McCain Repeats Iran-Al Qaeda Gaffe Yet Again

Sen. John McCain has done it again.

For the third time in two days, the Arizona Republican has pushed the definitively false statement that the terrorist group Al-Qaeda was getting assistance from Iran, even though he was publicly ridiculed for the same false assertion on Tuesday.

This time, in a statement from his campaign honoring the fifth year anniversary of the war, McCain wrote:

"Today in Iraq, America and our allies stand on the precipice of winning a major victory against radical Islamic extremism. The security gains over the past year have been dramatic and undeniable. Al Qaeda and Shia extremists -- with support from external powers such as Iran -- are on the run but not defeated."

On Tuesday, the senator, appearing in Israel, made a nearly identical assertion that al-Qaeda was leaving Iraq to retool and regroup in Iran.

It was, he said, "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."

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who was accompanying McCain on the trip, was forced to lean over and whisper in McCain's ear that it was Shiite extremists, not Sunni al-Qaeda, that was going to predominantly Shiite Iran.

The repeated gaffes, which now appear to becoming something of a pattern, have already become fodder for McCain's Democratic opponents.

"Either John McCain is purposely playing politics with the facts on the ground or he doesn't understand the threat facing Iraq and our brave troops," said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. "Either way, after five years of the Bush Administration's incompetence and deception on Iraq, the American people don't want four more years of a president who will cherry-pick the facts."

And speaking today, Sen. Barack Obama, used the misstatements as evidence that McCain's claims of foreign policy experience do not give him a superior understanding or judgment of the terrorist threat or Iraq policy.

"Just yesterday, we heard Sen. McCain confuse Sunni and Shiite, Iran and Al Qaeda," said Obama. "Maybe that is why he voted to go to war with a country that had no Al Qaeda ties. Maybe that is why he completely fails to understand that the war in Iraq has done more to embolden America's enemies than any strategic choice that we have made in decades."

Comments

[Puller58]

What we have is a Freudian slip. McCain means to say one thing when he really wants to do something else. He wants to attack Iran ASAP. Now since the neocons are Hell bent on that happening, they can rest easy that McCain is on the right track. The real problem is that I don't see anyone who wants to stop it. Whatever the dems say, they contradict themselves. (Like Pelosi appearing before AIPAC making noises about how dangerous Iran is.) Repubs are on board. Hillary is a hawk. Obama would just be a newbie who does what he's told. I'm telling you, the Iranian war is just around the corner gang. Get ready for $100 a gallon gas and lots of body bags coming home. I cannot believe I'm lived long enough to see this insanity.

[fuzzwald]

Ah what the heck! All those A-rabs look alike, don't they? Shee-hite, Soonie - they all look the same through the rifle scope. Haw, Haw! (extra special sarcasm)

Seriously, McCain and the rabid right are hoping that enough Americans buy this swill that it will make a difference in November.

[wcfar]

A president with PTSD (an anger problem at the very least which is well-known from what I've read) is not what we need to clean up George Bush's garbage. We need diplomacy, we need consensus, we need calm.

[ljblinddog]

McCain's response to all problems will be a military response. It is in his DNA. It is in his family. A military response springs from failure to understand and failure to be understood. It's foolish because all wars eventually end at a conference table with people you have difficulties with. McCain does not have that in him.

1.5 million Iraq citizens fled Iraq after Desert Storm. They were ready for the United States at that time to liberate them. When that did not happen they fled to Iran. Now they want to come home and claim something of what may or may not be left of theirs. We call them insurgents, extremists Al Qaeda or terrorists— whatever conveniently resonates with a simplistic military response— so uninspired and unschooled. So not the way to win the battle for people's hearts and minds.

The people were are fighting in Afghanistan were once the people who kicked our enemies, the Russians, out of their country and essentially ended the cold war. Now they are our enemies because we turned our back on them when they seemingly served us no further purpose.

We are not a peacefull, peace loving country. We have been in some 200-250 wars in our short history. If McCain wins it will simply have to get worse yet before we learn a thing. It's time for us to go home and sit quietly and do no more harm.

[richsmith]

Sign of schizophrenia!

[RogerHWerner]

How about an early sign of dementia..­.

[wcfar]

Maybe some memory classes or perhaps a real personal stance on issues rather than being a political whore would be more helpful to the country right now. Mac, may I call you Mac, just because you were in the Hanoi Hilton for a number of years it doesn't mean you know how to run a military operation. In fact, you were a pilot, a select small unit member with a very narrow mission. The big picture is likely to escape you. It's just hard, on another line of thought, to think the President would need prune juice in the morning to keep everything reg'lar you know what I mean? Worse yet, the no.1 guy on Viagra...h­oly crap! I'd rather have a much younger guy with a good mind able to pick good people and manage them appropriately. Someone that's not a hothead! I'm jus' sayin' is all.

[PioneerKing]

My Friend. Sen. McCain never claimed to be a member of Mensa. How can you expect him to rember the little things like the differnt sects of Islam? All of Sen. McCain's gray cells are tied up now as he's trying to fininsh Greenspan's book.

[iPolitics]

Why didn't Bush listen to Powell and follow his doctrine instead of listening to the neo-con? If McCain really wants to stay there why doesn't he send even MORE soldiers? Why not flood Iraq with troops and force safety and democracy instead of leaving behind our heroes to die? If not bring them home.

The Powell Doctrine states that a list of questions all have to be answered affirmatively before military action is taken by the United States

They are:
Is a vital national security interest threatened?
Do we have a clear attainable objective?
Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
Is the action supported by the American people?
Do we have genuine broad international support?

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

This site is as slow as McCain's learning curve.

[DASM]

It's amazing how the media treats McCain so kindly, yet are swift to attack Obama or Clinton. This item should be news on all stations, yet I've yet to see it anywhere but a few websites. This confused man, who pretends to be the most capable on war issues (a war a huge majority hates), can't even get the players straight. Over & over & over. If, according to Repub supporters, he simply "misspoke" (the most ridiculous new term ever), McCain must really be losing his marbles, as he made a huge mistake (one of 2 possible meanings for 'misspoke'- the other being 'lied') over & over & over on the same topic.

[mitch4822]

that is right. Let's send an email to Sean Hannity, that hater on Fox news and ask him why the diffeent treatment. If Barac had said those 3 gaffs, all hell wouldbroke loose.

[ErnestineBass]

NPR included it in their news coverage today.

[iPolitics]

The media is weak and soft on McCain. BBQ!

[treadway123]

The man is senile, can't keep any straight in his mind! He's scare's me! Reminds me of my uncle at that age. Had to keep reminding him who was married to whom, and ask him if he took his med's all the time. No,No,No, guys go to the nurseing home and talk to people who keeps forgetting. he is a real war hero, yes by all means-----------but do we want him to run our country, and mis speak and get us killed by a nuke?

[peterg76]

Face it, he doesn't have a chance of being elected if he simply uses the truth.

[j0e]

Is there ANY standard on the moderation of this site whatsoever?! I see horrid flaming pass through no problem, and well-reasoned, moderate language filtered out. I've done both ;)... seems to be the luck of the draw who reviews your post... very discouraging.

[olivia]

McCain is too old.

Period.

[mitch4822]

What would have happened if Barac Obama made those mistakes? I hope you all see the different treatment ---so there no difference in race relations in America --- the whites gets treated differently from the Blacks.

[donaldw6]

Actually, it looks like he's polished his little talking point so it's tougher to pin him down. He can say he only meant that Shia extremists are being supported by Iran, while still linking Al Qaeda with this activity in the minds of a pathetically superficial public. It's the strategery.

[ErikW65]

I would not doubt it.

[globality]

This is very complicated can someone help me


Al Qaeda is shia right ??? NO

umm ok that means Iran is sunni ??? NO

Mc Cain is a senile old fool ??? YES

umm now I get it