McCain in the dark over Maliki's actions: Yet another foreign policy 'Gaffe'
By John Amato Monday Mar 31, 2008 12:01pm
(h/t Heather) For a man who predicates his whole candidacy on foreign policy and the Iraq war, he certainly doesn't have a clue what the Iraqi government is doing even after he went to Iraq and spoke with Maliki right before the Basra assault took place. How embarrassing for him.
McCain was asked if the Basra campaign had backfired, he said: “Apparently it was Sadr who asked for the ceasefire, declared a ceasefire. It wasn’t Maliki. Very rarely do I see the winning side declare a ceasefire. So we’ll see.’’
Olbermann fills in St. McCain (or should we call him McGaffe) on his newest Iraq blunder via McClatchy:
Keith: that Sadr had only called for the ceasefire after members of Maliki's government askedSadr to do so in a during a secret trip to meet with Sadr in Iran.---making McCain wrong about the facts on his signature issue, making Sadr not Maliki the victor in this conflict by McCain's own reasoning. And making Iran and not McCain and not the US the mediator of choice for Iraq's two top Shi'a factions. The Maliki government and the Sadrists.
And this is even worse news for Maliki's government:
Iraqi lawmakers traveled to the Iranian holy city of Qom over the weekend to win the support of the commander of Iran's Qods brigades in persuading Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr to order his followers to stop military operations, members of the Iraqi parliament said.
The Qom discussions may or may not bring an end to the fighting but they almost certainly have undermined Maliki - who made repeated declarations that there would be no negotiations and that he would treat as outlaws those who did not turn in their weapons for cash. The blow to his own credibility was worsened by the fact that members of his own party had helped organize the Iran initiative...
Read the whole article so you'll be more informed than McCain.
Login or Register to post comments.
Oh Keith. You know what he meant.
McCain's eyes aren't what they used to be.
could this man be any more clueless? honestly, if it wasn't for lieberman whispering the correct answer in his ear, i don't know that mccain could tell you what year it is.
Yet the wingnuts feel more secure with Insane McCain within reach of the trigger. I guess they just adore a leader that hasn't got a clue what's going on
http://www.freakingnews.com/John-McCain-Pictures-33530.asp
And this doddering old codger is supposed to be the "serious candidate" with national security credentials? This is a joke. He should just step down and admit he doesn't know WTF he's talking about. Tweety said McCain deserves to be president, I wouldn't elect McCain to be dog catcher.
He needs to just go pick strawberries.
Quoth McCain, "Very rarely do I see the winning side declare a ceasefire".
Funny because the winning side pretty rarely fails to assault their objectives (in this case supply lines for Sadr's people) and yet the combined military power of the US, UK, and Maliki's troops were unable to cut Sadr's supply lines into Basra.
MSM, oh MSM where are you?
chalk another one up in mccain's 'gaffe' column.
of course the entire GOP, a lot of dems and the majority of the msm continually mislead about the sadr/maliki conflict. they repeat maliki's claims that "iraqi forces are attacking outlaws," when this is obviously not an accurate statement. one could say it is a lie. and its given legs everytime the msm spins the shi'a civil war.
i don't think i have ever heard it reported in the msm the fact that bush has sided with the dawa party in the civil war.
oh yeah, chalk another one up in iran's 'win' column, too.
Pay attention to how McCain looks and speaks. You might conclude that the fire is out on this prompter-readeing senile.
Some progressives actually fear this mindless, forgetful, old fool. John McCain is simply a hopeless right wing alternative candidate to the "woman" or "the black guy". If this nation elects McCain to POTUS, then we deserve the convoluted hell his mentally unfit ass promises to give us.
Brought to you by Americas favorite Bankrupt News Source.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=MNI&t=5y
“Very rarely do I see the winning side declare a ceasefire.”
Hmmmmmmm.
Declare war on a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.
Claim the trillion-dollar war would cost $6 billion.
Declare we would be greeted as 'liberators.'
Declare 'Mission Accomplished' before the war is anywhere near over.
Declare the enemy is in its 'last throes' more than 2,000 U.S. deaths ago.
One would figure the winning side declaring a ceasefire is EXACTLY what McCain would expect.
It's time for Jon Stewart to start mocking McCain mercilessly. No more treating him like an old buddy.
We declared a cease fire at the end of the first Gulf War. It was either Saddam, agree to stop fighting, or we'll destroy you.
He seems to have missed that piece of history.
.
Ohhhh...
The McReason is making me dizzy...
.
DMS @ 14:
Don't think Jon is going to risk destitution.
The Media technique now is to lather up the viewers and suggest, "We'll are you just going to sit there? Or are you going to do something?"
Of course no one is going to do anything thats a given.
But I bet if McCain had bowled a bad game, it would be all over the news.
When McCain makes gaffes like this I think it shows his age more than anything. He's trying to act like he is on top of everything and at his age, he most likely can't be.
Left&Left @ 11:
But the rest of the world doesnt deserve it. So do us a favour and keep him out of the White House
Left&Left @ 11:
As lazy as we've become as a Country he has a good chance of "taking it" unfortunately.
Both McCain and Cheney were in Iraq and met with Maliki right before the Basra assault and very likely pressured Maliki into going ahead with the Basra fiasco. McCain now needs to put up a smokescreen...and also wipe the egg off his face.
8. Ur-Fascism followers feel humiliated by the force of their enemies.
The followers of Ur-Fascism are convinced that they can overwhelm their enemies. But, by a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus, the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak. Fascist governments are condemned to lose wars because they are constitutionally incapable of objectively evaluating the force of the enemy.
Fourteen Warning Signs of a Fascist State
-by Umberto Eco
Seriously, McCain's got nothing. Convincing 70% of Americans that this wasteful, immoral war was a good thing? Doesn't know much about the economy at this time? An old, absent minded, angry, misinformed Bush apologist? Without fear, misogyny and of course, racism, the "contest" in the fall will almost be unfair.
We also remember "McCain's Media" went dark on McBush fundraiser that was held at Spencer House in London.
...foreign funds into the Republican's presidential campaign.
No wonder Bush disabled the FEC oversight.
Keep a close eye on McCain and "those associates"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/12/153044/479
There is a precedent...
Randy "Duke" Cunningham, is serving a long prison sentence for accepting bribes.
ShouldBeWorking @ 8:
At McCain's latest barbecue, I'd wager.
John McCain is no more able to govern than I am able to fire 155mm HE rounds from my cock.
(Note: For the record, I am not able to fire 155mm HE rounds from my cock.)
Connman @ 21:
Egg McMuffin.
Left&Left @ 22:
It's not a war let's get over that bullsh*t-spin now.
It's an occupation-racket plain and simple. There was an article about Married Military Couples living together in Iraq yesterday. Wow come on down! Married Couples welcome!
Now, name me one WAR where troops went out and fought the enemy, then came back to base and play video games, and stuff themselves with cheeseburgers, shakes, and fries? Take a shower and get ready to go back to work the next morning? Plus make $40,000 a year as a first year Private plus enlistment bonus.
I didn't think it was possible but McCain is making Reagan look like one of the "sharper knives" in the GOP drawer. Did he snort glue back in the thirties when he was a teen?
mcCain doesn't give a shit.
neither does the media.
Maliki is nothing more than a puppet stooge and everyone in the world knows it. Credibility? He has none.
Heres John McCain and his doubletalk express.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8TFKXHiefs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogre...
LAConfidential@27 I won't argue with you on whether it is a "war" or not. I'm sure a permanently disabled Iraq "occupation" veteran would disagree with you.
Where's the MSM on this?
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Independent truckers around the country pulled their rigs off the road and others slowed to a crawl on major highways in a loosely organized protest of high fuel prices.
Some truckers, on CB radios and trucking Web sites, had called for a strike Tuesday to protest the high cost of diesel fuel, saying the action might pressure President Bush to stabilize prices by using the nation's oil reserves. But the protests were scattered because because major trucking companies were not on board and there did not appear to be any central coordination.
On New Jersey's Turnpike, southbound rigs "as far as the eye can see" were moving at about 20 mph near Newark, said Turnpike Authority spokesman Joe Orlando. Other truckers had gathered at a service area near Newark chanting and protesting.
http://tinyurl.com/ywkopp
Oh, stop it!!
It was just another "senior moment."
Don't you realize that this is acceptable from St McCain? Just ask Brit Hume.
Left&Left @ 32:
I understand fully. Perhaps Wild Wild West would be another term. Where you are on your own and you better be quick with the trigger because everyone is armed to the teeth.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI is targeting major corporate insiders and criminal groups in its investigation of fraud in the mortgage lending industry, agency chief Robert Mueller said on Tuesday.
Ooops. I guess The Eagles won't be performing at the kids 16th birthday party at the Hamptons next summer if this keeps up.
Unfortunately as we have all seen before,being "in the dark" doesn't preclude ignorant dithering war mongers from occupying the White House.The media such as it is,always ensures that "their boy" gets the top job.Look at the severe pounding Bush took from Kerry during the 2004 Presidential debates.John beat his ass like a gong,all to absolutely no avail because the MSM made sure everyone ignored that glorious trouncing and focused instead upon Kerry's wind surfing "French-like" activities.The media is THE problem.
MCain, all other issues aside, is quickly showing himself to be pretty damned clueless about most issues.... I can't help but think that in a rational nation, a rational situation, this guy wouldn't get off square one.... But then, there's not much really rational going on in this nation since 2000 and especially since 2001... What the fuck is going on here!!??? Are we really being set up to be saddled with this age addled old hack??? The repubs can't do any better than this??? And we're actually in danger of seeing this jerkoff in the oval office because what??...
The dems are too busy clubbing themselves bloody fighting internally over Hillary and Obama???? Like I just said.. What in bloody hell is really going on here??? JD
L.A. Confidential @ 33:
Lets see what kind of "Reagan Stunt" Bush Co pulls if truckers shut the country down.
Stop the insanity!
There is no way a guy like McCain, who is borderline Alzheimer's, should have access to nuclear weapon launch codes.
It's as simple as that.
jane @ 40:
Americans need to shut down this country for a month or more. No WORKING, NO SHOPPING, NO BUYING GAS etc etc. END PARTY. That will get the attention of our "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" you bet it would.
Allow me to edit the headline of this post: McCain in the Dark
24 See The Big Picture Says: ShouldBeWorking @ 8:
MSM, oh MSM where are you?
At McCain’s latest barbecue, I’d wager.
He's a cannibal too?
McCain the Liar @ 31:
Huge difference. The Somalia intervention was UN-sanctioned to aid Somalia with humanitarian relief and security
McCain is such a brainless dolt that I can't imagine him not winning POTUS, in this country we have of thoughtless, drooling, t.v. watching, self-righteous baboons.
45 Pete Says: McCain is such a brainless dolt that I can’t imagine him not winning POTUS, in this country we have of thoughtless, drooling, t.v. watching, self-righteous baboons.
How about POTHEAD?
I could him getting his head stuck in a vase of flowers.
Gaffegate?
Is it McCain or is it Magoo???
L.A. Confidential @ 28:
Correct. Iraq is an occupation and a counterinsurgency campaign. Unfortunately the U.S. only fought one successful war like that. The Filipino War. Every other one....not so good.
Insane in the membrane,
Insane is McCain!
He looks very old and tired. He needs someone on the ticket who can make him come off as vibrant and energetic in comparison. My suggestion: Fred Thompson. Thinking outside the box: how good a job did they do embalming Strom Thurmond? Shoot him up with extra formaldehyde, throw on a coat of lacquer, keep a bottle of lysol handy and throw him in his chair. You could even have a small tape recorder hidden on the chair. Every 5 minutes it would emit a barely audible "caaoolyna", or "mmerricaaa" or "nigrraahh" or even sseerrr-uhhgashunn fo-rrruhvahh". He'd definitely highlight McCain's -uh- "liveliness" while making the 'true conservatives' happy.
The beauty of McCain's line is, he got the facts wrong, but it tells you what his actual thought is. The loser asks for the cease fire. In this case, that means the loser is Maliki, and the surge has failed. Time to hammer this one home.
“Very rarely do I see the winning side declare a ceasefire”.
Um, isn't it only the winning side that declares a cease fire?
Whatever.
McCain is a fucking idiot. If he met with Maliki the day before Maliki launched this attack, but says he didn't know about it, either Maliki is jerking him around or McCain is jerking us around.
This was not even for a minute, an Iraqi military operation. If you believe that I've got a "Mission Accomplished" sign for sale - I'll even throw in the aircraft carrier on which it is posted.
How did he manage to even become a Senator? Oops I forgot, he was a POW
McCain a confused senile old man Here he is declaring Putin President of Germany Just what our foreign policy needs another idiot at the helm Spread the word
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/mccain%2Ballemagne/video/x4g...
Another thing: Maliki had to be rescued by the US military over the weekend, or he'd be dead or a prisoner of Sadr's troops right now. I heard this "inconvenient fact" on my local affiliate of NPR on Saturday. The only other news source I've found for this important story is here: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dave_lin_080331_bush_s__22defini...
I'm an old guy, you know; I actually saw Ruby shoot Oswald on TV from a journalism classroom in Fort Worth while it was happening in Dallas. Ever since, I've been a conspiracy buff. Not a conspiracy freak, mind you, although we had a saying in that era, that just because you were paranoid didn't mean nobody was out to get you. (And, in the same vein, an older person one would have thought incapable of such an observation, a conservative grand dame, was heard to comment that she liked paranoids since "they're the only ones paying attention to what's really going on.")
So I have this theory about Maliki and al-Sadr. It springs, in part, from Cheney's having gone to the Mideast shortly before the Basra "attack." I think the whole thing was a put-up job. Obviously, Maliki has made deals with all the Shiites; after all, he's one of them. He recently hosted that Shiite Bull Moose Loony from Iran, Ahmadinejad, and from the look of things, they got along famously. (Theoretically, this isn't exactly what the Bush Bunch would want to see Maliki doing, but what if Maliki were simply conveying messages from the U.S. that the current administration would loathe to be seen doing up front, on its own initiative?)
Anyway, what I think was going on is simply this: Maliki made the move to show Americans that our presence is still needed in Iraq because the Iraqi army is inept and unable even to quell Shiite militia activities in Basra, well known to be a hotbed of such operations. That is, Maliki probably knew from the gitgo that even if they wanted to, his troops couldn't put down Shiite insurrection in Basra, which is why he sent them in. He kills two birds with one stone. First, he gets al-Sadr talking again, and he shows the world that without American assistance, the Iraqi army is still not prepared to take on large-scale insurrectionist enclaves.
In effect then, Maliki is the new Sadam (in the sense that he is the buffer between the two factions, Shiite and Sunni). He's a Shiite Sadam, not the Sunni the deposed Sadam was (in name only, as Sadam had at least the one virtue of being relatively secular as a practical matter).
So all of the protestations by Bush administration military and diplomatic types to the effect that Maliki's decision to attack Basra "came as a complete surprise" may not have been surprising to them at all. Cheney may have given the go-ahead while he was in Baghdad meeting with the imperialist puppet leader. After all, Cheney is capable of almost anything. Remember, this is a guy who, asked about war casualties and the expressed desire of a majority of Americans that the troops be brought home a.s.a.p., shrugged his shoulders and commented, "So?"
Login or Register to post comments.