It is looking increasingly like John McCain really knows nothing about Iran, despite wanting to bomb them.
Yesterday, in his big non-proliferation speech, McCain took his gaffes to a new level. He actually invented 20 years of negotiations between the United States and Tehran. In his speech, McCain said:
"Today, some people seem to think they've discovered a brand new cause, something no one before them ever thought of. Many believe all we need to do to end the nuclear programs of hostile governments is have our president talk with leaders in Pyongyang and Tehran, as if we haven't tried talking to these governments repeatedly over the past two decades."
McCain has clearly forgotten what Max Bergmann points out: The stated policy of the United States since April 7, 1980 has been that we don't talk to the Iranians. Never has the United States had communications, or tried to have communications, with the Iranian government on their nuclear program. Iran's nuclear communications have been limited to working through the European Union (led by France and Germany, countries John McCain has referred to as "vacuous" and "posturing").
Taken with his other many gaffes on Iran (repeated Sunni/Shia screw up, the use of Khamenei and Ahmajinedad interchangeably) there should be real questions about whether McCain has any knowledge of US-Iranian relations. Given that this one was in his prepared text, it also makes you wonder what his foreign policy team actually knows about Iran. For a man running for President on his foreign policy aptitude such confusion should sound alarm bells.
So to review John McCain's policy toward Iran:
1) He thinks that there is no difference between Sunni and Shia.
2) He thinks that Khamenei and Amajenadad are the same.
3) He thinks we've been talking to them for 20 years.
4) He thinks we should "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran."
Three of his stated beliefs are simply false. The fourth is simply reckless and is a clear display that John McCain is more extreme than Bush on the issue conservatives would like you to believe is the biggest threat facing America today.
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Where does McCain stand on the Dunkin Donuts TV spot that got pulled because..(I can't even say it)?
I'm concerned, because along with my current mortgage payments I also can't afford to spend six dollars a cup at Starbucks.
"It is looking increasingly like John McCain really knows nothing about Iran, . . ."
----or anything else.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121193151568724469.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
Based on this article, there have been efforts made over the last three decades, so maybe McCain is referring to these rather than making another insane claim.
I can’t believe it that Sen. McCain won’t appear in the public with President Bush but will engage him in private fundraising away from reporters. Hypocrisy is a disease.
Sen. McCain, you can’t run away from President Bush as long as you have Joe Lieberman. He’s President Bush’s political clone.
Courage is said to be “not freedom from fear but the ability to move ahead in the midst of fear.” Senator McCain do you have the political courage to campaign together with President Bush? Yes or No.
Senator McCain, be straight with American people. Are you President Bush or against him? President Bush is beloved in Africa. He is not a political mistress. You can’t distance yourself from him in the public and then use him to raise funds privately. If he’s radio active for your campaign, please leave him alone. You can’t eat your cake and still have it. I thought you’re a, “straight talker!”
Sen. McCain, select Joe Lieberman as your running mate. Since both of you are yet to see any wars that you don’t love. For the rest of us, wars destroy lives, destroy families and sink resources.
Perhaps a leader like Barack Obama who has no previous experience, is better than one such as McCain who seems to have all the wrong experience?
We've been at war in Iraq for longer than we were at war in WWII; spent a trillion dollars; lost over 4,000 of "America’s finest." There isn’t an end in sight and there is talk of expanding into Iran. A resolution on Iran that was exactly the same as the one allowing Bush to invade Iraq was passed by Congress and McCain voted for this measure. Largely because of this war our economy is in the toilet, gas prices are spiraling up, food prices are following them and all the rich people througout the land are making more money than God because not only does this economy favor them and this redistribution of wealth, but GW and now McCain want to cut their taxes more, so they can "reinvest" even more of their income into our national war machine. Our infrastructure is crumbling and McCain thinks a "gas tax holiday" will help.
And, we have articles that point to fact that McCain doesn't know some stuff about Iran and somehow that's going to make the critical difference when a Hillary (or Obama) supporter goes to the poll and says "well, I wasn't going to vote for Obama because Hillary's my candidate, but McCain messed up that Shia thing on Iran, so I'm thinking I'm going with Obama." Sheeeet.
–Arthur M Schlesinger Jr.
http://www.ahmadinejad.ir/
He's all wrapped up in American Idol (okay, I am kidding about that).
Did you hear McCain pronounce Mr. Ahm-a-dinner-jacket's name? He said "Achmadinejad". That's not the same guy, Senator McCain.