is very angry and hostile and very dangerous, his singing Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran was very, very telling indeed.

[VivaZapata]

see john.
john needs naps.
john has powerful friends.
do you want to be john's friend?
do you have money?
with money you get honey
give john money,
suzy did.
you can too.

[pheepher]

And we thought they were stupid! Of course the old fool will keep the military in Iraq for 100 years, isn't that what he said. The question for the American people is: Can we afford this policy while our financial situation is crumbling?

[ObamaEdwards]

If this guy is elected, we are all dead meat on a stick. The combination of his uncontrollable rage and our current position in world politics will bring us down. If you think it's rough having to buy lousy products made in China, and paying four dollars a gallon for gas, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Americans think we're immune to economic and political disaster--just as we thought we were immune to terrorist attacks from outside. Well, welcome to the real world. Great Britain once dominated the world, and look where they are now. We need to get out of Iraq, and use that money to get ourselves back on track morally, financially, and politically. Only Obama is ready with the social and economic plans that can help us do this. While Clinton moons about taking calls at 3 AM, and McClain promises to stay in Iraq for 100 years, Obama has sensible and detailed plans to kick-start a whole new energy plan that will employ Americans and get us off foreign oil. He will make companies quit outsourcing as a means to cut their costs and make huge and unrealistic profits at the expense of middle class Americans. He is the ONLY candidate who is viewed favorably by the rest of the world. Electing him will tell the world that we know the score and we're ready to do the work to fulfill our nation's potential. Let's do it.

[dadw5boys]

Yes the USA will stay until the USA is BANKRUPT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like Russia in Afganistan!!!!!!!!!!

[Mercedes]

I guess there are a few illogical Iraqis who want us to stay in their country for years. Either they are very naive, or they are going to be making LOTS of money..

[BadChristian]

Another Samarra shop owner, 52-year-old Hamid Saleh, said he wanted the Republicans to lose the election. “All I want is someone who works to fix my country, and not destroy it,” he said.

----------------

A common cause for his country and ours.

No more of those who vote for constructive destruction...

Both require nation building, neither can last another Republican Administration.