McCain Says US Succeeding in Iraq

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Fresh off his eighth Iraq visit, Sen. John McCain declared Monday that "we are succeeding" and said he wouldn't change course _ even as the U.S. death toll rose to 4,000 and the war entered its sixth year.

To underscore his view of the stakes in Iraq, the certain Republican presidential nominee twice referenced a recent audio tape from Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader urged followers to join the al-Qaida fight in Iraq and called the country "the greatest opportunity and the biggest task."

"For the first time, I have seen Osama bin Laden and General (David) Petraeus in agreement, and, that is, a central battleground in the battle against al-Qaida is in Iraq today. And that's what bin Laden was saying and that's what General Petraeus is saying and that's what I'm saying, my friends," McCain said.

"And my Democrat opponents who want to pull out of Iraq refuse to understand what's being said and what's happening _ and that is the central battleground is Iraq in this struggle against radical Islamic extremism," he added. McCain also said Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were naive and "dead wrong" to want to withdraw troops.

"We're succeeding. I don't care what anybody says. I've seen the facts on the ground," the Arizona senator insisted a day after a roadside bomb in Baghdad killed four U.S. soldiers and rockets pounded the U.S.-protected Green Zone there, and a wave of attacks left at least 61 Iraqis dead nationwide. The events transpired as bin Laden called on the people of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to "help in support of their mujahedeen brothers in Iraq, which is the greatest opportunity and the biggest task."

Despite all that, McCain told reporters: "I don't think I would change the strategy now unless General Petraeus recommended it. I think he's trusted by the American people, the president and by me. And General Petraeus again showed me facts on the ground where the surge is succeeding."

Democrats took issue with his remarks and cast his candidacy as a repeat of President Bush's tenure.

"As Americans mark another somber milestone in the war in Iraq, John McCain continues his pattern of parroting the Bush administration's misleading rhetoric on the war," Democratic Party spokeswoman Karen Finney said in a statement.

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In the midst of a western fundraising swing after a week abroad, including visits to Iraq, the Middle East and Europe, the Arizona senator didn't mention the grim casualty milestone or the last weeks fifth anniversary of the conflict as he spoke to veterans and others at a stuffy Veterans of Foreign Wars building during a town-hall style campaign event outside of San Diego.

"I've commented on hundreds of occasions of the sacrifice the great and brave young Americans have made in Iraq and elsewhere in the world in the struggle against radical Islamic extremism," McCain told reporters afterward. He said a bracelet he always wears with the name of Matthew Stanley, who was killed in Iraq, is a symbol not just of his sacrifice but also of Stanley's 4,000 fallen comrades.

"My thoughts and my prayers go out to those families every day," McCain added.

Also left unsaid during the event was the fact that 2007 was the war's deadliest year with 901 American troop deaths. That was when Bush took McCain's advice and sent thousands more U.S. troops to Iraq to quell violence in Baghdad. McCain long had called for such a strategy shift, and he effectively linked his presidential candidacy to the war last year even as public support for it plummeted.

"I'm not painting to you the most rosy scenario but I am telling you, compared to a year ago, before we started this surge, and with this great general, one of the great generals in American history, General David Petraeus, that we are succeeding in Iraq," McCain told his audience.

Asked later if he was offering the war-weary public any different path forward in Iraq than Bush, McCain reached back to the past.

"I'm offering them the record of having objected strenuously to a failed strategy for nearly four years. That I argued against and fought against and said that the secretary of defense of my own party, and my own president, I had no confidence in. That's how far I went in advocating the new strategy that is succeeding," McCain told reporters.

Comments

[PioneerKing]

Sen. McCain must explain how the necessary troop levels will be sustained. Recruitment numbers are at an all time low and dropping. Is the military going to reduce it's troops in europe, Japan and Korea to maintain the troop levels needed? Will the National Guard continue to be gutted?

[eyecon]

The old fart insists on tying Bin Laden (and by inference 9/11) to the issues in iraq where al Qaeda represents a minuscule portion of our enemy on the ground.

Did anyone catch PBS/Frontline's "Bush's War?" Part one aired last night; Part two tonight. An ASTONISHING and REMARKABLE piece of TV Journalism. You really understand how the intelligence on Iraq was driven by the desired findings which, of course, is ass backwards. Then there is Cheney, Cheney, Cheney! Then Cheney and Rummy! Add a little Scooter, a pinch of Wolfowitz, a tad of Rice and some Yoo for good measure and what becomes most remarkable is that they've managed NOT to blow us all up.

[kfdan]

McCain is obviously unconcerned about the reality in Iraq. While their are plenty of lemmings in America who will follow this man to the cliff and jump off, I don't think committing national suicide is the answer ... does any sane person!

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

The Iraq fiasco will eventually fail, not because of our troops can not kick ass, but because in the end, no country wants to be occupied. This is the fundamental flaw of American strategy and proof positive that the American public is generally dumber than a pile of rocks: The fact that we invade a country, occupy it to steal its resources, create an unholy mess and then wonder in amazement why they are so unhappy with our occupation. It really shows that the collective IQ if America is closer to Paris Hilton than to Barack Obama.

[BeamMeUpScotty]

We're not succeeding and McCain is delusional. We are however succeeding in paying the Shia not to attack us so Bush can claim the surge is working. It is also true we are succeeding in starting WWIII and creating uber billionaires out of private contractors with no bid, multi billion dollar contracts. KBR (Cheney's baby) alone has been handed $16 billion in contracts. Oh, and KBR has hired over 21.000 American workers through its offshore subsidiary in the Cayman Islands and has pocketed all the payroll taxes they would have owed the U.S. KBR doesn't have an office in the Caribbean or a phone - just a computer database. War - it's a beautiful thing (if you're Halliburton and KBR). Did I mention that there are more private contractors (25,000) in Iraq than troops? Private industry has one overriding goal- to make money - so they want to stay in Iraq FOREVER.

[trafficguy]

Only the Republicans would nominate a nitwit like Bush or someone as insane as McCain.

[bluewolf]

this is part of a pattern in which Republicans don't want to accept reality. abstinence over safe sex(laughably unrealistic)... the surge is working(only if we redefine 'working' and bury the original intent of the surge)... America is infallible(blind patriots are ignorant or just choose not to acknowledge history?)
Mccain has to appear steadfast and robust, but on so many other issues he has flittered about and inverted positions like a career stripper on the dancing pole of American politics. from former respectable maverick to shameless sellout in 3...2....1.....

[plutorage]

In school we learned that the Crusades were a mistake and it wasn't clear why they just went on and on in progressive efforts ending, if I remember correctly, with the 12th Crusade?? and somwhere in there we had a Children's Crusade led by a cleric.

So why did they just go on and on in - surges!!

You are looking at a photo of the reason above. The photo of John McCain. Nothing short of a hundred year war, his own words,will convince this nobleman of his invincibility.

McCain is determined to fail.

Vote for a winner. Vote Obama '08

[Hobobrown]

Now that he's back from his world tour, Maybe he can release his tax returns! How does a guy who never had a real job become a multi-millionaire (aside from dumping your wife to marry an heiress)?

[brwnizofmine]

We're in trouble if this fool wins!

[youcannotbeserious]

he's got pre-alzheimers, IMO. Or he's so out of touch with the reailty based community.

Maybe he saw the progress made in the largest embassy in the world in Baghdad.

Thank Goodness he's giving up enough sound bytes to use in the GE to have either of the brilliant democrats the win, landslide or simple majority.

[Unlearn]

After the democrats finish tearing each other to shreds, I fear there will be little left to stand in his way.

[Milash]

This is not the kind of person I want running the country. When did the people become incidental to politicians?

[princessofnowt]

Been a long time. We've only just noticed. Those 'ranting' small party candidates kept trying to tell us.
We still don't fully 'get it'.

I dont understand why EVERYBODY isnt signing the NI4D (the National Initiative for Democracy) so we can have a legislature of the people in addition to the congress and senate. Our voices are not being heard, and if this passes they could be.

www.ni4d.us

[StillAmused]

Is there an echo in the room?

Dick, is that you?

[fixbone]

Bush squared - i don;t care what anyone says - where have we heard that before it is like deja vu -please vote for Obama or hillary in nov.

[SCG]

McCain says we're succeeding in Iraq.....that's what his bunions tell him .

[speakingtruth2power]

The wisdom of democracy will trump John W McBomb's opinion in November.

[blueinannarbor]

Careful, now, It was, after all, the "wisdom(?)" of democracy that brought us to this point in the first place. Remember the London Daily Globe's post-2004 election headlines asking how 59 million people could be so dumb? By talking over the press about Iran training Al Qaeda operatives, knowing fully well that what he was saying was an out and out untruth, the "Straight Talk Express" was clearly courting the moron demographic. Who could blame him? As the 2004 Bush campaign proved, gaining the moron vote can decide an election in your favor. Unless a significant number of people voluntarily get brain implants, McCain's strategy will probably be effective.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

With all due respect ST2P, I said the same in early 2004.

[speakingtruth2power]

I know it was optimistic of me but with the MSM's backing

even a dry-drunk, frat boy, AWOL coke head could beat JK.

So when Ohio AND Florida select McBomb, will BO fight?