It was quite remarkable that as news broke this morning that Sen. John McCain's top two presidential campaign strategists were resigning, the Arizona Republican was on the Senate floor defending the only more beleaguered politician in America -- President Bush.
Mr. McCain just returned from Iraq, and he was speaking in the Senate in support of keeping U.S. troops there to sustain Mr. Bush's surge of about 30,000 U.S. troops.
Mr. McCain looked very, very tired as he spoke, and even alluded to his weariness.
"I know that senators are tired of this war, tired of the mounting death toll, the many mistakes we have made [in Iraq]," Mr. McCain said.
"I understand this fatigue," he said, but added that "we cannot let fatigue dictate our policies."
As news of his presidential campaign's apparent implosion was broadcast on CNN, Mr. McCain questioned "whether America still has the political courage to fight for victory, or whether we will settle for defeat."
"If we simply pack up and leave, the war doesn't end. It gets harder," Mr. McCain said. "If I knew a great option as to how we can preserver our nation's security and withdraw ... I would embrace it tomorrow."
-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times
Comments (1)
John McCain's Presidential asperations are dead after his support for "Shamnesty". He has lost all credibility with Republicans. Every conservative Republican I know would rather see Hilary in the White House than McCain. As far as Iraq is concerned, the best case we can hope for is that they become a proxy for Iran that is governed by Sharia Law. That is what we have fought for and staying there will not change that. We have not lost, the Iraqi people have and it is they who will have to bear the burden of that failure. It should not be us. We provided them a chance for freedom but they have failed to seize that historic opportunity. They continue to choose their long standing devisions over seeking reconciliation and progress!
The only way we should continue to stay in Iraq (other than a few military bases) is if we devide the country into a loose confederation. That is the only way to avoid the coming civil war.
Posted by bjustice | July 11, 2007 6:56 AM