McCain Declares Mosul "Quiet" On Same Day As Three Suicide Attacks (Video)

Speaking about Iraq at a townhall event on Thursday evening in Greensdale, Wisconsin, Sen. John McCain declared, "I can tell you that it is succeeding. I can look you in the eye and tell you it's succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels. Basra, Mosul and now Sadr city are quiet and it's long and it's hard and it's tough and there will be setbacks..." (Video is below.)

McCain was wrong on two points. First, U.S. forces have not returned to pre-surge levels. Before the surge, there were 130,000 troops in Iraq; even if the scheduled troop reductions are carried out as planned, there will still be 140,000 troops in Iraq in August.

Moreover, McCain's claim that Mosul is "quiet" was disproved earlier today in grim fashion. Three suicide bombings -- two in Mosul and another in a surrounding town -- left 30 Iraqis dead and more than two dozen injured, according to press reports.

Clearly, McCain's various congressional trips to Iraq haven't made him infallible on the issue.

Here's video of McCain from this evening:

Comments

[phughez]

McCain is losing his head in his own carpetbag. Getting harder to figure out what he's talking about by the day.

[DWP]

The question is --what political progress has Iraq made?

[Veman]

Maybe, during his next visit, he can explain why he didn't support the new GI bill to those soldiers who are risking their lives everyday and protecting his sorry A$$.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

I'm thinking he better get Blackwater to protect his anti-veteran sorry ass next time he visits Iraq.

[suzyhein]

Now let me get this straight, how is telling women they can't get abortions less government?

[Veman]

As Americans we need ask ourselves only one question about our involvement in Iraq: Have our efforts given Iraqis more, or less, of a reason to hate us?

Assuming, for a moment, that 6 years ago, most Iraqis went about their daily lives without giving the US much of a second thought, how many Iraqis, today, have lost a loved one to the havoc US efforts have wrought on their country and on their innocent civilians?

If I were an Iraqi who has suffered any myriad of losses over the past 6 years, I would surely think that my life would have stood a better chance at normalcy had the US invasion never taken place.

In other words, as an Iraqi, I would have preferred my chances under Saddam.

If any of us thinks that the US is safer from terrorist attack now than it was 7 years ago, I say, look into the eyes of those Iraqis who have lost family members as a result of our "liberating" efforts. Then, look into your heart and tell me if you wouldn't be filled with rage and hate toward a country that turned your existence into a living hell - for no just cause.

[rabprevent]

THAT LITTLE TROLL HAS NO CLUE!!!!

[yoli647]

State of denial!!!

[McLaren]

Philadelphia is quiet today.... Except for all the murder, rape, car-theft, extortion, etc.

U.S., OUT OF PHILLY, NOW!!!

[mamacat]

If we can't even get things right in our own country, why are we telling other countries how to live their lives?

[OverIt]

And HE was going to educate Obama on Iraq???? NO THANK YOU!!! All those visists haven't done him any good. But I do look forward to Sen. Obama visiting with the troops there when he makes the trip on his own.

If the prospect of an Obama presidency gives so many of us hope here at home, imagine the impact of seeing him on these brave young men and women whose lives are at stake every single day, knowing that he values their service and sacrifice and thinks it's every life lost thus far is one too many.

[vippy]

Obama should ask McCain when he walks down the street in Baghdad without any military protection like Ahmedinejad, then maybe he will be worth listening to, otherwise it is just a
fairytale world of McCain spouting the lies of this administration.
I have a suggestion - let us IGNORE McCain, the articles, etc. there is nothing that he can
say that is steadfast and current!

[seenitall]

congratulations republicans, there's your guy...

[truthyguy]

You would think that by now someone in the McCain camp would have hit on the idea of simply giving McCain a flow chart showing the different factions in Iraq, who their various leaders are and the areas having civil unrest that are supposed to be under control but are not. In other words, the facts on a cheat sheet. It is obvious McCain will never get the facts straight on his own.

[elcid]

If John McCain is in Iraq but hears no suicide bombings, do they make a sound?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Reality is not an option for McCain.

[DanoS]

Maybe he should take a trip to Iraq with Obama so Obama can educate him on the actual facts of whats going on.

Does anyone else see a pattern developing with McCain that he really doesn't understand as much as he states dispite all his experience?

Do we really want 4 more years of out of touch leadership?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Serving in the military does not make you an expert on military strategy. We are seeing that with McCain.

[findingthetruth]

McCain is scheduled to visit Iraq again. His summation has been written BEFORE he gets there. WHY? McCain WILL -- once again -- bring another "snow job" to the American people about how he SEES progress. He must do this in order to continue his belief. It doesn't matter about the deaths, suicides, the economy, etc. --- McCain simply wants to make a point that his "song and dance" is correct.

[tschlak]

It's him fighting for his political life at the expense of our troops fighting for their actual lives, and fighting for his freedom to continue being a grade-A a**hole. Where's the justice in this?

[ltfcrazy]

Now we need more troops again! He knows what he's doing, he says it's quiet and then BOOM! Next day comes and he justifies our presence again. It's a vicious cycle huh?

[dsgeorge]

I am sure McBush will say the "enemy" have endorsed Obama so are tying to make him look bad

[thegreatgiginthesky]

At which point I wish someone in the press should ask him how he knows this? Did he call up the terrorists demanding to know who they were supporting?