If he had anything like the campaign cash Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton have, John McCain could be on the airwaves right now making sure voters know he didn't mean to endorse a 100-year war in Iraq.
But he doesn't have the cash, which leaves the airwaves to the Democratic National Committee and MoveOn.org, which are running ads blasting him for what was an easily miscontrued remark he made in January when he answered a question about whether U.S. troops could be in Iraq 50 years.
"Make it 100," McCain responded. "As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, that'd be fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al Qaeda is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."
The DNC and MoveOn.org say that shows McCain wants 100 years of military engagement — and hint that could mean 100 years of war. McCain says it's a "falsification," and says he envisioned a troop deployment similar to South Korea, where the U.S. still has troops more than 50 years after the Korean war.
Without money, McCain is left to argue his case to reporters — and hope that the voters who are seeing the attack commercials are also reading his defense in the papers. It's probably not a good bet.
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (8)
For those that want to believe a 100 year war, the statement is there, even if it is out context. For those that have a grasp on reality, the Korean War paradigm is there, within context. At this part of the election cycle, candidates seem to be building public trust. He's better off now to let his integrity ride until the question comes out with the Democrat candidate.
Posted by Larry Stone | May 3, 2008 2:13 PM
Exactly when are the "terrorists" over in Iraq going to stop trying to kill American troops? Is McCain senile enough to think that at some point in the next "100 years" an American presence in Iraq will be welcome? The level of self delusion here is almost unbelievable. Senator McCain's ineptitude on foreign policy is absolutely jaw dropping. Of course, this is the same guy who confuses Sunnis and Shiites every time he tries to demonstrate his "expertise" on the invasion in Iraq.
Posted by Terry Tyrka | May 3, 2008 4:48 PM
The problem for McCain isn't the number "100," It is the delusion that Iraq will comply with the Korean model of long-trm, sustainable, and peaceful occupation. For McCain to fail to understand the difference between the military situation in Iraq and Korea is almost as disconcerting as his inability to correctly separate Chia and Sunnis.
Posted by Kent | May 3, 2008 7:44 PM
I assume the no impact results of precipitous withdrawal are not delusional? A "jaw dropping" foreign policy is one without a risk management plan i.e. no contingencies in case the worst case scenario in Iraq does evolve. Looking at NATO's effectiveness in Afghanistan, don't expect anything better with a Democrat presidential emphasis there.
Posted by Larry Stone | May 4, 2008 10:44 AM
To Larry Stone:
Terrorists will never stop trying to kill Americans. That is why when asked about 50 years, he said to "make it 100". The point is that he is using Korea as an example, not as a plan or outline for Iraq. What happens in Iraq is not to be decided in one fell swoop, but rather something that will be managed on a day by day basis.
As for his "confusion" on the Sunnis and Shiites... "every time" is a straight lie. He has mistaken the two once, and then apologized for it. You appear to be just like MoveOn.org. An extremist willing to take any and every little comment and SPIN it however you can.
Well I'm not going to sit back and let terrorists attack us. And at 3 am, I want McCain as president, because even Al Qaeda has said if we leave Iraq, they will find a way to attack us, and our allies.
Posted by Eddie | May 5, 2008 11:46 AM
Larry Stone obviously believes a group that can't run a presidential campaign would be better suited to running the country than McCain. This is the same group that claimed the elections were stolen in 2000 and 2004, and now are crying amongst themselves trying to say one or the other is trying to steal the democratic nomination. Hillary is a loon, who thinks the world will bow at her feet, and Obama has yet to say with substance what he would do to correct anything short of raising taxes and attacking the very institution this country is built on i.e. Capitalism. Both feel the answer is more govenment, less freedom unless you fall into that elite category, and redistribution of wealth from anyone that has worked and accumulated it to those that haven't done squat. I will take McCain any day over the bunch of fruitcakes that are running on the Dems side.
Posted by EddieB | May 6, 2008 2:48 PM
McCain is out of touch... listen to him he sounds like a old man and his audience seem to the older folks.
I await the first debate to see him stand next to Obama and the sight of change will be in your face.
Black man - white man
Young man - old man
Democrat - Republican
end war - 100 years if necessary
etc..
Posted by rlp-politcal | May 7, 2008 9:36 AM
McCain is not out of touch. He knows war on a first hand basis and he knows what happens if leaders make bad decisions. He also knows that nothing goes as planned in war and good leaders better have contingency plans. The Democrat precipitous withdrawal plan leaves NO contingencies for a worst case scenario. The Democrat plan is 100% reactive with regard to terrorism and based on consensus (diplomacy). McCains plan is proactive and fights terrorism on their home grounds and based on risk. With General Petraeus in the leadership role, that risk is reduced significantly, but not eliminated. Our decision therefore becomes reactive consensus or proactive risk management and our ability to endure either decision. Don't read anything more into it.
Posted by Larry Stone | May 8, 2008 11:54 AM