McCain says he must convince country Iraq policy is working

[Algorem]

Source: AP

2/25/2008, 3:25 p.m. EST
By LIZ SIDOTI
The Associated Press

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (AP) — John McCain said Monday that to win the White House he must convince a war-weary country that U.S. policy in Iraq is succeeding. If he can't, "then I lose. I lose," the Republican said.

He quickly backed off that remark.

"Let me not put it that stark," the likely GOP nominee told reporters on his campaign bus. "Let me just put it this way: Americans will judge my candidacy first and foremost on how they believe I can lead the county both from our economy and for national security. Obviously, Iraq will play a role in their judgment of my ability to handle national security."


"If I may, I'd like to retract 'I'll lose.' But I don't think there's any doubt that how they judge Iraq will have a direct relation to their judgment of me, my support of the surge," McCain added. "Clearly, I am tied to it to a large degree."...



Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-2/120396332574050.xml&storylist=cleveland

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McCain vows to fight terrorists, chase bin Laden to the "gates of hell"

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/02/mccain_vows_to_fight_terrorist.html

Posted by Leila Atassi February 25, 2008 12:54PM
Categories: Presidential candidates, Republican Party

Sen. John McCain vowed this morning before several hundred supporters in Rocky River that if elected president he will work to defeat what he called "the great transcendent evil of the 2lst century, more widespread than it was before 9/11."...


"If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden," McCain said to thunderous applause.

Although reaffirming his support of the current strategy in Iraq, McCain said that Democrats have distorted his comments, saying that the United States would maintain a permanent presence in the country for the next 100 years. The Republican presidential hopeful clarified that his goal is for U.S. troops to take up a supportive role in fighting insurgents, with Iraqi forces taking a more prominent role...





"The war will be over soon," McCain promised. "The insurgency will go on for years and years, but it will be handled by Iraq."...

[LSparkle]

1. It may be working, but for the WRONG reasons ...

We're paying the "Daylight Brigades" or whatever they're called (the Sunnis in Anbar Province who are now helping us against "al Qaeda"), and the drop is violence is also due to a great extent to the cease fire called by Muqtada al-Sadr (which was just extended for another 6 months). Had Sadr NOT extended the cease fire, we would have seen how well our policy is REALLY working ...

[saigon68]

9. Unbelievable

Everyone on the ground ----Black-water, Sunnis, Halliburton Shiites and other assorted mercenaries have their hands in the US Taxpayers wallet.

LOL

[JaneQPublic]

2. Muqtada al-Sadr's Cease Fire ends in August

I'd certianly hope that he and his militia never again return to their killing spree. However, the facts are what they are: if his cease-fire ends in August, the reality is that McCain will have little to crow about regarding the direction the Iraq War is taking.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Here's his problem--he can't adequately explain to the American people why

a war that was based on a giant mistake (or lie) should continue indefinitely--after 5 YEARS of it, and billions, and so much blood, and so much strain on our troops and our families. What's in it for us? We're just not afraid that they're going to "follow us home", and most of us don't want to see Americans die because Iraqis don't get along with each other. There's simply no compelling national security argument for keeping 100,000+ troops there indefinitely, and as for the oil and the embassy and the permanent bases...someone's going to have to come clean on that.

[grytpype]

4. Well, 70% think it's not working.

I've always though the general election would be about Iraq.

70% of the country wants to start winding down the war NOW. We don't want to wait 100 years for the Iraqis to learn to be goddamn human beings. They're screwed. Too bad for them, but that's the way it is.

[Harry Monroe]

5. Good luck with that McCain!!

A little remorseful now that reality is setting in?? If you're gonna base your campaign on victory in Iraq, you lose!!

[King Coal]

6. Figure out how to lie better?

[wiggs]

7. The faithful have always maintained that the Iraq problem is merely a communications

issue and that the case for Iraq hasn't been made strongly enough by the WH.

More of the same.

[MadMaddie]

8. Kinda like trying to convince us that if we would have stayed

in Vietnam the US would have won.

I am starting to think the lives lost during Vietnam weren't enough for these war mongering Republicans they want to sacrifice more to their failed policies.

[cliss]

10. Well that's certainly driving in the

coffin nails.


Reality sets in.
Mc Cain seems to realize he's in a no-win position.
He himself said that he wants us "to be in Iraq for 100 years".
If he can't, "then I lose. I lose,"

Keep talking, John.