Much has been made in the Democratic primary over which candidate has passed or failed the Commander-in-Chief test. Yet, it's neither Barack Obama nor Hillary Clinton who hasn't passed that test. It's John McCain, who has now failed that test twice.
If I was drawing up the Commander in Chief test, I can think of two questions that would be on there. First, what's the difference between Sunni and Shia. Second, who commands what in our military?
Just yesterday, John McCain seemed to say that General Petraeus is the top military commander of our Armed Forces, telling the Associated Press that he wouldn't shift the focus of the military from Iraq to Afghanistan "unless Gen. [David] Petraeus said that he felt that the situation called for that."
Petraeus, of course, is our commander of forces in Iraq. That's it. He's not responsible for Afghanistan, or our regional commitment, or our global commitments. As a Commander in Chief, McCain should know that there are people much more qualified to speak to our global strategy than Petraeus -- including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Secretary of Defense, and the CENTCOM commander.
Of course, this is all a side-point, because the Commander in Chief makes these decisions, ultimately, not one General, as Senator McCain seems to be saying.
It sounds to me like Senator McCain has become confused because of the White House strategy. The White House, of course, has sent General Petraeus to Capitol Hill a number of times, and tried to paint it as an overall assessment of the global war on terror. If they were serious, they'd would have long ago sent the CENTCOM commander up for days upon days of hearings, followed by General McNeill, who could talk about the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, followed by General Petraeus.
Either way, this is the second big flub by Senator McCain in a month, on very key, simple matters, which a Commander in Chief should know.
This is not to take away from Senator McCain's service -- he's a war hero and deserves all the admiration in the world for his service. But some war heroes, obviously, are not prepared to be Commander in Chief. Not when they've failed the Commander in Chief test.
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McCain DOES NOT support veterans!
Come on Condi, the country needs you.
This is only if Obama can't win.
Our club here of 62 people can not stand Hilary.
Mc Cain they say doesn't seem to know much, about certain problems stiring in our country.
What makes you think the Clinton's aren't all in the same operation? They saw nothing wrong with Patty Hurst staying in jail for bank robbery.
Hilary has paid people to say these things. There crooked and will get votes any way they can.
LIes and more lies. A smearing tape to try and convince people any way they see fit.
Obama didn't make 10 million. Nor did president Bush.
And note to fellow trolls: Make sure not to let anyone call this a 'war'. It ceased to be a war when the Iraqi army was defeated and Iraq's leaders captured and killed. This is now (and has been for some time) an occupation. Call it that.
If John McCain is going to continue the GW Bush war campaigns, it is quite appropriate that he knows as little as GW.
He bombed his own carrier, then got shot down, look at his experience, he is the modern day reincarnation of Patton, Grant, and Washington all rolled into one!
"He bombed his own carrier"
Wow - that's one of the better clueless distortions I've seen all day.
Please, tell us so we can all understand how John McCain bombed his carrier? The facts are that Lieutenant McCain was sitting in his *A-4* awaiting clearance to launch when an electrical malfunction caused a zuni missile to fire from a parked *F-4*. ie, the ordnance was deployed from a type of plane John McCain didn't even fly.
.... just clueless.
I know this is OT, but please consider a column on the following:
Hidden Danger: Soldiers Dying From Electrocution
A Dozen Soldiers Have Died From Accidental Electrocution in Iraq, Says Congressman
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4489783&page=1
"[The mother of a soldier who died in January 2008] claims that KBR had been aware of the problems with the electrical system at the complex since February 2007, citing reports from the contractor and the Army's Criminal Investigation Division she was shown during meetings with Army personnel."
Eleven plus months of prior notice?
As a Professional Engineer let me say, this isn't war, it's CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.
The press used to be our watchdog. Now they're a neutered toy poodle with a rhinestone collar stuffed in some Wall Street maven's handbag.
Capt Soltz,
Seriously, that is your qualification test for CINC ... being able to recognize two sects of a religion and knowing the entire command organizational structure of the military?
If this is the case, well, we're gonna need some new candidates.
Given all your experience as a field-grade, this is really the best criteria you can generate?
But, the larger points he makes -- McCain's serious blunders re: Iraq -- are highly disturbing.
We are told this is John Surge McCain's special-pet issue -- how many times has he met Patraeus in Iraq? -- yet, he continually demonstrates an inability to keep these facts straight.
I really wonder if McCain is mentally sound.
What other fiction might be playing in his mind...
Maybe he thinks Jimmy Carter is meeting with Medeterranean-cuisine students in Berkeley?
Might the home foreclosure crisis be attributed to a slowdown in Oklahoma bulldozer manufacturing? Could Katrina be that rap-artist who botched the National Anthem at an Astros game?
How long before he's asking al-Malaki, "when is bingo night?"
McCain's inability to read his own speeches -- even personal anecdotes contained in them -- isn't helping him dispell these indications of neural cobwebs.
Imagine how bitter the Iraqis are and then imagine how they feel when a candidate for American president calls them the enemy even if it is a mistake.
Who has a comprehensive and viable strategy to promote and facilitate a sustainable political solution in Iraq that will allow for the withdrawal of US forces without leaving the chaos of a failed state behind and the need for another generation of troops to return at a later date?
Oops...THEY ALL FAIL!!!
I don't suppose we're missing Joe Biden yet, are we? Or, better yet, regretting that we didn't pay any attention to him while he was still in the race?