McCain On When Troops Can Come Home From Iraq: "That’s Not Too Important"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In an interview on NBC’s Today Show, host Matt Lauer asked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) about his support for the war in Iraq.

...

Q: A lot of people now say the surge is working.

McCAIN: Anyone who knows the facts on the ground say that.

Q: If it’s working, senator, do you now have a better estimate of when American forces can come home from Iraq?

McCAIN:

No, but that’s not too important.

What’s important is the casualties in Iraq. Americans are in South Korea. Americans are in Japan. American troops are in Germany. That’s all fine.

...

McCain’s comments reflect a deep misunderstanding of the priorities of the public. Sixty-eight percent of Americans oppose the war; 62 percent believe the next president should "try to end the Iraq war within the next year or two, no matter what."

But the comments aren’t surprising, given that McCain has supported keeping troops in Iraq for 100 to a million years. Earlier this week, McCain pledged to send an unlimited number of troops to Iraq:

Q: Will your support be there for however many U.S. troops are required?

McCAIN: Yes, and the fact is we are winning in Iraq.

For McCain, there is no end in sight in Iraq, but that’s "not too important" to him.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/11/mccain-iraq-important/

[morocco4ever 63]

What a freaking waste of lives and money. Perhaps he should go there and we can tell his wife that it isn't important when we bring him back.

[Nagishkaw 510]

I would like to award him a lavender heart.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It is amazing how much speculation and criticism can be drawn from a single sentence.

[GaryC 7]

It is amazing how much speculation and criticism can be drawn from a single sentence.

That is a true statement. He is saying that as long as our people are not getting killed or hurt then it isn't important when the last one leaves. This has worked in Germany and Japan for a long time. It made a stable area that is now peacefully and wealthy. What the hell is wrong with that? All these guys want to do is find reasons to surrender. What happens afterwards makes no difference to them at all.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Nothing really. I don't agree with the war, as you know, but I think McCain's view is the more pragmatic one, rather than simply telling people what they want to hear, as Clinton and Obama have done.

My personal view is that none of the candidates should be making advance promises in regards to Iraq - other than to comprehensively review the situation once they are elected. The obvious flaw in the current thinking is that their views are based on the situation as it is now, it could be a lot different by the time they come into office.

Making promises you can't keep is old hat.

[Jack and Barbara 0]

Q: Will your support be there for however many U.S. troops are required?

McCAIN: Yes, and the fact is we are winning in Iraq.

Does anyone have a problem with the latter quote besides me?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Q: Will your support be there for however many U.S. troops are required?

McCAIN: Yes, and the fact is we are winning in Iraq.

Does anyone have a problem with the latter quote besides me?

That aspect of things is in some question. The surge is only part of the picture - we can pat ourselves on the back for that, but there's a lot more to it to guarantee the kind of "victory" we're looking for.

I'm honestly not sure if we can delivery on all of it, in fact I rather doubt it.

[Sinergy 3]

It is amazing how much speculation and criticism can be drawn from a single sentence.

That is a true statement. He is saying that as long as our people are not getting killed or hurt then it isn't important when the last one leaves. This has worked in Germany and Japan for a long time. It made a stable area that is now peacefully and wealthy. What the hell is wrong with that? All these guys want to do is find reasons to surrender. What happens afterwards makes no difference to them at all.

Uh the difference between Germany, and Japan and Korea, and IRAQ, is there isnt a war going on in Germany, Japan or Korea

[mawilson 2,133]

What a freaking waste of lives and money. Perhaps he should go there and we can tell his wife that it isn't important when we bring him back.

He has already done his time, Morocco.

Q: Will your support be there for however many U.S. troops are required?

McCAIN: Yes, and the fact is we are winning in Iraq.

Does anyone have a problem with the latter quote besides me?

You have a problem with winning?

[nivesito 0]

You can't compare having troops in Germany and in Iraq, everybody loves to be in Germany and wants to be in Germany. I don't think that's a case with Iraq.

[GaryC 7]

You can't compare having troops in Germany and in Iraq, everybody loves to be in Germany and wants to be in Germany. I don't think that's a case with Iraq.

If you could have seen Germany after the war you wouldn't be saying that.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Uh the difference between Germany, and Japan and Korea, and IRAQ, is there isnt a war going on in Germany, Japan or Korea

tell that to the guys on the border between north and south korea.........

[Sinergy 3]

Uh the difference between Germany, and Japan and Korea, and IRAQ, is there isnt a war going on in Germany, Japan or Korea

tell that to the guys on the border between north and south korea.........

ooooooooook, well the bold only Korea

i restate : there is no war in germany or japan then

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

bump