McCain Backs Obama's Iraq War Plan

Had history turned out otherwise on November 4, 2008, the approach to the economic recovery might be radically different.

But, in an indication of how drastically the debate has shifted in the last few years, Iraq war policy would be roughly the same.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), President Obama's campaign opponent, went to the White House Thursday for a briefing on the president's plan for a timetable for a troop drawdown in Iraq. Before heading down Pennsylvania Avenue, he said he was already largely on board.

McCain said he would not be advising the White House as to what he thought was the best plan, but rather hearing them out.

"They're going to present us their recommendations. It's their plan," he said. "From what I know about it, I agree with it."

For McCain, the plan has virtue because it is backed by the generals and the ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker. "I like it best because it's what Ambassador Crocker and General [Raymond] Odierno and General [David] Petraeus also felt was a suitable strategy," said McCain.

That puts Obama and McCain in one camp and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who supports a smaller residual force, in another. Obama has suggested some 50,000 troops might remain in Iraq; Pelosi has said she hopes to see something in the range of 15,000.

The Huffington Post asked McCain, if he had been elected president, whether he would have implemented roughly the same plan that Obama intends to carry out in Iraq.

"Oh, I'm sure," he said, "because that's what our military and civilian leadership has recommended. I can't say exactly, but certainly it seems to me it's a viable strategy."

Comments

[Hallucinocynic]

There are a variety of reasons for maintaining a US military presence in Iraq, none of them that compelling.

1) We want to deter Iran from becoming a greater threat.
2) We have to protect our hegemonic interest in Iraq's oil fields.
3) We've already built numerous permanent installations that we don't want to give up.
4) Our presence provides cover for Israel.
5) It's always been the 'best place' to prosecute our War on Terror (is that James Earl Jones' voice?).
6) We've built an embassy so large that it will require the entire 1st Marines to provide security.
7) Once the economy brightens we can build DisneylandDesert and package vacations to Dubai.
8) There is still a boatload of money to be made...

[nevadagirl]

Plus Halliburtin and Blackwater.

[Jazzcomedian]

All troops should be withdrawn, and President Obama should leave Paladin there to wrap things up.

[hortonhearsawho2]

and Trac to uphold his mommy's honor....

[pipetoe]

Who cares what Pelosi says???

[mimigrammy]

Is their any American who would not rather see the fewest number of troops present in Iraq? Pelosi speaks for most American's, but if more than 15,000 are found to be needed in 18 months, than that is how many will need to stay. Obama always said he would withdraw with caution and consideration to the safety and security of our troops and our country. That is what he is doing and I don't blame Pelosi for expressing a desire for it to be less troops rather than the "projected" 50,000.

[springsm]

Obama has backed way off his promises even when he added "with caution". "My friends" is trying to be remembered and he has nothing to say. NOTHING.

[chaz]

You mean who cares what McCain thinks?

[TiredandPragmatic]

They might as well sleep in the same bed.

[jdmccl]

No McCain is on the Arms Service Comitee isn't he? Pelosi hates the military fighting and probably thinks they should be directing traffic such as the North Korean conscripts do.

[Phaedrus21]

"But, in an indication of how drastically the debate has shifted in the last few years, Iraq war policy would be roughly the same."

I would argue this is not correct. Up until the point when Obama started taking a significant lead in the polls, McCain and Bush were dead set on maintaining an indefinite military presence in Iraq. It was only after they started to realize they would lose the election that they changed their position.

Had McCain won the election he would have initially made noises about removing troops from Iraq. But, eventually, some sort of "new development" (e.g., Iran's nuclear program, renewed unrest, etc.) would have been used as an excuse to keep them there.

[northstar11]

""""They're going to present us their recommendations. It's THEIR PLAN," he said. "From what I know about it, I agree with it."""""

Senator mccain-- if you agree with it you OWN IT.

Itis now your plan too,

[RogerTheShrubber]

This is a no-brainer: Politically, the GOP is doing nothing more than its typical tactics; They have no choice but to support this plan on Iraq --- that's the only way they can be out in the public eye/ear saying positive things about the mess they created. Plus, they know that the country won't stand much longer for our continued heavy involvement. Now, as for the economy/st­imulus/bud­get, their tactic will be to oppose at all costs because they know we're in deep s*it and they'll be able to stand back in a couple years and blather on about the Dems being "big spenders..." All of this is straight out of their playbook.

[jdmccl]

Its called patriotism such as Clinton botched Balklins thing they will always support any military action.

[RogerTheShrubber]

I don't believe "supporting any military action" = patriotism. With the GOP, it's all about money and profit. (The Dems are not too far behind them on that either)

[MountainPenelope]

A heads up for Nancy - Obama is President. You are not!

[springsm]

Do you remember H. Reid saying "I don't work for the President, I work with him"? You might say that about N. Pelosi too...we have three parts of government...she is correct in having her own ideas. Otherwise you have a dictatorship and you know from the past 8 years how that has gone. Or didn't you notice?

[MakeAWish]

Pelosi, do you have a financial stake in Iraq? Your position is puzzling? No troops should remain. Bring them all home! Let the oil companies and others with financial interest there, hire and pay for their own militia.

[PATina]

She wants less people there than Obama does. What's puzzling about that position???

[loucreattie]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

[nomobull]

does anybody actually know what his plan or are they making speculations based on rumor.?

[flamom4obama]

Rumors are truth right? Or is it rumors are truth according to the right?

[springsm]

Due to the internet and blogs like Huffpo...rumors BECOME truth, don't they?

[vesaversa1]

I supported all the troop being withdrawn from Iraq, but i can live with president Obama position of withdrawing the troops in a careful responsible way , 100 thousand troops would be a great start to ending this war.The job of President of the United Sates is a tough job where president Obama have come to the realization that he can not and will not make everyone happy in this Congress or this country .

[slowhand0728]

50,000 to remain in Iraq, another 17,000 on their way to Afghan and that is just the start. I am not really sure why people are surprised. Obama will be a war-time President, we will hopefully be out of Iraq by 2011. But how many troops will still be somewhere fighting? I hope Obama's Surge works, would love to see all the Troopers come home.

[MountainPenelope]

If you had paid any attention AT ALL to Mr. Obama throughout the campaign, he said over and over and over that we shoudl remove soldiers from Iraq and concentrate our efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That's where the REAL terrorist networks are centered and trained.

We would ALL love to have the troops home NOW, but Mr. Obama has been handed the task of cleaning up the mess of the previous administration - one day at a time.

[WasteNJ]

I think it's silly to debate post withdrawal numbers at this stage of the game. The act of reducing the troops can have unforseen consequences, and they can't leave themselves exposed while pulling out.

Those last guys are the most at risk. The number also may illustrate the differing trains of thought on the subject, 15 thousand troops is a training force; 50 thousand is a security force. It's not like that number won't drop, but with troops moving to Afghanistan you want to make the moves smoothly, so you don't stir Iraq up while you're trying to transition. It's a thinking man's (or woman's) game and soundbites do not do it justice.

[JonShank]

When I think military strategy, I think Pelosi!

[robXdion]

LOL! Exactly. I don't know why all these blue dogs think their opinion matters when they aren't getting the briefs the President is and are well known to be limp noodles on military matters. They bemoan being called "weak on defense" but get amnesia when it comes to the issues and revert back to their "chihuahua nature"

[metalpipe]

Very clever and to the point. It would have been nice if she was so concerned 5 years ago.

[timberdoodle]

My concern is the GOP have tainted Obama's extraction plans and he will be caught in a situation where troops will be in harms way in both Iraq and Afghanistan for a long long period of time.

As of now it appears as though Obama is politically bound to show he is not soft on protecting the country and having troops in both places will never accomplish anything other than spending more money on a fools errand. You can't change people who have the mentality of killing themselves to achieve their perceived military goals.

[DrPneumann]

Here's another suprise:

The Obama Justice Department continues to stand behind a Bush era law meant to prevent lawsuits against telecommunications companies accused of illegally sharing private customer information with intelligence agencies.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Obama_DOJ_backs_up_Bush_wiretapping_0226.html

And still another suprise:

The spy shop that brought you the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program wants to expand its power under President Barack Obama, the nation's top intelligence chief told Congress Wednesday, in a little-noticed intelligence grab.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/NSA_expands_power_Eavesdropping_agency_may_0227.html

[PATina]

No surprise here. We knew that when he voted for FISA back in July. Now there were some who said that he HAD to do that to get elected and would reverse it once he became President... but more of us knew that wouldn't happen.

[metalpipe]

It's not guns that kill, or handcuffs and water and cameras that torture. It's the people carying them. We have a new bunch carrying these objects now. Watch the difference.

[Youtubingis]

Hello! Excellent story :) please watch my video response here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWbkLe25leY&feature=channel_page
Thank you, have a wonderful day!