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

[Tankan]

The photo says it all!

A sort of Homer Simpson "DOH" moment!

[amanda85]

This is a lie that's been perpetrated for years. They even made a movie out of it:

http://imdb.com/title/tt0891527/

McInsane is preying on the ignorance and religious/ethnic prejudice of Conservative Christian and Jewish Americans.

[EndAllWars]

Welcome to the Dumb and Dumber show. First we had 8 years of the dimwit who can't put on his pants himself, and now we have this senile trying to traverse the subtlties of world politics with the dexterity of a blind unarmed man trying to perform neurological surgery with his toes. Is this the best the repubs can do?

[JoshMiami]

he does not know basic things on what he portrays as his strong suite ... how would he be able to handle the economy

[Not Blind]

Who knows whether McCain's comments were a simple mistake, taken in the context of his age, that he's half-way around the world, probably tired or jet-lagged? Perhaps it is but another line we're going to be told repeatedly until the falsehood is taken by gullible press and Americans as the truth, so the lie will become everyone's truth. We've still got many Americans who believe Saddam Hussein was supporting Al-Qaeda, and was involved in the WTC attack of 9/11. We have many others who still believe there are WMD's, including nuclear material that has been hidden, or shipped off to neighboring countries, just waiting for us to turn our attention back to Afghanistan, so they can amass these and strike the US and Israel. We have too many in this country, who think illegal wiretapping, torture and other crimes of this administration are necessary to keep us safe from terrorists.
Was McCain's gaffe simply a slip of the tongue, something he really believes and is trying to sell, so we can get further involved in Iraq, and then set sights on Iran, or is it symptomatic of a "senior moment?" The first of those scenarios could be overlooked. The second two spell danger ahead, should McCain be elected Commander-In-Chief. The last thing this country needs is another 4-8 years of half-truths, innuendos, lies, secrecy and a president who does not know or understand what he's saying.

[Trentmannina]

McCain is being hung out to flap in the wind by the Republicans. They know that he won't win. It's the same thing they did to Bob Dole in '96.

[Gerald36]

Well said, I'm with you!

[SanityNow]

McCain was kicked to the side of the road in 2000, with the Bushies claiming he had fathered a black child out of wedlock (and gay?) and his wife was a drug addict. Yet McCain embraced Bush, knowing he was next. Then witnessed Bush destroy the Republican party and betray it's values. And yet - McCain is ready to tow the company line, hold steady in Iraq and start a new war in Iran. Is this the best Republican's can do???

[SheilaB]

There's no room for simple mistakes. I don't think he was mistaking, He is beating the drums to go to war against Iran. He'll say whatever it takes. Those sorts of mistakes are scarey to say the least!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

And this is the guy that Republicans will vote for, purely out of misplaced loyalty to their party.

[surfcitysteven]

He obviously did not know about the ethnicities of Iraq and where their different allegiances are. With the idiot Bush, this kind of ignorance is expected and sadly, acceptable. He really doesn't know! I don't think I am the brightest bulb in the box, but I feel better when I think the president is smarter than me. I know, based on our SAT scores that I am smarter than Bush, hell 98% of SAT takers are, but please don't tell me that we have another willfully ignorant president on the way. This country cannot afford to have another president that is "stupider" than me.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Willful Ignorance, yup, that just about sums up the Pretender & Thief, his entire administration and the Republican Leadership in Congress!

[Plank]

This is the more reason for the democrates to unite and take the WH back. There nothing more frightening than an ignorant, trigger-happy senile answering the 3:00 Am call.

[Guitarsandmore]

Just what we need, another senile village idiot trying to run the war from Washington ( 6000 miles away ). It’s the blind leading the blind. McCain, your moment has already passed, you just don't know it yet.

[Meah]

Hillary said that McCain and she have crossed the threshold, and Obama has not. I think it is the threshold to the looney bin. Obama is the only sane one out there.

[realpolitic]

Perhaps Hillary and McCain eloped. They will honeymoon in downtown Baghdad.

[RumiSouth]

A common mistake; all Muslims look alike, after all. (Insert sound of dripping sarcasm)

[UncleJimbo]

Insert the sound of a dripping waterboard!

[gakabani]

A truly moronic candidate with stooges as advisors. Oh, yes Lieberman is just there to destroy the rest of the world. McCain is a moron on all political issues.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Joe Lieberman is not an Independant Democrat, he's a CO-DEPENDENT NEO-CON, and he's hoping to be tapped as McSames VEEP. I wish him all the luck in the world with that!

[Zhonni]

This guy might even be worst than Bush. One could argue that Bush had no obligation to know the different ethnicities in Iraq but after the war, he can tell you the difference between the two groups.

if McCain can't tell the difference after his year in the senate armed committee, and the 5yrs that this war has been going on, I am really concerned.

I think we are in trouble if we elect McCain.

[SCG]

Careful, John McCain .....

First Lieberman starts whispering sweet nothings in your ear.....ne­xt thing you know he'll plant a juicy kiss on you!..... And you'll catch Bush germs that way. You best remember where those false lips have been ; )

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

John McSame knows exactly where Joe LIEberman's lips have been - firmly attached to his johnson.

[ajax2]

This is what happens when you get your foreign relations policy from PNAC, Lieberman, Hagee and Pat Robertson.

[realpolitic]

I hear Haggee speaks three languages: English, American, and Texan. He can also order from a menu in a Mexican restaurant. He points to the picture of the dish he wants.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

He also speaks in tongues, usually when he's handling snakes or banging his sister.