McCain Has Zero Plan to Get Us Out of Mess President Bush Has Created

John McCain revealed today that he has no plan -- none -- to get us out of the mess the president has created. Senator McCain said that it is important for presidential candidates to "define their objectives and what they plan to achieve not with vague language but with clarity." But especially when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan, the picture he painted today of where he hopes to be by 2013 is totally divorced from reality and there is zero clarity about how he would get there. It's beyond being vague: John McCain is totally silent about how he would realize his rosy vision for 2013.

It's like saying by 2013, every American will be a millionaire and there will be peace on earth. Wishing will not make it so. The last things Americans need now are empty promises. They need, and our security demands, a concrete plan of action that brings the war in Iraq to an end without leaving chaos behind.

In his speech, Senator McCain says that by 2013, "the Iraq war has been won." How? What's the strategy?

He says "Iraq [will be] a functioning democracy." It certainly isn't now -- what's his place from getting us from here to there?

He says "civil war has been prevented, militias disbanded, the Iraqi security force is professional and competent." But not a word on his strategy to actually prevent civil war, disband the militia or train the security forces.

He says "the government of Iraq is capable of imposing its authority in every province of Iraq." Right now, it can't even impose its authority through all of Baghdad and there is little trust within the government, of the government by the people and no capacity by the government to deliver basic security or services. So how do we get from here to there? Senator McCain is silent.

At the same time, Senator McCain says that in 2013: "the threat from a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan has been greatly reduced... U.S. and NATO forces remain there to help finish the job and continuing operations against the remnants of al Qaeda."

Exactly how will we have any chance of winning in Afghanistan and defeating al Qaeda if we keep 140,000 troops in Iraq for another three or four years? Senator McCain doesn't say because he can't.

The fact is, when I visited Afghanistan in February, General McNeil, who commands the international force, told me that with two extra combat brigades -- about 10,000 soldiers -- he could turn around the security situation in the south, where the Taliban is on the move. But he can't get them because of Iraq.

Even when we do pull troops out of Iraq, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mullen, says he would want to send them home for a year to rest and retrain before sending them to Afghanistan. The longer we stay in Iraq, the more we put off the day when we fully join the fight against the real al Qaeda threat and finally defeat those who attacked America seven years ago.

Today's speech is further proof that when it comes to Iraq, there is no daylight between John McCain and George W. Bush. They are joined at the hip. When it comes to Iraq, there will be no change with a McCain administration and so there is a real and profound choice for Americans in November.

Comments

[Lexie]

Thank you, Senator Biden, for speaking out so forcefully and knowledgeably. (Furthermore, since I am adult, I can handle your vocabulary and you do not need to apologize for that, as far as I am concerned.­) The president's words were absolutely disgraceful.

[mamacat]

Thank you Sen. Biden for all that you have done.

I was watching a show on PBS about how Vietnam has evolved since France, the U.S., and China have decided to leave them to themselves. They are now the #2 exporters of both rice and coffee in the whole world, and are also building up a manufacturing base. It took 100 years (sound familiar?) for them to finally throw out the invaders, but now they are on their way to being a modern nation, neither exactly communist nor democratic, but something created by themselves for themselves.

I hope that someday the Iraqis will be allowed to rule themselves, and that they too will have peace and prosperity. If what has happened in Vietnam is any indication, there is hope for Iraq, after the U.S. removes its armed forces. I also hope that we are willing to spend a fraction of the money that we have spent to occupy Iraq to help rebuild it after we leave.

[bethinCary]

Thank you Sen Biden--for your continued service to Americans in speaking out about the injustices and propaganda being used by the GOP to wage war of Americans.

I was floored yesterday--not only at GW's rhetoric in Israel but another Mac comment.:

"peace through force"..
Talk about anathema to US morals of defensive (not offensive) laws...or aggressive wars..

"We're gonna shove peace down your friggin throats if you don't cooperate and let us steal your countrys' resources.­"
I couldn't believe he'd go there-and it's a serious comment that's been overlooked­..

Thanks for speaking out.
Love ya joe Biden!

[TexanJane]

Senator Biden, thanks for shooting straight and for bluntly pointing out the truth of McSame's sameness.

And BTW, you were spot on regarding L'il Bush's crass remarks in Israel - they were indeed bullshit.

[Hollyse]

Genetic manipulations of future politicians is key to exorcism of bad leaders, pretenders to leadership of a used USA Unfortunately, America isn't a country people think it to be, but land, a massive real estate selling out to foreign investors owning-controlling USA land- businesses. Political foreignors having the vote bought out through cash deals, Robber- Baron- Under-the-­Table-Tact­ics. Americans KNOW the real truth where America disappeared. We'd better understand politicians no longer consider themselves Americans, but Internationalists. My statement of America no longer 'owned' by Americans references political agenda within a nation people still think we own. Nancy Pelosi is Numerator to Denominator of General Electric war machine, as if Pelosi and rival Hillary, both "Political -Bake-Girls" and interests were leadership. Just look to CGI ( Clinton Global Initiative). The UN is masterful chef for batch of cookies. Remember Hillary said she's no stay at home mom baking cookies. Neither is the UN master chef. The UN, England, and yes, the Vatican represent Blessed Trinity owning political chain countries under one control. . McCain's no manger child of trinity although he'd like you to believing otherwise. POW McCain thinks he's giving himself credentials with authority asfuture president. Lamb Chops also thought to be alive and independent from her mistress ,Shari Louis. Remember she was one of many ventriloquists not accountable forLamb Chop's statements. . McCain is but another entertainment vehicle operated by real puppet masters. I ask who are the real puppet masters to those without real brains?

[AtTheMoon]

So very surreal watching dark dangerous comedian Dubya complain about somebody else having a delusional mind.

And then hear the news talk about Barack's flag pin instead of discussing who really negotiated arms for hostages..­..saint reagan de iran-contra!!!

Joe Biden, if you weren't D-MBNA, I'd say Biden for President!

[YankeeCanuck]

MBNA and Biden? Wrong tree. But you're right-- he should be President.

[Meteor]

Both Bush and McCain are dismal deluded saps propped up by war profiteers

and ideological kooks who control the Main Stream Media, all wearing flag pins.

[researcher]

no country deserves mc war more than we americans.

fear mongering and beating the drums for war excite americans. we love being the superpower. it is a national ego thing.

any country that can elect a george jr can elect a mc war. watch and see.

so demos keep funding george's war you are winning the hearts and minds of the american people. and your poll numbers are lower than bush jr the guy that gave up golf.

corp fascism is here. own the media own the minds of the people.

[knighthowl]

Are you Pat Robertson? What kind of sick raving is this?

No country deserves McCain, and this country did not deserve Bush. We certainly did not elect him the first time, and I do not believe he was elected the second time. Now we know he is a war criminal.

You appear to have some connection to reality in that corporate fascism and its control of the media are real dangers. Please focus on that, not the country. The people did not create the corporate menace. We are the victims of it.

Let us fight the cause. Do not blame the victim.

[Norge]

Mr. Biden,

The problem appears to be "The Blame Game". The American system is one with a house of reps. and a senate.

How many occupy the house and how many persons occupy the senate?

To blame others is to deny responsibility for ones' own actions or lack of.
To be in denial is also a type of illness often caused by trauma.

Rolf Krogsæther

[TuneOutTheMedia]

You are wrong. The President has the power of the veto. And the Democrats do not have 61 votes.

[researcher]

the demos can defund the war. they dont want you to know that. they have to vote to fund the war. they are part of the problem. they want this war to continue to after nov.

it is called power and war means nothing to these people when it comes to elections.­winning is everything.

in a dumbed down society you can even get by with this misinformation about the funding of the war.

vietnam all over again. until we learn our lessons we will coninue to have these wars for profits.

[Norge]

Such is closer to the hallmarks of dictatorships than democracy.

[dollphingurl]

so Norge, what is your point? are you asserting that mccain has problems with post traumatic stress on account of his history as a prisoner of war in vietnam, or are you trying to say that the problem lies with everyone in washington playing the blame game?

or are you simply trying to assert that the american system with its house of reps and senate has the problem?

in all of the above cases, i disgree with you.

please state your point more cogently and maybe you'll have a leg on which to stand.

[Norge]

As Emperor Nero did the sacking and burning of Rome,
Americas' house and senate fiddle and fund, fiddle and fund and fiddle and fund.

[jennbeez]

The war BUSH created? My good man, you aided and abetted the effort when you voted to give the village idiot war powers. Were it not for that, you would be my first choice for VP on the Obama ticket. What was wrong with all of you dems the day you voted for war with Iraq anyway?? I knew Bush was full of shit and I live way out here in the rural hinterlands. First order of business for empires is to settle up with old enemies...­didn't the dems think for a second that Saddam Hussein was a little too convenient target? Some of us who had no inside knowledge saw through BushCo's story. I expected better from you.

[lechatnoir]

amen sister!

[YankeeCanuck]

Biden did not vote to give Bush war powers. Without getting into the nuance of how so many were duped at the onset, they initally gave funding temporarily and with great misgivings, I'll just say that Biden recognised early on that it was a mistake.
We were in. Biden went to Iraq many times and fought hard to get proper equipment and protective gear for the troops added into the funding. He got a resolution passed last October for a political solution to Iraq with 75 votes-- the only resolution to pass so resoundingly veto-proof in 7 years. It sits on the president's desk.
Those 75 votes is what it takes.The Dems have 50, maybe even 60 on a really good day.
One person cannot change that.

[peorgietirebiter]

I've been a long time admirer of yours, thanks for an excellent post Senator.

[Herrington]

What a laugh riot. McCain decries a lack of specifics and then launches into a Neo-Con daydream. His time machine conveniently glides past all that nasty thinking and planning that has to go into building the rosy future of his dreams. I suppose we just need to trust the invisible hand of the Republicans. Or not.

[booksnmore4you]

I am hoping world leaders speak up on this issue to shame Bush.

[SmokeNmirrors]

Senator Biden.... I love this guy.

[ikkytito]

Senator Joe- can i call ya joe? Love ya man. I just have one bit of advice-Never go to War with people who fight in their night clothes. We should have learned this in Viet Nam. Get people outta bed-in the middle of the night-why shoot they pick up a kalashnikov an boom off to the races. There may be good wars an bad wars-but defending your own country is preferable to invading a foreign country. I saw that movie" the Valley of Elah"- Seems like thats whats happening-somewhat exaggerated but still-Take these young kids an throw them in that fire. Wow- Anyway we really need to exit Iraq. Keep trying.