McCain Makes False Claims On Iraq Timeline (VIDEO)

In an interview with CBS News' Katie Couric tonight, John McCain made the false assertion that the Surge brought about the so-called Anbar Awakening. Except, as MSNBC"s Keith Olbermann points out, the Surge was announced after the Awakening. Olbermann also explains that CBS News edited the gaffe out of the final interviewed that aired Tuesday night.

Watch the video:

HuffPost blogger Ilan Goldenberg points out that this is not some minor gaffe, but a fundamental misunderstanding of the Iraq situation:

This is not controversial history. It is history that anyone trying out for Commander and Chief must understand when there are 150,000 American troops stationed in Iraq. It is an absolutely essential element to the story of the past two years. YOU CANNOT GET THIS WRONG. Moreover, what is most disturbing is that according to McCain's inaccurate version of history, military force came first and solved all of our problems. If that is the lesson he takes from the Anbar Awakening, I am afraid it is the lesson he will apply to every other crisis he faces including, for example, Iran.

Comments

[Kache]

And why is this purposeful distortion by CBS not actionable in court? And why are we not making a news event of this distortion by demontstrating in front of Katie Couric's home? In fact, why hasn't someone beaten Katie Couric to a bloody pulp with a stick yet? Folks, Paul Revere would have hunted her down!

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Violent little git, aren't you?

First Amendment as to your question of being actionable.

[ZHarris]

The F CC should considering revoking the C BS license based on deceit. Don't know if they have the authority, they lost their case for bare breasted women (thank g od, hehe)

[gr8abz]

Kache has the right idea and I respect his/her passion. We need more people who are willing to get tough when being screwed around with by the far right and the corporate media. The Republicans have always gotten their way by being bullies. And in life sooner or later ya gotta stand up to the bully. Democrats are good at punking out -- just the liberal nature to avoid combativeness. Those days are over. If we are going to win we have to toughen up and BACK THEM DOWN.

[nonconformist2]

Put the stick down, take a deep breath. Try a sharply worded email instead!

[nellie]

I second that emotion.

[RaraAvis17]

Wow, a person after my own heart...

[Xenopus]

Good Lord, this man has confused every point he has tried to make on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel.
One or two gaffes are expected, but day after day of gaffes, one has to ask does this guy know what he is talking about? Then because he is not getting ahead, he goes out and says the most awful things about Obama. McCain whines and cries about Obama so much it is pathetic. And talk about twisting the truth - what happened to the straight talk express? It went down a steep hill into the land of say anything that smears your opponent.

[mistlesuede]

Sorry but my comments are going to show up twice because I'm having some troubles with my computer tonight, or maybe it's HuffPo.

[Chillinout]

a little off topic:

All the Repug surrogates say that Mcclone, Booosh's and O'bama's positions are converging about Iraq. Uh, no, McClone and Boosh are moving towards O'bama's position.

To converge means that two or more things are heading towards each other. O'bama has been pretty consistent while it is the other two that are changing positions and moving towards O'bama's positions.

More spin that the MSM doesn't call them on.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

William Bennett even said on CNN 0bama is having a great trip overseas.

[Superbus]

The medium is the message. Super Oh is a media event. No words are necessary for Super Oh disciples.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Regurgitating what the OxyAddict told you, eh, ShortbusTheLiar?

[BWonka]

pathetic busboy can't defend McFailure. Typical.

[nellie]

Do you know who Bill Bennett is? He's one of YOU.

[Ihaveadream]

Ah that state propaganda machine is working so vell!

[sf101]

Sorry. Change the ending of the previous post to they'll do anything to make sure McCain wins.

[sf101]

And guess what's going to happen now?

Katie Couric will continue to make $___ million a year to anchor this crap.
It's "free speech."
The Fairness Doctrine is so freaking '90s. Get over it!
Les Moonves contnues to not give a s**t about his audience.

Can be anymore obvious that the corporate MSM will do ANYTHING to make sure that Obama wins?

[gusvidal]

Mccain is not even competent to be a us Senator. He should retire now>

[Underthematrix]

I first heard about this on Keith Olbermann. What I find so puzzling is the fact that McCain is obviously mentally confused. Why is the media not covering that instead of covering up his mistakes. And for the world of me I don't understand how being a POW and decorated "war hero" makes him a foreign policy wonk. Finally, the war in Iraq is not a war. The US invaded Iraq, toppled the government and has since been occupying the country. You don't WIN or LOSE occupations - You either LEAVE or STAY.

There is a war but it's in Afganistan and on the Afgan-Pakistan border. I thought I'd add that since John McCain has learned how to use the Internet,

[Grissom1001]

And tell me again why Katie Couric thinks anyone should take her seriously? I mean come on! The woman could not report breaking news when it slaps her in the face, she's too busy trying to play politics.

[Superbus]

Come on. Little perky Katie has more foreign affairs experience than the lightweight champion of the world, Super Oh.

[BWonka]

Waaaaaaa.... poor whiney busboy - can't stand the reality of having backed the wrong "team". Tough. Now go clean off table 9 and fold some napkins.

[dentuso]

Just checking in... and Shortbus actually had the b@lls to show up and continue defending this nitwit tonight?

Are you freakin kidding me?

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Did His Majesty ever offer to drive one of your candidates to the airport, you ignorant lying p o s?

[aristippe]

Bush has proven that experience is irrelevant

[Chillinout]

Wow, you are learning. At least now you recognize that he is indeed a champion. Keep it up and you might actually become sane.

[lisakaz2]

I know. And they're in the tank for O???? In what universe?

[brianbull1]

Sen. McCain - "I remember when Swedish dictator Haile Selassie ,and the Huns bombed pearl Harbor in 1973"
MSM Reporter #1 "Isn't that adorable , reminds me of my Grampa"
MSM Reporter #2 "He's a war hero ya' know"
MSM Reporter #1 "Yep! What a maverick!"

[OverIt]

And after Olbermann points out this cover up that would have gone unnoticed if not for a thorough reading of the transcript... lo and behold, AC 360 from CNN has the exclusive footage! Um... is it a coincidence that CNN and CBS share a corporate parent? Just asking?

[VolvoBirkenstock]

They don't share a corporate parent.

[OverIt]

You're right. I'd heard of merger talks a few years back. Guess they never went through. They seem to be quite cozy nonetheless though. There's been a lot of interplay throughout the primary season. See this as well.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/08/cbs-cnn-deny-outsourcing_n_95557.html

[JohnFromCensornati]

They are spawn of Satan.

[rosal]

The comment was not about you censoredjohn

[elle359zee]

this is MSM's attempt to cover up all of McGoo's gaffes so they can prolong the idea that McGoo has any chance (NONE) to win this election.

[lazywhiteamerican]

You mean ABC right?

[nellie]

You know, it's more than just giving a pass. I think people need to start talking about fitness for the office. If he can't keep his head wrapped around the details in Iraq, how is he going to be Commander in Chief? How is he going to able to outline a mission? I don't want another corporate mouthpiece in the Oval Office. I want a president.

[amst]

So is CBS going to be called out on this? Isn't this proof positive that they are covering McCain's a**? McCain has had a free ride basically all of his career. During this election he was doing as he pleased making gaffe after gaffe, while the MSM was concentrating on thrasing Obama with Rev. Wright, Obama's patriotis, and religion, etc. and other B.S. stories, and McCain was making goofs back then and nobody called him on it.

I wonder if the MSM will cover this up? Isn't CBS the one that fired Dan Rather???? Do they pick and choose who they want to support and be damn the facts?