Why Doesn't Media Ask McCain: "You Have Served Your Country Honorably, Sir, but Exactly Which Wars Have You Won?"

John McCain's new favorite campaign line seems to be "I know how to win wars." He used the line in numerous interviews and speeches in the past week in response to Barack Obama's overseas trip. In fact, McCain likes the line so much that in one speech he used it twice in two sentences. "'I know how to win wars. I know how to win wars,' McCain told the audience at a town hall meeting in Albuquerque," according to the Washington Post.

John McCain served his country honorably. But what wars, exactly, has he won and why doesn't the media ask him?

Was it the Vietnam War? McCain showed uncommon bravery by surviving 5 and a half years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, but he certainly didn't win the Vietnam War. America was defeated in Vietnam, after losing the lives of over 58,000 soldiers and spending over $500 billion which helped cause the stagflation of the 1970s. Moreover, despite the warnings of Vietnam hawks that losing the Vietnam War would lead to a disastrous defeat in the Cold War as communist dominoes would fall throughout Asia, America's safety and security was not seriously damaged. Today Vietnam is a significant trading partner.

Was it the Kosovo War? That war was waged by President Clinton, under the command of Gen. Wesley Clark, who won the air war without the loss of a single American life. During that time, John McCain was urging that America commit ground troops to Kosovo, a step that proved unnecessary, would have led to needless American deaths, and would probably have been counterproductive.

Was it the War in Afghanistan? In 2001-2002, the Taliban and Al Qaeda were all but defeated but John McCain supported George Bush's decision to draw down American troops in Afghanistan -- from whose territory Al Qaeda planned the attack on the World Trade Center -- in order to send them to Iraq which had not attacked America and where, before the invasion of Iraq, Al Qaeda had no operational presence. As a result, Osama Bin Laden was allowed to escape from Tora Bora, today Al Qaeda is stronger than ever and capable of planning further attacks on America and the West, the Taliban is resurgent, and American and NATO casualties are mounting.

Was it the War in Iraq? John McCain predicted, along with George Bush and Dick Cheney, that America would be greeted as liberators. Instead, after 5 and a half years of war, over 4,000 American deaths and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths, at least $1 trillion in costs to the taxpayers, and an American military which is stretched near the breaking point, America is still bogged down in a quagmire. Even taking at face value the most optimistic assessments, even agreeing for the sake of argument that "the surge has worked" (a vast over-simplification), the very best that can be hoped for is an Iraq led by a weak central government with strong ties to Iran, a balkanized country ethnically cleansed into Shiite, Sunni and Kurd enclaves, and a continued low level civil war which will last for years to come. John McCain may fantasize about a military "victory in Iraq" with American troops marching home in celebration to the sound of drums and bugles, but not even the most optimistic analysts see such a victory on the horizon.

It's a bit dangerous to psychoanalyze a politician from afar. Nonetheless, it's hard not to wonder whether, having suffered 5 and a half years as a prisoner in a war that America lost, John McCain feels the need to win a war, any war. One must be concerned that as President, McCain will opt for war as the first choice, not the last choice. With America now embroiled in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, neither of which are not going well, one has to worry about John McCain's desire to "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran".

John McCain continues to repeat the refrain, "I know how to win wars". It's time for serious reporters to ask him, "You have served your country honorably, Sir, but exactly which wars have you won?"

Comments

[PumaAnn]

He called for extra troops to Iraq when it wasn't popular, stuck to his vote even under pressure, and the move was the right one. Therefore, he gets bragging rights now.

[JohnDewey]

Eric Shinseki deserves bragging rights, as do a whole host of others. Richard Clarke, Joe Wilson, Howard Dean, Al Gore, Dennis Kucinich, Paul Wellstone, etcetera, etcetera. There were many who opposed the war and/or its conduct publically, and at considerable risk to their professional and personal lives.

John McCain is not on that list. His blood lust combined with his self-serving greed for power have placed him on the wrong side of virtually every issue for forty years or more.

[BBackSoon]

So after 6 years of a horribly run war, that he fully supported, they finally decided to put more troops into Bagdad like the earlier Generals wanted all along and you say he should get to brag about that? What about all the backing for the stupid decisions that he backed prior to the all glorious surge? What about the fact that we went to war on a pack of lies? What about the fact that we are hemorrhaging money and people are getting rich off of this war?

Now on a more somber note what about the troops? I am not talking about magnetic ribbons on the back of the SUV or flag pins, but real tangible support. You know like voting for monies that will help to supply troops in the field or to care for them when they come home. He has voted against almost every bill that has tried to help the troops.

So back to your comment, we should all pat Pappy McSame on the back because he sent more troops into harms way but won"t support them when they need his help.

Nope, he does not get to brag.

[FairandBalanced08]

I have a better question

1. Have any of your positions on the issues changed since your run for President in 2000?

[UncleOwen]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever read this article on the BBC website?http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7459946.stm
It's an interview with Mr. Duyet, who was in charge in Hanoi's POW prison. You would think you would see or hear anything about his statements in this article:

Question: "So is Mr Duyet implying that that Senator McCain lied about his treatment at the Hanoi Hilton?"
Mr. Duyet's answer: "He did not tell the truth," he says. "But I can somehow sympathise with him. He lies to American voters in order to get their support for his presidential election."

[4real]

Interesting article. I wonder if this were Obama and these same comments were made if the media would investigate this or not.

[demfriend]

John McCain spent the time during the only war he has served in, in the Hanoi Hilton and somehow he has magically acquired the knowledge to win a war of any kind? He wasn't in cahrge even of the airplane he was in that got shot down. He likes to tell peple he was on his way to admiral or some such rank when he got out but he was at the bottom or as clos to it as you can get and still graduate from the Naval Academy and he thinks he has grown brain cells since? After the train wreck we have had this time in the aministration I would hope we would have someone smart enough to know the countries on the planet and where they are. Also the daily gaffes and lies that show the poor quality of person who has either lost the mind they once had or have hidden the ignorance they hold for many years. MSM doesn't ask Mac questions that require an answer as he avoids the question and answers whatever he feels like and now it's all nasty idiotic attacks on Obama to deflect from his not being able to answer the question or to get the dig in.

[Insearchoftruth]

The question is on point! Combine this with the Commander in Chief of Iraq self acclaimed ability to "know" the motives and thinking of others (eg. Maliki, Obama) you have a dangerous combination. One that is more likely to pursue a war of choice.

[Syco]

Johnny Boy can say whatever he wants without backing up facts

[margotb822]

Ain't that the truth!

He beggs for media "equality," but he crumbles and whines when the anyone asks him even a reasonable question.

His temperment is not one of a world leader.

[joanndarc]

Why do you still call Vietnam Invasion a War? The same applies to Iraq Invasion. McCain paricipated in illegal war. The question should be asked: "Did McCain commited war crimes?"
Will people ever be held accountable for their actions? And don't blame the system or the government, the both constitute of people without whom crimes could not be commited.

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

To be fair, I don't believe John McCain has ever claimed to have won a war. He has simply stated that he knows how to win wars. They are not equivalent (especially considering that not many have the opportunity to win a war). Just like when he'll claim (as well as Barack Obama) that he knows how to be commander-in-chief. Are you going to ask "When have you ever been commander-in-chief?"

[mmogu77]

McCain uses his experience as a pilot in Vietnam, a war America lost, to back up his claim that he knows how to win wars. So yes, it's fair to ask McCain what wars he was won

[MPeter]

Yes, he did. The interview can be found here, both audio and visual:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/15/politics/main4263332.shtml

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

I couldn't pick out where McCain said he had won a war. Can you give me the quote?

[RedKnuckles]

If I said, "I know how to drive cars" and had never driven one before, but only imagined it, would you let me hop behind the wheel of your car for a spin? BTW, neither candidate has said they know how to be commander-in-chief, they have only said they are prepared, would make a good one, etc. McCain is simply trying to overpad his resume. So yes, let's be fair.

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

So you don't see a difference between stating "I know how to drive cars" and "I have driven cars"? I agree that one would most likely assume the latter based on the former, but they are technically different. And driving a car is a lot more common than being in charge of fighting a war. So I wouldn't immediately assume that the statement "I know how to win wars" indicates an individual has won a war.

My claim about commander-in-chief was about the claim they'll make in the future (more or less) just like every presidential candidate. It's on the check-list after "Be shown enjoying a beer."

[grendl]

Who are we in a war with again?

Evildoers everywhere? Those who hate America? Muslims? Shi'ih, Sunni, Hezbollah? Iran? Democrats? The Joker?

Bush said we'll know we've won when we win. Somewhere Joseph Heller is spinning in his grave, or urn.

Why doesn't Mr. Obama ask Mr. McCain what constitutes a win in Iraq? The Senator from Arizona seems to forget that the point of our being in Iraq is to deliver self determination to the Iraqi people, and has turned a deaf ear to their elected leaders concurrence with the 16 month exit timetable set forth by Barack. ( after the WMD, and toppling of a dictator arguments disappeared )

And Senator McCain spent most of Viet Nam in a prison cell. Isn't that the international symbol for a soldier's failure in the field? Somewhere in his twisted mind, Mr. McCain has altered the definition of victory in war. Outlasting the enemy, enduring years of violence, all are well and good entrenched against an enemy like Germany, but what are we digging in for? Who are we outlasting?

[Frenchy9]

You could not be more correct.

Please refer to recent report of bias media of the The Center for Media and Public Affairs mention in this
website.

Will it be possible to make a COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTARY, with video clips of the media as evidence and commentary exposing the often insidious media bias?
Thanks.

[MPeter]

Here is an exact quote that Couric failed to follow up on:
McCain added: "I know how to win wars. And if I'm elected president, I will turn around the war in Afghanistan, just as we have turned around the war in Iraq, with a comprehensive strategy for victory."

[oldpotsmuggler]

We left Viet Nam. To have stayed any loger would have been a defeat of everything we stand for as a country. Given our principles, the only honorable thing for us to do was to leave. The only practical thing for us to do was that as well. The people, by then, had risen up and demanded the government to facilitate the national will. That aspect, then, was a victory of enormous magnitude, even something unequaled in the annals of human history.

To some, that will look like a defeat. To others it is not something capable of being categorized in such simplistic terms.