What's behind McCain taunting Obama about Iraq visits?

[hexola]

I wonder if they are trying to bait Obama into going over there...for some perceived advantage on their side.

I wonder what the Iraqi reaction would be? - Would THEY want to see him?

Does the GOP want to show that Obama might be popular abroad - even with the "enemy" (and hence re-inforce the "he's a Muslim" notion)

Seems like ANYTHING he would do with the troops would be staged - and be of little advantage.

If Obama did go to Iraq - would HE be greeted as a Liberator...?

[mucifer]

1. last I heard the troops donate more to Obama than mccain.

I suppose that could have changed.

[Coexist]

14. yup - here:

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/05/military-donations/

[wmbrew0206]

15. That is from Feb. It would be intresting to see how the donations are going

now that the two candidates are settled.

[lumpy]

19. The estimate is from 2007 . Military donations-

donations to Ron Paul 212,000
donations to Barack Obama 94,000

[wmbrew0206]

2. Obama hasn't been to Iraq since Jan 2006

A lot has changed in Iraq right now and Republicans think that this will be a winning issue for McCain.

Obama has campaign on pulling the troops out once he is in. McCain wants to keep the troops there with no timeline for a withdraw. So, here are the three ways they will play it:

1. Things in Iraq are getting better and if Obama acknowledges this and still wants to pull out the troops, then McCain will start asking "If things are going well, why do you want to pull out the troops?"

2. If Obama acknowledges things are getting better and agrees to keep the troops in without a timeline for withdraw, then McCain will start hammering him as a "Flip flopper" and "...he was wrong on his original position.

3. If Obama doesn't acknowledge things are getting better, then it will be "His judgment is clearly poor because he can't see the progress that our troops have made."

4. Obama refuses to go, then he doesn't support the troops and isn't willing to go see the facts on the ground.


McCain has tied himself to the Gen. Petraeus and the Surge, so the republicans think that he might as well double down on the issue.

[Tippy]

17. If Obama takes the offer he will get the grand tour....

He will see what they want him to see....and nothing else...At this point he is dammed if he does and dammed if he don't...All this talk about things being better over there...we heard it before I lost count how many times...my bet is the insurgents, anger will show it's ugly head again. I am against all politicians going to Iraq any time. For one it's not safe secondly our military is doing it's job and every time a politician or some such shows up it puts the troops in more danger...they are there to do a job and I really don't think they like being paraded around by the same folks who started this mess...

The cost to the taxpayer is outragious...that money could be better spent on things the troops need...If congress critter feels the need to go see for themselves what is going on, fine than go...but pay your own dam way and take your own security people. We know this is all for show...another great big photo opp....It means absolutely nothing it serves no purpose other than stroking their ego's because they will only be shown what the Brass want them to see.

[katsy]

3. They can control his audience (troops) - only pukes need apply.

Since he loves Iraq so, maybe mccain should volunteer to perform community service in Iraq (for a few or 10 years)) after he loses the election.

[mucifer]

5. mccain just loves to go to Iraq for the shopping.

[wmbrew0206]

6. You can get a lot of nice rugs at bargin prices...

*

[katsy]

22. Yes. And cindy mccain can build a house there

and she could buy tons of $5 rugs to decorate it.

Actually, mccain would probably feel at home there and would fit right in. No one would think his calling his wife a trollop and c _ _ t perverted.

[Onlooker]

4. Obama should go, but not with McCain

I think he'd be given a hero's welcome by the troops, many of whom are sick of the war. I think our Iraqi puppets would display courtesy, if only to get some leverage should he win the WH.

[hexola]

8. Could Obama venture out and interact somehow with "the Iraqi People"?

If you put Obama out there with some real mid-easterners would he seem more American? (not that he needs to seem more American - but might make point to some of the haters.) Would he be a rock star?

Could a popular leader could change the character of the war?

[mucifer]

9. I think a president with the middle name Hussein might open a few minds.

But, who knows.

[hexola]

10. ...or piss Iraqis off or freak them out...

I forgot about that...

Being named Hussien might be even WORSE for him over there than here!

[wmbrew0206]

12. Yes, Obama could go out and interact with the Iraqis

On almost every VIP trip, the VIP is given a Personal Security Detail (PSD) and air cover and they are taken out to a market to meet local Iraqis.

In all likelyhood, if Obama goes, we'll be taken to Ramadi and they'll go to some of the markets in the city. Ramadi is the place that VIPs get taken to show the difference since the surge started.

[flpoljunkie]

7. McCain's bizarre comments over the Memorial Day weekend on Iraq. What was he thinking?

“Our defeat in Iraq would be catastrophic, not just for Iraq, but for us,” he said. “I cannot be complicit in it. I will do whatever I can, whether I am effective or not, to help avert it.”

[Vinca]

11. I think Obama should take him up on it. He would make it obvious

to everyone that the world is receptive to him. In addition, he could blow McCain's cover that Iraq is so safe you can stroll the streets at will. I picture them walking through McCain's market. Obama could point out the 12 helicopters, 300 bodyguards and bulletproof vests. The contrast between young, vibrant Obama and John "I should be playing shuffleboard" McCain would be startling.

[wmbrew0206]

13. To which the military will reply, "Of course there is. We have to provide

this type of security for the two candidates for President."

A normal USSS POTUS security detail is about the same size.

[dascientist]

16. 12 helicopters and 300 bodyguards is "normal"?

.......

[slinkerwink]

18. It's just a desperate ploy.

[zeemike]

20. It would be a perfect place to bump him off

They could blame it on the terrorist and it would be easy to arrange with such a military presence.
If I were his adviser I would absolutely refuse to allow it. Even if they did not want to kill him they could destroy him in so many ways.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. The first thing I thought of was perhaps McCain setting Obama up to get shot n/t

[butterfly77]

23. I have been waiting to hear this from them for months...

I don't trust them...