Woodward: McCain cheered Iraq war in public, but privately feared it lost

[sabra]

Source: StarTrib/Wash Post

A new book by the Washington Post's Bob Woodward portrays John McCain as offering a rosy assessment to the public about the progress of the troop "surge" in Iraq while privately telling U.S. officials he thought they were on the brink of losing the war.

The book, "The War Within," describes a McCain news conference after visiting the Shorja market in Baghdad in April 2007.

After touring the market, where he was protected by more than 100 soldiers, McCain said, "Things are getting better in Iraq, and I am pleased with the progress that has been made."

...

According to Woodward, McCain was invited to visit with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after he publicly made the positive comments at the market.

"Rice had expected him to reiterate his optimism, but after some pleasantries, he let loose," Woodward writes.

"We may be about to lose the second war in my lifetime," Woodward quotes McCain as saying to Rice.


Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/28376814.html

[tekisui]

1. Wait. I want to know which one he considers the first.

All I've heard from him is "I know how to win a war"

[brainy1]

2. Woodward?

Woodward? There's a reliable source! <sarcasm off>

[Skittles]

3. so really the headline should read MCCAIN IS A LYING BASTARD

[wordpix]

5. Yeah, Sen. "Straight Talk" is as big a liar as the rest of the BushCo crowd.

I'm so shocked. :sarcasm:

[UTUSN]

4. Well, it's WOODWARD, but I'll K&R this to pinpoint Mc5PLANES n/t

[DallasNE]

6. McCain's Private Assessment In April 2007

3 months after the beginning of the surge was not too far off the mark. Things continued that way until August 2007 when al Sadr, out of the blue, announced an unilateral cease fire. Suddenly, US deaths dropped sharply.

My thoughts have always been that Iran wanted the US out of Iraq and the fastest way for that to happen was to stop targeting American troops so they got their patron al Sadr to announce his ceasefire.

If you don't believe this, come up with another reason for the fighting to fall off so sharply right after al Sadr announced his ceasefire. What else could have happened in August 2007 that would contribute to the quick drop off in the killings.

[wordpix]

7. "PALIN TRIP TO IRAQ IS IN DISPUTE" is 2nd article's title. More lies and deception