McCain Leaks Details Of Obama's Iraq Trip

Reuters reports that McCain shared details of Obama's trip to Iraq at a fundraiser:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday that his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, is likely to be in Iraq over the weekend.

The Obama campaign has tried to cloak the Illinois senator's trip in some measure of secrecy for security reasons. The White House, State Department and Pentagon do not announce senior officials' visits to Iraq in advance.

"I believe that either today or tomorrow -- and I'm not privy to his schedule -- Sen. Obama will be landing in Iraq with some other senators" who make up a congressional delegation, McCain told a campaign fund-raising luncheon.

Josh Marshall points out that there's something very wrong with this:

The Reuters piece hints at it. But if Obama is going to be in Iraq this weekend, this is a major breach on McCain's part. As a knowledgeable insider notes ...

"If it is true that Obama is going to Iraq this weekend, it is a very serious mistake for McCain to have disclosed it publicly. Even for run-of-the-mill CODELs the military gives guidance like, "Please strongly discourage Congressional offices from issuing press releases prior to their trips which mention their intent to travel to the AOR and/or the dates of that travel or their scheduled meetings. Such releases are a serious compromise to OPSEC." If Obama is going to Iraq this weekend, I can not begin to imagine how much this is complicating the security planning for the trip."

It's known that Obama is leaving on his foreign trip this weekend and the Journal OpEd page this morning said that Obama could arrive in Iraq "as early as this weekend." And with a slew of reporters in tow, it's not exactly highly classified information. But there is a reason definite information about these sorts of trips aren't released in advance.

Hypothetically, maybe McCain was just guessing. But even so it would still be a serious lapse of judgment on his part.

In fact, McCain was furious when the press reported on his son serving in Iraq -- he feared the coverage would make him a target.

Comments

[DerAmi]

I am an American Citizen. I was born and raised in the mid-west. I greet Barrack Obama as a liberator; on the main streets of small towns, and I may soon see him in Europe.

I hope he is well received by the citizens of foreign countries. Either way, Mic Kane and his entourage will claim the response as a victory for "terruhrus­t."

[sparkey]

There is a term used for what McCain did. It's called;" Trying to eliminate the competion by whatever means are necessary".

[MacDaffy]

Every single day... In every single way...
Every word you say! Every single play!
I'll be outing you!

If you're in Baghdad! Or in Mehrabad!
Best take cover, lad! Move your ass a tad!
I'll be outing you!

Run against me! You think that I'll be fair?
Fly away and you think that we're not there?
Your security? Think that I give a care?
Don't count on it, dear Obama, please!

Every single day... In every single way...
Every word you say! Every single play!
I'll be outing you!

[Wildcatdiva]

Well his sources were wrong...he­'s somewhere else!

[Flagal]

You cant give a guy who seems to suffer memory loss, any important info.

[NochlessMonster]

Oh CNN and the MSM give the maverickicy maverick a pass for for free..... and Faux Newz is such a snooze with all the propey ganda.....­........

MCGivesthetrip away.... hoping to save the day..... but we can say no way to the mavericky maverick as he holds no sway.... and like him I can not remember what I meant to say, but I bet it was funny anyway....­......... Like no rights for women and a rape a day, the mavericky maverick just loves to say they are all okay!

[Flagal]

The cat in the hat? The lorax? Yertle the turtle?

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Star Bellied Snees.

[Nyland8]

It was just a matter of time before some geneticist crossed Dr. Seuss with Ogden Nash.

8

[BUMbO]

Remember my son as long as you live
Republican is a pejorative adjective
So Pop won't hop
And Horton won't give a Willie
If you vote GOP
You're downright silly.

[ruscle]

This was either malicious, or a lapse in judgement.

Either way, we don't need a person with either of those qualifications in the White House.

It just goes to show that McCain might have long years of service, but it hasn't improved his judgement in any meaningful way.

[socks1]

The old snake knows he can't win without getting his competitor killed off.

This wasn't a slip, it was intentional and it will certianly backfire.

Americans don't vote for evil goats, unless they have enough gile to disguise their intent. Just as the compassionate conservative did.

[NochlessMonster]

Embrace the mavericky goodness of the mavericky maverickne­ss........ he can do no wrong just ask the MSM.......­...... a pass for free for he is old and gray, and hey.... so he makes a mavericky gaffe here and there.... so what... who cares!

[Flagal]

I diagree. I dont think Johnny M did it on purpose. I think he forgot he wasn't supposed to reveal O's whereabouts. Which shows once again this ol man cant remember jack spit.
Scary

[frankifrost]

You disagree based on what?
His character?
What you mean is that you don't think;
you feel;
that's what's wrong with this picture:
running a Government is about THINKIKNG, NOT feeling !

[MrZebra]

This is ridiculous. That's not leaking. You can't leak something you have no knowledge of. He is predicting something.

I am in no way a McCain supporter but come on now. The media has been talking about the possibility of an Iraq visit for weeks.

[Rider3]

Stupid. He should know better.

[UncleJimbo]

Let's face facts,John McCain is a Knucklehead! And anyone who would even for a brief moment, think of voting for him is a Knucklehead! The more you hear him speak and watch him act,the more he makes Bush look smart!

[Tommygun264]

McSame's campaign staff have announced that Senator McSame is not privy to Senator Obama's travel schedule, therefore everything he said about when Barack Obama may be arriving in Iraq is pure speculation. In other words, "never mind". The Emily Litella of the 2008 Presidential race strikes again.

[moreupnorth]

This has shades of Valerie Plame/Joe Wilson all over it with a twist. Now that Obama has addressed the issue, John McCain brought up, about Obama not visiting the Middle East, it would appear that John McCain is now doing his best to make that trip a non-event. Maybe Obama will have to cancel everything if the ENEMY KNOWS WHERE HE IS!

How could anyone who touts his enormous military experience actually screw up this bad. Any average serviceperson knows not to divulge any significant security plans. What a buffoon. And he wants the American population to believe he is capable of running a country. If it wasn't so serious I would have peed my pants laughing by now.

To those of you who can't vote for a black man, a man named hussein, or a democrat because your family says different. Can you afford to elect a man who gives the ENEMY serious INTELLIGENCE on the whereabouts of your elected politicians and HIS opposition! Good luck with that!

[unionave]

Regarding assassinations ; Did McCain get his instructions for Hillary or did she get her instructions from him ? Talk about a gotcha moment . Those two really know mean when they see it .

[abby4ever]

Well, he was wrong, Obama just landed in Afghanistan, says Sky news.

[NochlessMonster]

The mavericky maverick did what he saw was right to do..... Why, he believes in the goodness of all of us, and just wanted the world to celebrate the mavericky maverickness of this trip his friend is taking abroad....­... Our dear friend O is bound to be greeted with flowers and candy as he strolls the streets and marketplac­es........­.. All due to the path that the mavericky maverick made before him......