Retired Air Force General McPeak Bashes McCain

Retired Air Force General Tony McPeak, a national security adviser to Barack Obama, dropped the hammer on Sen. John McCain today, telling the Washington Times, "It doesn't take very long to uncover national security issues that McCain is weak on...For McCain to think he has a monopoly on virtue in the national security issue is going to be shown a pretty flimsy idea very quickly."

How flimsy and how quickly? As it turns out, very. And critically, McPeak attaches himself to the Obama campaign as someone who got Iraq right. From the WashTimes:

"[McCain is] wrong about Iraq, and he's wrong in the past and wrong about his ideas going forward," Gen. McPeak said. "And that's the biggest single national security issue on the table."

Gen. McPeak added, "[McCain] supported the intervention to begin with. Then of course he attacked the execution and he was justified in doing so. But the idea that this was a good concept, poorly executed, won't stand the test of examination.

"Now, it was poorly executed, so he was right about that. But the concept itself was fatally flawed. So he was wrong there. And his idea that all we have to do is execute better and this will turn into a big victory for us is wrong.

"So he's going to have to carry the weight, the tonnage of bad judgment on that particular issue."

Not surprisingly, McPeak also found McCain's notion that the United States should not enter into talks with nations such as Cuba and Iran to be daffy as well, saying, "This whole idea that diplomacy is attending cocktail parties with your best friends, that's kind of dumb. It's a national security issue that McCain is wrong on."

McPeak has become the "most senior retired military officer" to back Obama.

Comments

[Norge]

McPeak knows the horrors of war and the conflicts of our barbaric specie which has replaced the spear and sword with the same, always for peaceful purposes, peace keeper missiles, what the hell is that, sidewinder (snake of the desert) stingers (poison from insects). And much of military hardware has distinct designs stolen directly from the insect kingdom and reptile kingdoms.

(Primitive defense system) developed during the period the human bacteria was cast upon the sands of Africa.

McPeak is aware of such horrors and seems to be a man worthy of peace. Though how many tens of thousands died under the planes he flew is an unknown. How many other life forms were decimitated
under the bombardment of naphalm and willy peter and chemical de-folient is also unknown though what is known is the fact officers do not advance in grade without having murdered human beings and distroyed life, liberty and property.

He lives with the carnage he caused each hour of his wakfullness and must bear its' burdens and perhaps it's why he seaks peace and understands the stupidity and ignorance of McCain.

[letsgetsmart]

Most of these so called military leaders are nothing more then lobbyists for the defense contractors and are just dieing to spend some more of our non existent treasury. Who are you getting your kick backs from, Boeing,Northrup or everyone that makes missiles and planes? How these greed monsters can even speak of the defense of our country in a political season says it all. McCain, are you listening? This guy wants into the feed trough along with all of your other lobbying interests. Politicians have every right to debate the protection of our country because they do have the job of overseeing the military. Military leaders contact congress for a hearing and don't violate the publics control of them by getting involved in politics. Obvious payoff hounds like this guy should be reprimanded and investigated.

[hwebb54]

McPeak is also the guy who rails against Jews at every opportunity. I don't think he should be taken too seriously. Unless you are pro-Hamas.

[realtalk]

yOU'RE SO FULL OF SH*T!!

[Jennysaypa]

Let me guess, you're another one of those traitor-supporting butt-kissers from AIPAC? I wonder if the FBI still has you guys under investigation?

[EuroPreacher]

The Obama campaign has two questions for McCain: 1) how will his foreign policy be different from George Bush"s, and 2) if it is not different, why should anyone expect better results than Bush has achieved?

[TooLooze]

I hope Obama keeps a tally of this.

[AmericanSinceFeb08]

Sanchez and now this one. It will not be long and McBush is fighting a one man and no country war. (and now the Australians are leaving too). Great. I am loving this.

[naturallight]

Use your brain for a minute. Why would bush destroy his own political party?
Why would bush decimate our armed forces?
Why would bush allow illegals 'sanctuary'?
These people are the rulers of the biggest, baddest, nation in the world and we are to believe that they are simply stupid, made mistakes, misguided ideology, like they ride the short bus to school??

and....we hear an awful lot of talk about BILL CLINTON without so much as a peep out of HWBush who is the only former President who receives daily natl. security briefings while at the same time being a former Director of the CIA during some of its seedier years. Just think bout would ya. Don't just swallow the red pill!

[PioneerKing]

No one in the media is questioning McCains flawed judgement on the fact that when McCain expressed support for and voted for the war that McCain did not raise any issues about the manner in which the war would be conducted.
"...Gen. McPeak added, "[McCain] supported the intervention to begin with. Then of course he attacked the execution and he was justified in doing so. But the idea that this was a good concept, poorly executed, won't stand the test of examination. "
The main stream media likes to say McCain was for the surge before the Bush/Cheney pushed for it but no one raises the fact that our military was ill prepared going into the war and did not have a plan for after the invasion. Example: there are so many troops maimed and dead who were not provided proper body armor and amored vehicles and other blunders. Prior to the invaision McCain was saying the military was well prepared which was not factual. Yet, the MSM did not question McCain's failure to fully assess the facts of the militarys preparedness for going into Iraq and the impact it would have on Afghanistan
Saying McCain is strong on national security does not mean the statement is correct.
It's similar to Bush/Cheney saying there was evidence of weapons of mass destruction - another statement that was not correct simply because the main stream media repeats the statement.

[KBAR]

McPeak has become the "most senior retired military officer" to back Obama.
What a hoot! McPeak, is a co-chairman of Mr. Obama's campaign,

It should be noted that Gen. McPeak,who is on Obama's staff, stated the very same thing as McCain-that if we are fortunate we will have a military presence in Iraq for a long time.

[Chillinout]

Again, all spin, no facts.

[qdog112]

Expecting at most a faint jab, Barack Hit McCain (with help from Bush) flush with a LEFT LEAD to his FACE. This strategy is BRILLIANT.

I guess he forgot Barack is left-handed. McCain is weak on FOREIGN POLICY and Barack has served notice that he plans a frontal attack.

McCain is done if he can't recover from multiple BLUNDERS on his "strong issue."

[KBAR]

In a statement the Clinton campaign released about the ad Friday, retired Gen. Wesley Clark said: "One of the most important duties of the president is ensuring the safety of the American people. Inevitably, another national security crisis will occur. And when it does, voters shouldn"t have to wonder whether their president will be ready. As president, Hillary will be ready to act swiftly and decisively."

Hillary's General is smarter than Barry's General and BOTH are smarter than Generals Pelosi and Reid.

[mahack]

Poll conducted for Telegraph.co.uk shows huge support for Democratic presidential hopeful; McCain lags far behind.
=================================================================
Europeans in love with Barack: Europeans in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Russia favor presidential hopeful Barack Obama over Republican candidate John McCain by a huge margin, a poll conducted for Telegraph.co.uk found.

Overall, 52% of respondents said they support Obama's presidential bid, while only 15 percent said they support McCain.

According to the poll, Obama is particularly popular in Italy, where 70% of respondents said they preferred him over McCain. The French were not far behind, with 65 percent saying they would back Obama. In Germany, 67% of respondents gave the Democratic candidate the nod, while only six percent backed McCain.

[levibatgirl]

mclame will be burnt to a crisp long before summer is out.

It should provide many laughs.

[qdog112]

All I have to say about Barack's DIRECT assault on McCain's supposed strength is:

MASTERFUL STRATEGY!

Barack has hit McCain hard where he is perceived to be strong. Doing that, ole Johnny has been EXPOSED to actually be lacking in knowledge and overall understanding in NATIONAL SECURITY. He's on shaky ground and will stay there for the duration. There is NO EXIT - watch him squirm.

Couple that with the admitted weakness McCain has of the economy and Johnny has some work to do. Watching this is going to be a lot of fun.

[Raymondf]

Consider the source McPeak was a lousy General, hated by his subordinates, and airmen.

[Harrygton]

Says you?

[Susanfrom29]

I wonder if you are using the same facts (none) on this smear as you used when you suggested that Robert Byrd dodged the draft...

[KBAR]

Robert Byrd dodged the draft...

Mr. Lincoln's draft ?

[levibatgirl]

Too bad for you that your credibility is zero much like your hero mclame.

[Raymondf]

You have got to remember if you know me so well That I'm a registered Non-Partisan and if they had a block that said none of the above. That's what I would mark, but I feel McCain is the lesser of the 3 evils.

[AirmanOne]

Raybabyf Some proof please. Did you personally interview all the people you say disliked the General????? If not then you are not to be believed. If you can substantiate such a charge, please do so and you will have my apology. If not you have my disgust by your passing on untrue information. No hear-say please, Facts only

[MajorKong]

Can't say I cared one way or the other about McPeak when I was in the Air Force.

[Donnat]

it's so touching that all of the sudden, military experience matters to the GOP. After all, they practically branded Kerry a criminal for serving. As for the rest of the hypocrites

Representative Patrick McHenry, R-NC - did not serve.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY - did not serve (1)
Senate Assistant Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-MI - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair John Cornyn, R-TX - did not serve.
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Ensign, R-NV - did not serve.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-OH - did not serve.
House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-MO - did not serve.
House Republican Conerence Chair Adam Putnam, R-FL - did not serve.
House Republican Policy Committee Thaddeus McCotter, R-MI - did not serve.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani - did not serve.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - did not serve
Former Senator Fred Thompson - did not serve.

Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey - avoided the draft, did not serve.
Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay - avoided the draft, did not serve."
Former House Majority Whip Roy Blunt - did not serve
Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - did not serve.
Rick Santorum, R-PA, formerly third ranking Republican in the Senate - did not serve. (1)
George Felix Allen, former Republican Senator from Virginia - a supporter of Nixon and the Vietnam war, did

[Raymondf]

You failed to mention the dems that did not serve.

[Susanfrom29]

But the Democrats have never wrapped themselves in flag pins and claimed to represent them.

They just do it.

Clinton refused to send troops into Haiti until a police force had been assembled and was ready to follow the troops ashore. He also insisted that the State Dept and humanitarian aid agencies come up with a plan to administer the island until the rightfully elected government could take over. He did all of this so that our troops could go in and do their job quickly, cleanly and without a single American death.

Compare his actions to the current crop of chickenhawks.

[gapanther]

McSimple is making an issue about serving, not the Dems.

[levibatgirl]

That's your job.

Oh wait. No it isn't. You're a liar.

[musselmanm]

As a Democrat I would have to make the same assertion, what is good for the goose.
Personally, I failed my Physical due to having no more cartlidge in my knee. 1967 was not the most enlightened time to have knee surgery! Sucks for me! But I tried to sign up and was caught twice. This is not to say I wanted to go to Viet Nam or anywhere other than maybe the ocean or some fantasy place that I imagined.
I believe that just as having a vagina is not the threshold for being president, having served in our military is also not a prerequisite.
I know that Jerry Ford served and Ike and John Kennedy. What about the many others both democrat and republican have served in our military?
The United States of America most likely cannot support the Christian Crusades which we are now fighting and are promoting now in other countries. Give both credit and blame where they belong to both sides. My point is, military service, like a flag pin does not make one a patriot!

[EvoMan]

Re: Byrd. If his mailing address is an empty lot, how does he get his mail?

[Raymondf]

I know one personally Robert Byrd he ran for the Senate to dodge the draft.

[Susanfrom29]

During WW11 he worked as a welder at a Naval Shipyard, not running for office until 1946. And then it was the state congress.

It helps, when you try to smear people, if you get your basic facts straight. Some of us don't buy the half truths.

[combatveteran]

Who did you serve with Ray?

[Raymondf]

I should of said state senate when I was refering to Byrd.