McCain: Obama Opened Himself Up To Charges Of Incrementalism In Afghanistan

Sen. John McCain largely applauded the Obama administration's approach to Afghanistan on Tuesday. But he said that if he had been elected, he would have done a variety of things differently and, in the process, he claimed that the president had set himself up for charges of "Lyndon Johnson" incrementalism by not devoting the troop levels to that war that will ultimately be necessary.

"I would have... went ahead and announced the overall addition of troops," said McCain. Rather than be accused of a Lyndon Johnson style of incrementalism, because it is very clear what General McKiernan asked for even though it may not be right away, I probably would have announced that we intend to do that."

In a discussion before the new neoconservative outlet, The Foreign Policy Initiative, and with several members of his 2008 campaign on hand, the Arizona Republican offered more sympathy than criticism for the president's Afghan policy proposal. But it wasn't all formalities and niceties. In addition to warning about an incremental increase in force levels -- the reference to Vietnam not lost on the crowd -- McCain also suggested that Obama did not lay the proper framework for selling the war domestically.

"I support this plan," said McCain. "I probably would have done a few things differently. One, and most importantly, is to emphasize, and the president did, but I think you really have to emphasize how difficult this will be. As with the surge there will be an increase in conflict and therefore an increase in casualties as we move south in Afghanistan and try to reassert control in some regions."

As for tactical insights, the Arizona Republican insisted that the war in Iraq would be harder than that in that in Afghanistan. "It is not as tough as Iraq, my friends, and don't let anybody tell you that it is," he said. "When we started the surge in Iraq it was virtually in the state of collapse." But he also warned, rather ominously that, "there may not be an Anbar awakening" in Afghanistan, a reference to the clerics who aided the U.S. surge in forces by simultaneously rising up against insurgents and terrorist violence in Iraq.

Finally, on the domestic political front, McCain proclaimed that the real threat to Obama would not come from the GOP but rather skittish Democrats who could quickly tire of the war should violence levels rise.

"I think it is more problematic among Democratic leadership," McCain said of the potential for waning support. "We all know that the Speaker [Nancy Pelosi] comes from a very liberal district and we all now that Harry Reid has been very nervous about troop levels in Iraq... I guess what I worry about is that most Americans have not been sufficiently alerted to the [issues we are] going to face there."

Comments

[whitehawk]

"He still believe's in his heart, he's a hero" .....Should be tested for lack of grey matter and 'brainwashing'.

[SimJack]

JM, what have you done for the US lately? Where's bin Laden, how come the economy is still in the toilet, how come government officials and white collar corporate criminals who created this mess are getting bonuses, why did my parents lose 40% of their retirement savings and are now thinking that they may need to go back to work even though they are in their 70s and had scrimped and saved every day of their lives, why do you oppose tax relief and other incentives for small business owners like me, how come with all the access to information in this day and age coupled with your pipeline of intelligence info courtesy of your position thanks to the US government and the good people of this great nation, you aren't smarter. Aside from your personal wealth, how do you justify your ability to excel at underachievement given all the opportunities you have had?

[CAMBEL]

He really can never talk about anything these days without mentioning "The Surge" can he. Here, I'll break it down for you...the surge meant...we sent more troops. So now "the Surge" has been demystified. He acts like it was some inspired brilliance, they basically sent more troops and that in turn ended up giving them somewhat more control. There is a shock, it is about as shocking as putting 100 new police out on the streets and having crime rates go down.

[beartrack]

By now everyone should know that "The Surge" was nothing more than a bribe to one group to stop fighting us. The only "surge" was more of our tax money going to waste.

[comunsenze]

Doesn't anyone remember the clamoring for more troops from almost the outset of the war? "The Surge" was just the governments way of bringing troop strength up to the level that the Military was arguing for from the out set of the war.

[whitehawk]

The awful thing about him claiming 'the surge' worked is that he never advised others to do that, Pace and others discussed first with Pentagon. NOt his idea guys.

[prdbldngheart]

"If he had been elected"...Well he wasn't so can we please stop with the woulda couldas?

[RobtBrock]

I would not charge Obama with "Increwhateverism". I would charge him with "What Is the Strategy?" We can see some tactics but not a coherent strategy. What do we hope to achieve? Just saying...

[Drumbum2112]

"When we started the surge in Iraq it was virtually in the state of collapse." But he also warned, rather ominously that, "there may not be an Anbar awakening" in Afghanistan, a reference to the clerics who aided the U.S. surge in forces by simultaneously rising up against insurgents and terrorist violence in Iraq."
---------------
Though his timeline of events remains out of order, It is good to see McCaine admit that the allmighty "Surge" was not the key to the drop in violence, the Anbar awakening was. To bad he did not even realize he was saying it though.

[bluemike]

John stood and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Then he blinked his baby brown eyes, smiled his sweet smile and sat back down.

[sandan]

Ever notice how recent Republicans, those who can't cope with defeat, resemble the Mexican Mafia gangs? Unless they are in lock-step with their other goons, they can't discuss their real fealings one-on-one, or take steps that would violate their party code.

A bunch of WIMPS!

[rasputin999]

Nothing to see here folks, just an old man talking to himself, move along folks, move along.

[CAMBEL]

LOL!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!

[JXJASON]

Obama has made a big mistake. He should not have escalated the war in Afghanistan. He should have started to bring our men and women home.

There is another article on Huffpost about the corruption in Afghanistan. How do you deal with a country that has corruption? I do not know of a solution to Afghanistan's problems. We should get out and let the people in Afghanistan solve their own problems.

I am tired of having Presidents who think that we can be the policeman of the world. We have serious problems in the US that need the attention of President Obama, the Congress and the people who work for the Federal government.

I am sorry that I voted for Barack Obama.

[RRG64]

He has? How do you know? Are you in Afghanistan? Are you General Petraeus? In the military? Do you work for the NSA? CIA?

I`m tired too...of shill pieces from whiners.

[Harrier]

A good rule of thumb is to research history and try to understand the lessons learned instead or repeating them. Then establish goals that are achievable based on your budget-mover idea for either party to follow

[just4shiggles]

Why does anyone care what McCain would have done? We have a very capable new President, and we DID NOT elect McCain for a lot of reasons. He should just shut up and go away now.

[Karen4]

We have to get out of Afghanistan, the sooner the better. Should have never gone in there, probably. The connection between preventing more 9/11s and turning Afghanistan into a democracy with strong human rights was never very good, witness that our government believes Osama bin Laden moved to Pakistan and no one thinks we can run Pakistan. What is the difference to bin Laden & Co. whether they are in Afghanistan or Pakistan?

[realpolitic]

McCain said "if he had been elected..." But Senator McCain, you were not elected. The country is tiring of war and do not want to fight the neocon's wars forever. So let's have an endgame in sight when we talk about these wars or else what is the point?

[JXJASON]

I am tired of war and I voted for Barack Obama to get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan. He has not done this.

He has not changed the policies of George Bush. Obama's decisions have been to "stay the course in Iraq" and escalate the war in Afghanistan.

This is not "the change we can believe in".

[huntunseasun]

If you seriously voted for Obama, then you never listened to what he said in any speech he gave during the campaign; we would come out of Iraq and concentrate our military in Afghanistan.

Now, you wouldn't be lying about who you voted for, would you? Shameful, if you are lying. Shameful.

[Rog49Thomas]

Omigod.

He's an incrementalist too?

But is this worse than taking off his coat in the Oval Office?

[PollyTics]

I simply can't believe what a Sore Loser John McCain has become! Almost daily he reminds us that he lost but had he won he would be doing things one heck of a lot differently. WE KNOW JOHN...that's why you LOST!