John McCain "Surprised" By Recent Iraq Developments

NY Times :

As he launched a tour here designed to highlight his family's long tradition of military service, Senator John McCain said Monday that he was surprised by the latest turn of events in America's current war in Iraq.

Mr. McCain said he had not expected Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to try to oust Shiite militias from Basra without consulting the Americans, and that he was troubled by some of the demands that were made by the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr as part of his offer of a ceasefire after the militias held off the American-supported assault. And he tied some of the current problems to the Bush administration's old strategy there.

Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[LightningJoe]

Let's count the score, in the latest Mahdi Army action.

-- Sadr's Madhi Army cancels out the so-called cease-fire, and laughs at the Iraqi "government's" "U.S.-supported" response.

-- Iraqi "government" threatens, deadlines, and then backs off the deadline.

-- Iran brokers with Sadr, and he calls it off.

Um... McCain, hate to break it to you like this, but with the "surge" ending, and all parties in Iraq wanting (in order) power, power, and more power, the discredited U.S. doesn't have much at all to say, in what happens there. We're lucky if we keep our own casualties down, which is politically ALL-important right now.

Oops, we DO have some influence -- but ONLY as long as our imbecile government keeps pumping our billiooo,ooo,ooons of tax dollars (ah, we don't need 'em anyway) into payoffs for the "awakening counsels," the green-zone-isolated Iraqi "government," and (natch!) Sadr's Mahdi Army!

There's a pattern here. It's the same domestic-political pattern we've seen since Bush figured out that the "mission WASN'T accomplished." The pattern is, simply, to say we're making progress, throw even MORE money at the problem, and pray, pray, pray, that the NEXT endlessly-postponed evaluation can be slanted to show some (any!) improvement.

Sign me, "Still Waiting For Sanity To Strike"

---
stop watching tv. just stop.

[research]

McCain is a criminal.

Ask the FEC to prosecute:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/petition/mccainfec/

[tumblewind]

This is a prime example of how McCain isn't fit for role of President! That had to be the dumbest statement I have heard recently. Next to some of Bush's! They want the Iraqi's to step up to the plate and take responsibility for their own country. Then he complain when they do something on their own without asking American permission. He is another Bush! He lives off in his own little dream world of fantasy! How are they ever going to rule a country that full of insurgents if they don't confront them? What did they want the man to do hide in Baghdad and ignore the fact Basra was in insurgent hands????? Bush is the one who was stupid enough to unleash them on the country!

[javagirl322]

Unbelievable...and this is the person to challenge Hillary or Obama??

[syllepsis]

This is the man Hillary said had passed the "Commander­-in-Chief" test unlike Obama. If she thinks she will ever get my vote, hell will have to freeze over first.

[Nyla785]

Republicans are ALWAYS surprised at what doesn't fit their pre-stated ideology and propaganda on a policy. What's that about??

[StillAmused]

Life is one surprise after another, once you've lost touch with reality.

[GoCards1978]

How true! Our Iraq occupation has been the nightmare version of "Groundhog Day" since Baghdad fell and the GOP nominee, the supposed foreign policy expert, is just now starting to understand the obvious. I hope independents remember this come November.

[rovezaleeker]

Is that Vicki Iseman standing by him? Where is Vicki Iseman?

[SteveManz]

Senator McCain has war on his brain. The vast majority of what we hear from Senator McCain is about the war and the "surge". This man has war for a career path. He was a good soldier and he has an admirable past but he has not transitioned to peace time. My fear is that he will feel a loss of significance if we are not perpetually at war and he is not at the helm.

When you consult a surgeon she will urge that you operate. When you consult a lawyer, he will tend to urge that you litigate. When you consult an ambassador, she will tend to caution that you use diplomacy. When you consult a soldier/war monger - even worse one who has been held hostage for 5+ years - and you will have a pissed off, bitter individual who will insist that war is the only solution, against the United State's enemies, perceived or imagined.

"Surge", "surge", "surge" is what we constantly hear from Senator McCain. What about the economy? What about health care? What about social security? What about illegal immigration?

What if we have a Cuban missile embargo type of nuclear stand off with Russia or China with McCain in office and he has a Vietnam flashback? Are we willing to put our security in the hands of someone who has war on their brain like McCain?

[TXfemmom]

McCain failed to include the favorite Bush excuse....i.e. "No one could have foreseen that Maliki
and his armed forces would fail so badly..honestly, no one would have thought of it."

[ChiGuy]

His strong topic was supposed to be his military expertise.

If he can't even get this right, what about the economy? Health care?

This is a sign of just how poorly he'll do once he has to face-off against Obama in the coming debates.

[MBFLA]

How clueless do you have to be to get elected President in this country? Nevermind, I just saw a picture of him at the ball park and McInsane is right there with him. Guess what fellas, they don't need either of you in Iraq - they can figure it out for themselves and would prefer it that way!

[kburlz]

I thought I wouldn't vote for Hillary if she won over Obama until I started realizing how bad Mccain is losing it. Anybody but this old cranky senile war monger for me.

[NotWaldo]

In a speech yesterday, John McCain said that "Operation Iraqi Freedom" would be called "Operation Iraqi Liberation" or "O.I.L." if he's elected president. That's what he calls straigh talk!

[historyprof]

In the early days of the U. S. invasion of Iraq, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer actually referred to this whole misadventure as Operation Iraqi Liberation. (See the transcript of his press briefing of 3/24/03.) This name was quietly dropped when it was pointed out what the acronym spelled.

[NotWaldo]

In a speech yesterday John McCain promised that as president he would go in Iraq to end once and for all the violence. He said he would ask senator Clinton to accompany him as special advisor because of her usefull experience under sniper fire.

[southafrica4obama]

Mcinsane says, " I just am surprised..." Please someone teach Mc some syntax.