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

[Maifmart]

Yeah, it is hard to keep al those bad guys and evil doers straight.

[Lempira]

this is really frightening and disturbing.
these are SERIOUS issues involving THOUSANDS, MILLIONS of lives
and he DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
my husband saw this guy on TV and said he looks really OLD

[justwaitandsee]

Yeah a real Foreign Policy Expert…. Keep up the Good Work McCain

[globality]

The guy is senile give him a break

[JD294]

Ah hah, trumped, with the ‘senility card’!

[transendentilist]

I'll give him a break when he stops trying to perpetuate bush's illegal occupation

[ErikW65]

I wish he'd give us a break. His drumbeat to war with Iran is hurting my ears.

[Danny]

No, McCain is spouting propaganda. We need truth, whether it benefits the right-wing in the U.S., or not. Yawn is not the anwer to such outrageous B.S. by a potential President of the U.S., today.

[DennyCrane]

Lieberman must want to be VP. I guess this would be the role of any McCain VP. Inform him on the facts.

[helonias]

He better get someone who can operate his jaw activation button a little better.

Where is captain Karl?

[CindyKay]

It Is Common Knowledge That McInsane Is DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE!!!

[HarryPalmer]

It is also widely reported that he is ill-informed war monger who would like to start a ill-advised war with Iran.

[helonias]

The alien in his cheek is starting to take over

[JDWPS]

McCain is clearly unfit for duty. The reason is beside the point , The world can't survive another insufficient President of the USA.

[thenance]

Once associated with Bush, always associated with Bush.

[unclebucky]

Three rotten apples in a half-baked pie.

Lieberbush, McBush, and Graybush. They stand there without any thought to the fact that they are already dead. Already obsolete. Already irrelevant.

And McBush wants to be my new Daddy. Phoooie.

Ugh.

--UB.

[olderdem]

McCain's main case for staying in Iraq is that we are fighting to defeat Al Queda. That he keeps referring to Al Queda is not a mistake, its his campaing strategy. He believes Amercans are stupid enough to believe him, maybe Republicans are. Its a problem when he says the same thing in Iraq -- they know better.

McCain -- Senile on day one.

[BatedBreath]

The only think missing from that picture of McCain and McLieberman, is McClinton.

[CindyKay]

And Don't Forget Their Leaders McBush & McCheney

[nellie]

These men want this war so badly, they're saying anything out of desperation to justify it. There must be a helluva lot of dollars trickling into certain pockets. Disgusting.

[The Hedonistic Pleasureseeker]

Green Zone Follies (tbrnews) says the man was babbling incoherently during his recent Iraq visit. Dementia has set in. Scuttlebutt is that the man is ill and can barely manage his own bodily functions.

http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a2820.htm#008

You know what this means, since Herr Rothschild has emerged as a major McCain backer? Our president will be hand-appointed (as usual), only this time via the republican VP nomination.

[rojo7449]

Jeb Bush, perhaps?

[VOTER]

From, McCain to McWar to McBush to McDumb.

Full Circle!

[ymax]

And McLoser.

[McCanMcSane]

And the Obama campaign is McOver!