John McCain: I Know How To Catch Bin Laden

With reporting by Rachel Weiner

Last week, John McCain proclaimed that he knew how to win wars. Today, he's taking it a step further, telling voters that he not only knows how to capture and bring to justice Osama bin Laden, but is going to do it.

Appearing on the Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, the Arizona Republican was reminded that he had vowed to bring Osama bin Laden to justice and was asked how he would differ in that task from President Bush.

Initially saying that he would not "telegraph" the specifics, McCain declared, "Look, I know the area, I've been there, I know wars, I know how to win wars, and I know how to improve our capabilities so that we will capture Osama bin Laden -- or put it this way, bring him to justice... We will do it, I know how to do it."

Proclaiming that he will capture the elusive terrorist leader -- and knows how to do it -- is a fairly bold assertion and leads to the question: what information is McCain holding back from the Bush administration?

But the Senator has made broad foreign policy promises before. This past week he told a crowd in Albuquerque, New Mexico: "I know how to win wars. I know how to win wars... And if I'm elected President, I will turn around the war in Afghanistan, just as we have turned around the war in Iraq, with a comprehensive strategy for victory, I know how to do that."

In today's CNN interview, McCain suggested that a Nuremberg Trial-style hearing for bin Laden would be appropriate upon his capture.

"We have various options. The Nuremberg Trials are certainly an example of the kind of tribunal that we could move forward with. I don't think we'd have any difficulty in devising an international -- internationally supported mechanism that would mete out justice. There's no problem there."

Early in the campaign, it should be noted, McCain went hard after Barack Obama for saying that Bin Laden should not be a "martyr." Obama also suggested Nuremburg as a model -- to which McCain replied that Obama didn't understand the reference.

Comments

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

Only until or if I'm elected will I capture Bin Laden,until then he's free to plot more terrorist attacks.Vo­te for me if you don't want to die..This will really pull in the undecided votes.

[gcallaghan]

Maybe Bin Laden's hiding with the WMDs You remember those, don't ya, Johnny?

Find him and find them and vice versa It's a two-fer for ya, Johnny.

[JamesInDenver]

If McCain had been a successful General (or an Admiral) during wartime, that may have qualified him to say "I know how to win wars". But he crashed his plane and was a POW. That may prove he's a tough guy, but it doesn't demonstrate any ability to succeed militarily. This guy has to stop resting on the laurels of those who plan and execute wars. Wakeup America, McCain is not much smarter than Bush, and through out his career (Keating Five, Iraq vote) his judgment has been truly lacking.

[Hempy]

McCain obviously plans to camp out somewhere on the Iraq-Pakistan border and wait until Bin Laden peeks his head out of one of those caves. That's why McCain hasn't told anyone yet. He want to keep it a secret. He said he didn't want to tip off Bin Laden.

McCain recently assured us that he was familiar with Iraqi leaders and Iraqi geography. Maybe McCain should schedule a trip to the Iraqi-Pakistan border and case out the territory so he'll know where to set his trap.

Then he can schedule a trip to Checkoslovakia to announce to the world what a brilliant idea he has for capturing Bin Laden. I'm sure hundreds of thousands will flock to hear of McCain's plan.

[Ivar]

If he can, why does'n't hle? let him explain.[

[JenniferInMO]

Wow. Where to start with this one ... why didn't anyone ask him why he is keeping this big secret from Bush? Perhaps everyone in his presence was too dumbfounded to say anything.
How does spending years in a prisoner of war camp 40 years ago give him the insight and special knowledge to "win wars." He says he knows how to "win wars," yet no one challenges him on that for fear of being Wesley-Clarked (i.e. beaten down for questioning the ability of a veteran to serve as commander in chief). McCain says he knows how to win wars, yet he has never won a war or even participated in a war that was won.
If he knows how to win the war in Afghanistan (its nice he is acknowledging its existence for a minute), then why didn't he let the Bush administration in on THAT brilliance as well?
Geez. Everything about this is absolutely stupid. Please don't tell me that there are voters who don't find this totally absurd!

[wigcon]

Didn't the U.S. lose the Vietnam war? If McCain has a "secret" plan like Nixon's plan shouldn't he cough it up? Seems unpatriotic to sit on such important info. And I am sure that Wolf grilled him with follow-up questions to get to the substance of his claim.

[ann1]

Is his secret weapon Whitney Houston!

[instagladiator]

Ouch! Give whitney a little more credit than that.

[outnow]

"I know wars?" What does that mean? Is it a big secret? Why not tell your buddy, Dubya? I mean, after all, McCain could share the secret if it is beneficial to the security of the United States. It must be a trade secret.

[Rider3]

Wow, he'll say anything to win an election..­..

[Tropiholic]

let us in on your secret mc*pappy

[instagladiator]

Too late! He's already forgotten what it was.

[bigsioux]

John, is he located near the Iraq-Pakistan border?

[Perla]

Nah, he's in a safehouse in Czechoslovakia.

[luvienne]

What an embarassing old man. Will say or do anything to be president. Only we can't afford his demented antics. Why can't someone enlighten this Republican nominee he is acting like he needs mental help. I wonder how many Republicans are ashamed of this candidate?

[lbrillante]

If McCain 'knew' how to catch Bin Laden then he should have told Bush, the Congress, and the Pentagon long ago. I am sick of the inflation of McCain's foreign policy and military credentials. They are weak and best. Yes he served yes he deserves to be honored as a vet...That does NOT qualify him to be commander and chief or give him any real credentials when it comes to military leadership. The fact that he has not been extremely outspoken about this adminstrations violation of the geneva convention and has not blasted them for torture is disgusting. He deserves no more credit than any vet who has served and most of them are not qualified to be commander in chief!

[seenitall]

no dimwit, fly paper won't work...