Kerry: McCain Lacks The Judgment To Fight Terrorism

Sen. John Kerry charged John McCain with possessing a thorough lack of knowledge about Iraq and Afghanistan on Thursday, warning that the Arizona Republican's past misjudgments posed serious questions for his counter-terrorism policies going forward.

"When President Bush and Sen. McCain refuse to put Iraq into the broader struggle, their mistakes and misstatements only build on each other," said the 2004 Democratic nominee. "If you don't understand the surge and what happened, you can't make the right judgments about the future. Just a few months ago Sen. McCain said, and I'm quoting, 'Afghanistan is not in trouble because of our diversion to Iraq.' That has been proven completely wrong. And now both men admit we need more troops. The point is both President Bush and Sen. McCain were wrong about Afghanistan because they were wrong about Iraq. They still are."

In his speech, delivered at the progressive Center for American Progress, Kerry outlined a broad new approach to counterinsurgency and combating terrorism, one where we "tailor our response to local conditions" and intellectual persuasions. He cited the turnaround of the Anbar province in Iraq as an illustrative example. In the process, he offered what amounted to a systematic critique and history lesson for the presumptive Republican nominee.

"Unfortunately, when it comes to events in Iraq... John McCain continues to misstate facts and mangle history," said Kerry. "I've known John McCain for a long time, for years. He is a fellow veteran and a friend... I just think that his recent judgments are dead wrong. What is interesting is that in his testimony to his superior judgment he himself recently declared that the surge, and I quote him, 'began before the Anbar awakening,' and he said further: 'that's just a matter of history.' When, in fact, history shows the exact opposite...

"The tensions between al Qaeda and the Sunni leaders in Anbar were already apparent two years before the surge.... The reason: al Qaeda's brutality, its disrespect for local customs, its insistence on marrying local woman over the objections of tribal leaders. In fact, when Colonel Sean McFarland and his ready-first brigade arrived in Ramadi in the June of 2006, al Qaeda was still fully in control. They immediately saw the need for a change in tactics. And on their own, they launched an extensive outreach campaign to win over the local population, starting with the local tribal leaders. That created a snowball effect. As Col. McFarland noted in 2006, "A growing concern that U.S. forces would leave Iraq made tribal leaders open to overtures.' That is not an unimportant transformation."

Kerry's remarks come roughly a week after McCain and Barack Obama waged a pitched political battle over which candidate has shown better judgment on Iraq. After being pilloried for misstating the timeline of the surge, McCain accused his opponent of being unwilling to acknowledge U.S. forces' success in Iraq. Kerry went out of his way on Thursday to praise American servicemen. But, he added, the historical lessons of Iraq suggest that military might is only one component of the fight against insurgency and terrorism.

"Let's be clear," Kerry said. "There is no question that our troops have preformed brilliantly. They have done everything that we asked of them and more... But the true history of the Awakening is important in drawing the right lessons of the surge. It was the Iraqis who made a political calculation that they did not like al Qaeda and wanted to work with us. And they made that calculation before the surge."

Comments

[brighterside]

I haven't seen this posted on any of the blogs but here it is. Its the former Iraq prime minister labeling the surge "a failure."

His been calling for political reconciliation why the surge was only successful militarily.

I haven't seen this anywhere but I hope that someone can make light of this. He was once prime minister of Iraq so he knows what's going on.

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/9357

[Scarllatti]

The lousy MSM is more interested in those stupid McBush ads than telling American people what we need to know. Thanks for the information. All of us have bounded together on the blogs (which is why Dana Milbank is feeling jealous of bloggers) to share the much needed information.
Once again, thanks.

[JiminNC]

This is what we need, surrogates hitting hard with the truth. Early and often. Let it rain.

[madkey]

With all of Mccains and Flip Flops Democrats should be pounding Mccain. They need to be available to take Mccain on like Kerry did yesterday.

[ShamusNYC]

Senator Kerry can be even more devasting to the McCain campaign if he lets us in on the conversations he had with McCain in 2004 - about McCain joining a unity ticket - the reasons why he considered it and how McCain sold out America for the glory of the Repubs and his shot at the big job.

Probably will not happen.

But remember this: John McCain strongly suspected in 2000 that Bush would be bad for the US (in fact, according to Arianna, didn't even vote for him) and in 2004 knew what the real story was and how Bush was abusing the office and he continued to fess support and even adapt the policies because that was his surest way to his current position. He could have surely stopped Bush if he REALLY was a maverick and had courage.

John McCain put his own self-centered ego-maniacal interests over the good of the country. How many people have died & how much has the US suffered for the sake of his ego?

Please post this. Pretty please.

[THEhillbilly]

So, Heinz's husband says exactly what we all knew he would say. How about that? Exciting. (snicker)

[JiminNC]

How about more every day from him and a dozen others. All they need to do is call out the lies and low blows, speaking the truth. Harp and beat on one lie a day from 10 different directions. We will never run out at the rate McDoink produces stupidity from his mouth, especially when this starts getting him hot-headed. He will blow a gasket before September!!!! (belly laugh)

[addisonsteele]

Of course John McCain lacks the judgment to fight terrorism. As the recent Rand Corp. study shows, the most effective way to fight terrorists is to use the criminal justice model, not the military model. The Bush Administration chose the military model in part because Rumsfeld wanted to show how "smart" he is, in part because being "at war" would allow it to get away with its plan to return this nation to the Gilded Age, and in part because, well, those people really are that stupid.

McCain claims that he knows how to win a war. Given that the U.S. lost the only war he was in, I'd like to know how he knows what he claims to know.

[harriscrl3]

You know what I dont get the democrats have been proven right on so many things Aghanistan, Iraq, War on terrorism, eocnomy why arent they hammering it home. For Gods sakes GLOAT please say WE WERE RIGHT AND BUSH WAS WRONG!!!

Carol

[ShamusNYC]

"McCain claims that he knows how to win a war"

He saw how to do it on an episode of Matlock.

[OBXartist]

What does the being right or telling the truth have to do with being qualified to be president? Americans have shown over and over again that they'd rather vote for John Wayne-derived fairy tales.

I was a sophmore in high school when Reagan beat Carter. And I remember then, as a 15 year-old kid, being fully aware that Reagan mangled practically everything he said, repeatedly misstated facts and basically just made stuff up as he went along. And America elected him twice. Then, in 2000, as an adult, I watched America do it again...and again in 2004.

Obama can't put McCain away. Millions of people will vote for McCain no matter how many stupid things he says. And the reason is that the average American voter is dumb as a box of rocks. "McCain will make my gas cheaper!" Sure he will. It'll take 10 to 20 years for drilling to affect prices at the pump, and by that time our economy will be in a shambles and millions more of us will be living in cardboard boxes under whatever bridges haven't fallen down from neglect.

[GuyFawkes]

Why is it that whenever people criticize McW, they always have to preface it with "he was a great hero and deserves our respect"?

Isn't it high time we just leave that to the side of the road and call McW for what he is NOW: an aging war monger without a message and possibly in the early stages of dementia?

[RRundbaken]

The Republicans and Joe Lieberman (who should be dumped from the party after the election) should not be allowed to claim recent improvements in Iraq as success for this overall failed policy. The McCain camp must not be allowed to define the issues with the help of Bush's political assassins. Every effort must be made to show that the Iraq war was and still is a huge mistake. And for Iraq to get back to some sense of normalcy after we destroyed the place, killed 150,000 civilians, lost 4100 soldiers, spent $1 trillion, lost our prestige, resorted to Cold War Chinese torture techniques, ignored the Geneva Conventions, and apparently committed war crimes. hardly stands as successful policy,

[FullChat]

Was the Surge successful - or the best choice?

The Badr Brigades stood down in October 2006, and haven't returned to the fight yet.
The Anwar Awakening (Sept 06) took both the Sunni insurgents and Al Qaeda out of the picture.
By 2007, Baghdad had gone from 50% Shia to 75% Shia. Most ethnic cleansing had been done in the first four years of the occupation.

With all of this, 2007 was the year of highest US deaths, with 902 soldiers making the ultimate sacrifice. Three of the eight months with over 100 deaths were in April, May and June of 2007, the early part of the Surge.

Violence is down: 2008 deaths (31/mo) are half of the average for the entire war (63/mo). The Apr 07 - Sept 07 average was over 93 deaths.

Was the Surge a sucess, or a bad idea at a good time?

If we had made it plain that we did not want to occupy their country for 100 years instead of surging, we might have had lower violence and faster political progress.

[JiminNC]

"Was the Surge successful - or the best choice?"

No!

[OBXartist]

What does the truth have to do with picking a president? Americans have shown over and over again that they'd rather vote for some John Wayne-derived fairy tale than face up to the actual truths about our country and its past, present and future place in the world.

I was a sophmore in high school when Reagan beat Carter. And I remember then, as a 15 year-old kid, being fully aware that Reagan mangled practically everything he said, repeatedly misstated facts and basically just made stuff up as he went along. And America elected him twice. Then, in 2000, as an adult, I watched America do it again...and again in 2004.

Obama can't put McCain away. And the reason is that the average American voter is dumb as a box of rocks. "McCain wants to make my gas cheaper!" Sure he does. It'll take 10 to 20 years for drilling to affect prices at the pump, and by that time our economy will be in a shambles and millions more of us will be living in cardboard boxes under whatever bridges haven't fallen down from neglect.

[TrooAmerican]

[As Col. McFarland noted in 2006, "A growing concern that U.S. forces would leave Iraq made tribal leaders open to overtures.]

As one could easily also conclude correctly that the catalyst to the Sunni forces contacting US forces to reverse ties with Al Quaida was the concern that US troops would leave Iraq soon....... why? because at that time Sunni leaders were well aware of the US Backlash againt Republican Congresspersons and laid them out with a board by electing a mostly democratic congress with a mandate to pressure Bush into changing course in Iraq.

So the catalyst to the Sunni Awakening was the Democratic Congress, which allowed the "Surge" to work far better than had been hoped, providing an environment to withdraw from Iraq.

Use that one Obama.

[TrooAmerican]

Kerry SHould have been PResident all this time and there would be no horrific situation going on domestically or internationally.

[theone718]

Kerry was a very weak candidate that is why he lost. But BOY is he a top notch surrogate. He TORCHED the gop surrogate for McBush today.

[Ajegunle]

BOOOYAAH!

kick them while they are down DEMs!

[suzyhein]

Crash lacks the judgement to tie his shoes. which one should i tie first??

[beboy]

This comes from the clown who in 2004 had the judgement to lose to the biggest clown in the white house since James Buchannan.

[jrterrier]

i guess they have kerry attacking mccain because they think only a vet can attack a vet but somehow, it diminishes kerry and his message. i voted for kerry but his attacks on mccain seem very lame to me and not very effective.

[unity08]

Attacks! You have got to be joking. He is telling the truth not mounting a personal attack like was done to him in '04.

The truth is always effective.

[Jezreel]

No. It comes from the man who recognizes a GOP con job from 5 miles away after being excoriated by the same kind of political smear campaign Mr. McSane and friends are now using against Obama.

Kerry's calling McSane what he is; a fairytale.