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McCain 100 Years in Iraq 1/3/2008

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DemRapidResponse
February 27, 2008

E.H.: I want to say at the outset I'm not going to be voting for you. I'm going to be voting in the Democratic primary in order to defeat the senator from new york, who I refer to as a Joe Lieberman Democrat. I have listened to Hillary Clinton say probably a hundred times that she will end the war and I've heard you say we can't leave Iraq. In both cases I think the devil's in the details. I looked at your Web site; I read everything on your web site today and I couldn't find any answers to my questions. What I would like to know is, I've heard you say a million times all the reasons why we can't leave Iraq. But I've never heard you say what it is you hope to accomplish in Iraq and how long it's going to take. Mr. McCain: Yes, sir, and thank you for coming tonight and thank you for your frankness and candor. ... This is the classic counterinsurgency we're engaged in right now. This is not a new strategy, General Petraeus has updated it, but the fact is it's a classic counterinsurgency. And you have to get areas under a secure environment and that secure environment then allows the economic political and social process to move forward. ... In case you missed it, on New Year's Eve, people were out in the streets in Baghdad by the thousands for the first time in years. That's because we provided them with a safe and secure environment. Is it totally safe? No. I talked earlier about the suicide bombs and the continued threats. And then what happens is American troops withdraw and they withdraw to bases and then they eventually withdraw, or we reach an arrangement like we have in South Korea, with Japan. We still have troops in Bosnia. But the fact is it's American casualties that the American people care about and those casualties are on the way down rather dramatically. And the option, and I'll say this again because you've got to consider the option. If we had withdrawn six months ago, I'd look you in the eye and tell you Al Queda would have said we beat the United States of America. If we'd gone along with Harry Reid and said the war was lost to Al Queda, then we would be fighting that battle all over the Middle East, and I am convinced of that and so is General Petraeus as well as others. So I can tell you that it's going to be long and hard and tough. I can tell you the option of defeat is incredible and horrendous. And I can tell you and look you in the eye and tell you that this strategy is succeeding. And what we care about is not American presence, we care about American casualties and those casualties I believe will be dramatically and continue to be reduced. Please follow up. E.H.: I do not believe that one U.S. soldier being killed almost every day is success. There were three U.S. soldiers killed today. I want to know how long are we going to be there? Are you are you ... Mr. McCain: How long do you want us to be in South Korea? How long do you want to be in Bosnia? E.H. There's no fighting going on in South Korea. Let's not talk about South Korea. Let's come back to Iraq. Mr. McCain: Thank you sir, and I can look you in the eye and tell you that those casualties tragically continue as I made very clear in my opening remarks. But they are much less and we will eventually eliminate them. And again the option of setting a date for withdrawal is a date for surrender and we would then have many more casualties and many more American sacrifice, if we withdraw with setting a date for surrender. Now you and I have an honest open disagreement, but I can tell you six months ago that people like you who believe like you said the surge would never succeed. And it is succeeding. And I've been there and I have seen it with my very own eyes. E.H.: President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years --- Mr. McCain: Maybe a hundred. We've been in South Korea, we've been in japan for 60 years. We've been in South Korea for 50 years or so. That'd be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed. Then it's fine with me, I hope it would be fine with you if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where Al Queda is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day.

[New York Times, 1/11/08, http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/20... ]

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666satanification666 (3 months ago) Show Hide

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I'm quite impressed actually, I expected him to be rather more stupid sounding, but he did a fairly good job of explaining that. Can't imagine Bush putting together an explanation like that.

cmonty123456 (11 months ago) Show Hide

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The US hasn't taken any oil from Iraq while we've had combat troops there, and we wont take any until they're all gone

Sooother (1 year ago) Show Hide

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Why do so many , have so much hatred for either canidate? McCain,, I'm sure is a good man. He is sincere in his beliefs,and is unjustly painted as a war monger..The Minions are easily influenced by media, and now seem to miraculously know the man..You have no idea. You are to blinded by ignorance and hate. Obama,, He is also sincere in his beliefs, and a good man..
To me though he seems like a slick politician.
Great at it,,
I'm not sure if thats the best choice,,
Good luck America º¿*

djm9854 (1 year ago) Show Hide

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seriously, McCain is no idiot. He's smart beacause he had a chance to be a president. but you probly know that.

Nazkerr (1 year ago) Show Hide

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How many people have we TODAY alone in america due to drug murder? murder's from physco's, gangs, no reason killings? alot more then 3 a day. YES its a tragady weve lost around 3500 in IRAQ but we loose more aday on our own land! Not to mention we lost 40,000 ON DAY 1 at the beaches or Normady And I find it funny when the dems said in 06 they WOULD pull us outa IRAQ if they won the house/senate... were still there. fuck obama and his socialist lies. open your ears dumb fucks and pay attention..

slfb78 (1 year ago) Show Hide

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The man is CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (McCain)

amy1980marie (1 year ago) Show Hide

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Let go ahead and elect another War President with a chip on his shoulder...lets continue killing innocent Iraqi women and children and losing the lives of our own people. We don't even belong there...where is Bin Laden??? What are we fighting for? You see and read whats going on overseas and its heart wrenching. I sure hope no one comes here and treats my kids the way we have treated the children of Iraq. If McCain is elected God help us all..... I will move to Mexico or Canada OBAMA 2008!!!!!

wnxsystem (1 year ago) Show Hide

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i agree amy!

he mentioned Al Queda a few times, but hang on.... Afghanistan is the taliban/Al queda HQ... we had them on the run then suddenly "we must bomb iraq"... what?! if this keeps up there will be no american army left! And how many billions of dollars r being spent for this war? he's worried about iraqi civilians... what about africa then? oh wait thats right... no oil there...

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osusauckes (1 year ago) Show Hide

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simple minded people, he said "as long as the troops are safe" get some brains you fucking morons.

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McCain 100 Years in Iraq 1/3/2008

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