McCain Gaffe: "Common Knowledge" That Iran Is Training Al-Qaida

*** UPDATES BELOW ***

Sen. John McCain is taking this week to travel the Middle East (as well as stop of in London for a fundraiser). Today in Jordan, he falsely claimed that the predominantly Sunni terrorist organization Al-Qaida was receiving training from predominantly Shia Iran:

Speaking to reporters in Amman, the Jordanian capital, McCain said he and two Senate colleagues traveling with him continue to be concerned about Iranian operatives "taking al-Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back."

Pressed to elaborate, McCain said it was "common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran, that's well known. And it's unfortunate." A few moments later, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, standing just behind McCain, stepped forward and whispered in the presidential candidate's ear. McCain then said: "I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda."

Continue reading here.

UPDATE: McCain made these statements yesterday on Hugh Hewitt's radio show:

As you know, there are Al Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they're moving back into Iraq.

Listen to the audio here.

UPDATE: The McCain campaign has offered a statement acknowledging the mistake, and saying Democrats are making mountains out of molehills:

"In a press conference today, John McCain misspoke and immediately corrected himself by stating that Iran is in fact supporting radical Islamic extremists in Iraq, not Al Qaeda -- as the transcript shows. Democrats have launched political attacks today because they know the American people have deep concerns about their candidates' judgment and readiness to lead as commander in chief."

The statement does not address his mistake from yesterday.

UPDATE: The DNC Communications Director Karen Finney released this statement:

"After eight years of the Bush Administration's incompetence in Iraq, McCain's comments don't give the American people a reason to believe that he can be trusted to offer a clear way forward. Not only is Senator McCain wrong on Iraq once again, but he showed he either doesn't understand the challenges facing Iraq and the region or is willing to ignore the facts on the ground."

Comments

[ElPerro]

If the US elects this Golum, it's doomed and deservedly so.

[Zhonni]

I will have to go look up that word. One more vocab in the books. Thanks.

[Zhonni]

Hey, I take my thank you back until you can tell me what that means.lol

All I found was that it has something to do with those who advocate the use of Liniux which I don't think is a bad thing.

[BeyondKen]

This explains why Mccain considered being Kerry's running mate 4 years ago. He forgot what party he was in.

[tumblewind]

These folks are so used to blaming Iran for all their problems. They do it unconsciously without ever even thinking about what they are saying! It's there best talking point so they can make a case for war with Iran! I am like the guy previously. Millions of people will go to the polls and vote for this idiot McCain in the fall simply because he is a Republican and not black or a woman. What does it tell you about our nation? About our lack of priorities? About our considering our nations interest first and foremost? About how intelligent our population has become? It's grown to where I don't have a bit of faith left in the American people to even consider what's best for this country! Another 10 years of war that results in the same quagmire that is Iraq now is not in our national interests.

[NYC07]

McCain admits he knows nothing about the economy, (The number One issue ) he clearly doesn't know what is happening in the world , yet in November millions of Americans will vote for him to be President. What does it say about us as a nation ? What does it say to the rest of the world ?

[YHWH]

was that dr zaius whispering into the oldest man alives ear?

[axt113]

Female Nurse Ape: Ooh, help me Dr. Zaius!
Apes: [in unison] Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius
Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius
Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius
Oh... Dr. Zaius
Ape: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius.

[Tankan]

George W. and Cheney have told so many lies it's little wonder McCain is confused!

Not to worry, Judas will whisper in his ear and tell what he should say!

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

That old fool is crazy!

[landmine]

The real worry is the guy whispering into his ear. His VP?

[craneman]

Reminded me of watching Mommy whispering in the ear of the Gipper. Maybe a test for alzheimers is in order

[idileru21]

My ''friend'' got it wrong this time around.It been twice this week that Mccain have been trying to figure out the connetion between the Al Qaeda and the civilwar in Iraq,no wonder he want to spend the next 100 years in Iraq, unfortunately the media has not been providing the information needed for the public to actually know the level of progress they are claming to have made, Mccain said we are winning in Iraq ,when about 4million Iraqis have been displaced .

[dutchess2]

This is a sick old man.

[ApolloSpeaks]

Did the 9/11 Commsison Report make a gaffe when it stated that Iran and Al Qaida had operational ties? That 8-10 of the 9/11 hijackers traveled through Iran and received training from Hezbollah? And that Hezbollah trained the Al Qaida operatives that struck the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia? Did the governments of Germany and Italy make a gaffe when it presented evidence in court proving that Zarquawi was operating a European terrorist network from Tehran? Is it a gaffe to say that Hamas Sunnis work with Shiite Iran.?

[shockmagog]

Gaffes, lies, miscommunication, cherry picking intelligence, intimidation, disseminating false information...

If you want to call them all gaffes, it's a "free" country.

[woodwakr]

If it wasn't a mistake, why did he correct himself? One of the key things the highly suspect 9/11 commission was tasked with was to deflect blame away from BushCo. But you wingnuts STILL want to believe that Saddam had links to al-Qaeda, a lunatic notion. Nobody has explained why Saudi is off the hook, and supposedly our buddies, when the highjackers were mostly from there. They flew thru lots of places. Iran has no al-Qaeda. Iraq had no al-Qaeda. The Rove/Fox spin machine had to make you think so to support the Iraq fiasco, and apparently they were successful. You guys say that Iran is providing supplies to terrorists in Iraq with virtually no evidence, but ignore the mountain of evidence that Saudi has done just that. Just 'cause Evil Lord Cheney says so. In other words: you're a fool. No, really. I don't know how you find your shoes in the morning.

[YHWH]

liar.... where does it say that in the 9/11 report?
you are talking out your ass

[NotWaldo]

Last week, McCain said that Al-Qaeda is now in VIETNAM of all places. According to reliable sources, these buddhistic extremists are called Al-Qaedong and they're planning to use vietnamese food as WMDs.

[shockmagog]

Brilliant.

[Brian55]

This is not really a big mistake for McCain to accidentally say that Al-Qaeda is trained by Iranians. He is not 30-40 years old, some room for mistakes and should be given but it takes an even greater man to admit his mistake. Why? Because he could have argued that Al Qaeda is being trained in Iran, since, they both have a common cause to attack Christians and Jews (the same view on America and Israel), hence different sects of Islam CAN come together to aid each other in a COMMON CAUSE and very few would protest, since no one except Iranian leaders really know.

Read this very good blogger respond to this mistake and goof of McCain (It is presented by a moderate who is known to criticize both the Democrats and Republicans):
http://moderatebalance.blogspot.com/

[evilzed]

Yeah and one would believe a mistake like Sadaam was seeking Yellowcake, and wanted to nuke the US. Same bullshit, different warmongering arsehole.

[shockmagog]

Thanks, but this is one of many, and there are surely many more to come--so much so, that his handlers will begin to keep McCain's appearances and off-the-cuff remarks dramatically reigned in as his campaign stumbles forward into the future.

[janmarie]

Hope your writing this from Iraq. If not, why aren't you? And no, we do not need to be giving a candidate ANY room for mistakes like this.

[Dandrea]

McCain's polls look good now but wait till he gets into the campaign.There are plenty more of these gaffes to come from the candidate who was the 5th from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy. He better get wired up for the debates because he won't be able to keep up with OB or HRC. Then there will be the speeches- --oh boy! He really is another Bush.

[YogiBarrister]

I think it's apparent that McCain is not physically or mentally up the challenge of a grueling campaign, let alone being president. He should pull out of the race now and let somebody a little younger and sharper carry the torch for the GOP.