McCain Pushed For War In Iraq For 10 Years

LA Times:

As America's war in Iraq enters its sixth year, Sen. John McCain is hoping that his long effort to send thousands more U.S. troops -- a "surge" that has helped lower casualties -- will propel him into the White House.

But McCain's record on Iraq is decidedly mixed. If the Arizona Republican proved prescient in his calls for a military buildup, many of his other predictions and prescriptions turned out wrong.

Read the whole story: LA Times

Comments

[Seattlelite]

If the threat of McCain as President is not enough to send democrats running to the polls with their hair on fire I don't know what will. And I am truly sick and tired of hearing the media and the democratic candidates when they talk about him first feel they have to say "I respect Sen. McCain" he is a American hero. Well I don't give a crap what he's done in the pass I'm concerned about who he is now and anyone talking about continuing this invasion of Iraq is no hero is my opinion, arrogant yes but no hero. Want to be a hero Mr. McCain bring our military home.

[slow2]

Amen, SL,

A definition of "respect" should include listing attributes such as McCain's fawning over rightwingers to get their approval; closing ranks with Bush to get his support -- after slamming him, of course. McCain has been in lobbyists' pockets all his legislative life. McCain hungers for more US bloodshed in more wars, at his advanced age.

If there's any respect due here, it's to his Navy uniform that hangs in closet retirement. And the uniform certainly does not qualify McCain for the presidency. The press and msm have enjoyed close communion with McCain on his PR bus. Reporters should get out more, get off the bus, and look with some objectivity at their darling. It won't happen though; a "straight-talker" has been created and maintained by media.

[Seattlelite]

If McCain wants to be in Iraq for another 10 years then I think it's time he stop talking about it and re-enlist. And I think Dick should go with him. I could not believe Chenney's response the other when told the majority of the country wants out of Iraq and he response was "SO". Could these republicans be any more arrogant? Dam what you the citizens of this country want. Come November I hope people realize a vote for McCain means continued occupation of Iraq, with no end in sight.

[JulieSA]

Here's a video of Democrats pushing for war in Iraq. Pelosi, Reid, Albright, Berger, Rockefeller, both Clintons, Edwards, Dean, and more are shown here:

http://lawhawk.blogspot.com/2008/01/imagine-that.html

[JaseAllen]

It's easy to whine about the Republican rushing to invade Iraq, but it's an uncomfortable truth that many of the Democrats went along with it. Many of those Democrats still can't admit they were wrong. They need to be purged from office as much as the corrupt Republicans.

[GBecker]

Very powerful documentary in some theatres now - Body of War. http://www.bodyofwar.com

Visit the website, watch the trailer, catch the interview with Phil Donahue on C-Span, go see the movie and keep in touch with your senators/r­epresentat­ives to defund this atrocity.

We need to get our troups home and McCain ain't the way to get that accomplished!!!

Obama '08!

[mix2007]

A vote for McCain means:

- 4000 more dead Americans
- War with Iran
- NO health care at all
- Goodbye to jobs
- Goodbye to unions
- Katrina-like economy

John McCain & Miss Teen SC on Economics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcdLO3jKkPo

McCain's Foreign Policy Gaffe (CBS News)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6GBdyws5YU

John McCain vs. John McCain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI

John McCain Loses Temper With NY Times Reporter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj7HbqwZwRM

Unfit to Serve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ykntCXZcE

[nogop]

NO, THE SURGE IS A F-A-I-L-U-R-E---as long as the Iraqi govnt refuses to reconcile its differences, fixes its constitution and signs a revenue-sharing deal over oil profits that does NOT give the West 80% of the profits for the next 99 years-like the present deal they refuse to sign does!!!THE PURPOSE OF THE SURGE ,THE GOAL OF THE SURGE WAS TO PROVIDE "QUIET" TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS- NONE ARE ACCOMPLISHED!!!! NONE!

[nanotubz]

John McCain, America's self appointed god of war and latest false idol.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

"McCain Pushed for War in Iraq for 10 Years."

Is this a headline from four years hence?

[slow2]

Listen up all who are discouraged with the Democratic nomination process. Get over it; make a choice.

We have to defeat McCain this November. Period.

[samuraijack]

I've got a good job in Canada lined up if McCain wins. They'll have to start a draft for the next war(s) McCain plans. I'm too old, but they won't get my sons. Forgetaboutit.

[hershel62964]

Hog jaw McCain is totaly out of it, the cancer has eaten his brain, along with drinking straight vodka with Hillary.

[esquire07]

A President Mccain would spell absolute disaster for the United States. Bush has destroyed the nation and is the reason the US is in the gutter... McCain will nail the final stake into the heart of America.

Never Ending War = Never ending Arms and Oil Profits.

[dolphy]

01202009 See Profile I'm a Fan of 01202009

There's a lot that voters have forgotten about Mr. McCain. Wasn't he connected to the S & L scandals? Didn't Mr. McCain have a fling with his present wife while still married to his former wife (shades of Rudy!). Now Mr. McCain says Americans don't care how long the Iraq war lasts. I care for one. Hasn't Mr. McCain told a really horrible joke about Chelsea Clinton (where's his sense of decency)? Hasn't he said the economy is in trouble because the Europeans cannot manage their budgets?
It's time for Mrs. Clinton to step aside so that Senator Obama can start taking his war monger apart--idea by idea. We can't have this guy appoint more trash to the Supremes like George did.______­_______YES­!!!! Summary of McCain: corrupt, adulterer, jingoist, no sense of decency, no idea of economy. there's much more, so posters, lets list them all!!!!!!!

[dolphy]

Did McShame sign PNAC?

[Curt]

Here is a look back at five years of John McCain on Iraq.

On the Run-Up to War

"Look, we're going to send young men and women in harm's way and that's always a great danger, but I cannot believe that there is an Iraqi soldier who is going to be willing to die for Saddam Hussein, particularly since he will know that our objective is to remove Saddam Hussein from power."
John McCain, September 15, 2002.

"But the fact is, I think we could go in with much smaller numbers than we had to do in the past. But any military man worth his salt is going to have to prepare for any contingency, but I don't believe it's going to be nearly the size and scope that it was in 1991."
John McCain, September 15, 2002.

"He's a patriot who has the best interests of his country at heart."
John McCain, on Ahmed Chalabi, 2003.

On Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction

"Proponents of containment claim that Iraq is in a "box." But it is a box with no lid, no bottom, and whose sides are falling out. Within this box are definitive footprints of germ, chemical and nuclear programs."
John McCain, February 13, 2003.

"I remain confident that we will find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."
John McCain, June 11, 2003.

On Being Greeted as Liberators

"Absolutely. Absolutely­."
John McCain, asked by Chris Matthews, "you believe that the people of Iraq or at least a large number of them will treat us as liberators?" March 12, 2003.

"Not only that, they'll be relieved that he's not in the neighborhood because he has invaded his neighbors on several occasions.­"
John McCain, asked by Chris Matthews, "And you think the Arab world will come to a grudging recognition that what we did was necessary?" March 12, 2003.

"There's no doubt in my mind that we will prevail and there's no doubt in my mind, once these people are gone, that we will be welcomed as liberators­."
John McCain, March 24, 2003.

On a Rapid Victory and Mission Accomplished

"I think the victory will be rapid, within about three weeks."
John McCain, January 28, 2003.

"It's clear that the end is very much in sight...It won't be long. It, it'll be a fairly short period of time."
John McCain, April 9, 2003.

"Well, then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier?"
John McCain, responding to assertion by Fox News' Neil Cavuto that "many argue the conflict isn't over," June 11, 2003.

"I have said a long time that reconstruction of Iraq would be a long, long, difficult process, but the conflict -- the major conflict is over, the regime change has been accomplished, and it's very appropriat­e."
John McCain, June 11, 2003.

"I'm confident we're on the right course."
John McCain, March 7, 2004.

"We're either going to lose this thing or win this thing within the next several months."
John McCain, November 12, 2006.

"My friends, the war will be over soon, the war for all intents and purposes although the insurgency will go on for years and years and years."
John McCain, February 25, 2008.

On the Safe Streets of Baghdad

"[There] there "are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods, today."
John McCain, after touring a Baghdad market wearing a bulletproof vest and guarded by "100 American soldiers, with three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships overhead, April 1, 2007.

"There's problems in America with safe neighborhoods as we well know."
John McCain, March 8, 2008.

On President Bush and His Team

"We are very fortunate that our president in these challenging days can rely on the counsel of a man who has demonstrated time and again the resolve, experience, and patriotism that will be required for success and the hard-headed clear thinking necessary to prevail in this global fight between good and evil."
John McCain, on Dick Cheney, July 16, 2004.

"I think he strengthened our national defenses. I think he has a good team around him."
John McCain, on President Bush, September 3, 2004.

"I said no. My answer is still no. No confidence­."
John McCain, on whether he had confidence in Bush Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, December 15, 2004.

On a Permanent American Military Presence in Iraq

"We cannot keep our forces indefinitely staged in the region. Were we to attempt again to contain Saddam, we would eventually have to withdraw them. The world is full of dangers and, more likely than not, we will need some of those brave men and women to face them down."
John McCain, February 13, 2003.

"We have had troops in South Korea for 60 years and nobody minds."
John McCain, June 7, 2007.

"Make it a hundred."
John McCain, told that President Bush had said American troops could remain in Iraq for 50 years, January 3, 2008.

"I asked McCain about his 'hundred years' comment, and he reaffirmed the remark, excitedly declaring that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 'a thousand years' or 'a million years,' as far as he was concerned.­"
David Corn, January 3, 2008.

"The U.S. could have a military presence anywhere in the world for a long period of time."
John McCain, February 20, 2008.

[bikerdude]

He Curt, that could be a great democratic campaign poster: John McCain Sez...
I don't call him McCain the insane for nothing.

[jukesgrrl]

Thanks for posting this. I think we should all print copies and leave them lying around places where they might be seen by Republicans and Independents.

[kardwell]

Brilliant. Thank you for taking the time to expose his record.

Now if only the major news outlets would do their jobs and publish the same, perhaps the dolts gunning for this guy might take a second look.