In Columbus today, John McCain made his pitch that he, and not Barack Obama, is the candidate of hope. In a major if theoretical reversal of his commitment to a perpetual 100, a thousand or a million year American presence in Iraq, McCain declared that he “would hope to have achieved” a drawdown of most U.S. forces by the end of his first term in 2013. But given McCain’s unbroken record of error of forecasting when it comes to Iraq, Americans should rightly view his new 10 year prediction with suspicion.
And with a total suspension of disbelief. In a speech that was more hypothetical thought exercise than policy address, McCain did his best John Lennon impersonation and asked Americans to “imagine all the people” (or at least most of them) back from Iraq by the end of his first term:
“By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced. Civil war has been prevented; militias disbanded; the Iraqi Security Force is professional and competent; al Qaeda in Iraq has been defeated; and the Government of Iraq is capable of imposing its authority in every province of Iraq and defending the integrity of its borders. The United States maintains a military presence there, but a much smaller one, and it does not play a direct combat role.”
While McCain’s prognostication of peace, love and harmony in Iraq just 10 years after the U.S. invasion is a happy one, it should be viewed as nothing more as a charade that substitutes wishful thinking for serious policy. After all, as he has proved time and time again, John McCain’s Iraq crystal ball is broken.
Here’s is just a small sample of McCain’s consistently - and devastatingly - wrong predictions about Iraq…
From visions of a rapid U.S. victory and Americans being greeted liberators to finding weapons of mass destruction and turning the corner, John McCain was tragically mistaken each and every time.
“Look, we’re going to send young men and women in harm’s way and that’s always a great danger, but I cannot believe that there is an Iraqi soldier who is going to be willing to die for Saddam Hussein, particularly since he will know that our objective is to remove Saddam Hussein from power.” (John McCain, September 15, 2002. )
“He’s a patriot who has the best interests of his country at heart.” (John McCain, on Ahmed Chalabi, 2003. )
“I remain confident that we will find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.” (John McCain, June 11, 2003.)
“Absolutely. Absolutely.” (John McCain, asked by Chris Matthews, “you believe that the people of Iraq or at least a large number of them will treat us as liberators?” March 12, 2003. )
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we will prevail and there’s no doubt in my mind, once these people are gone, that we will be welcomed as liberators.” (John McCain, March 24, 2003.)
“I think the victory will be rapid, within about three weeks.” (John McCain, January 28, 2003.)
“It’s clear that the end is very much in sight…It won’t be long. It, it’ll be a fairly short period of time.” (John McCain, April 9, 2003.)
“Well, then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier?” (John McCain, responding to assertion by Fox News’ Neil Cavuto that “many argue the conflict isn’t over,” June 11, 2003. )
“I’m confident we’re on the right course.” (John McCain, March 7, 2004. )
“We’re either going to lose this thing or win this thing within the next several months.” (John McCain, November 12, 2006. )
“My friends, the war will be over soon, the war for all intents and purposes although the insurgency will go on for years and years and years.” (John McCain, February 25, 2008.)
Facing the prospect of future beatings over his previous statements on an open-ended U.S. commitment in Iraq, John McCain is now asking Americans to forget he ever made them. McCain, too, is asking for national amnesia when it comes to his past attacks against Mitt Romney over supposed U.S. timetable for withdrawal:
”It’s not a timetable; it’s victory. It’s victory, which I have always predicted. ‘I’m not putting a date on it. It could be next month, it could be next year, it could be three years from now.”
In his Columbus speech, the mythical maverick issued the equivalent of a disclaimer, saying, “I cannot guarantee I will have achieved these things.” As they say, past performance is no guarantee of future results. In John McCain’s case, let’s hope not.
(This piece was originally posted at Perrspectives.)
No Trackbacks To “McCain’s Broken Iraq Crystal Ball Now Sees Troops Home by 2013“
So now McCain wants to cut and run?
Isn’t this chapter 22 of volume 17, 8th edition, of the White House’s Strategy for Victory in Iraq?
Republican’s and hope? Hahahahahahahahahaha! ROFLMAO! My only hope, is that the republican party goes extinct! Republican’s and hope? Hahahahahaha…..oh that’s a good one.
You mean 2113?
cause we need 5 more years for the surge to work and then we’ll stay there another 100 years
2008 + 5 + 100 = 2113
McCain predicts Iraq war won by 2013
What an interesting year to pick!
So here’s the deal. You elect me once and in 2012, when I’m up for re-election, you elect me again, and I’ll deliver Iraq in the first year of my second term.
It’s a “Wag the Dog” scenario. You don’t see Jaws til the 3rd reel.
Only five more years of suffering? Thanks John!
do you think the dems will ape bush’s flip-flop attack on kerry in the upcoming campaign against mccain? some people make winning (stealing) elections looks so easy (sigh).
Where will they get the troops? Draft? How many more of our young people going to join this bloody war? Is McCain delussional?
How can he be predicting the end of the Iraq War, when the GOP is still fighting the Civil War?
I listened to part of McCain’s speech today and determined he doesn’t know what the hell is going to happen so he has decided to just make shit up from now on. Hell of a plan.
still mccrazy after all these years.
Wha…??? I thought republican’ts didn’t believe in timetables.
Well…it’s better than a hundred years.
Funny thing is that the Democratic party will affect the SAME CONDITIONS before the end of 2009! YOU DECIDE: By the end of next year… or after another FOUR FULL 12-MONTH ROTATIONS of service in illegally occupied territory.
John McCain’s public announcement of a withdrawal timeline is emboldening the enemy. Now all they will have to do is bide their time until we cut and run, then Iraq will descend into chaos. Al Qaida al Qaida al Qaida booga booga booga
We so need a sane adult in the white house next year. Almost eight years of the spoiled frat boy just about ruined us and the last thing we need now is a elderly dude with visions of grandeur. We need a reality based mature adult with brains and we can have that if we all work together for the good of the country.
Liberal AND Proud @ 9:
Best comment I’ve read in weeks.
this, and a promise to capture/kill osama by 2013?
what’s next, is he going to promise to get us all laid too? Ooooo, can he promise that we will all be taller and more attractive? howzabout he predicts we are all rich and happy?
mcgenie and the magic lamp, just rub his shiny, liver-spot-tattooed head and wish all you like, because mcgenie is here to fulfill all your wishes and dreams.
phppt, pure political bullshit.
surprise, another flip flop
And every American and Iraqi killed or injured in the occupation will magically come back to life and become whole again ..
And the trillions of dollars Bush borrowed from the future will be returned to the Treasury ..
And Peace & Prosperity shall follow us all the days of our lives ..
Forever and ever ..
Amen ..
Just vote for ME !!!
McLame was told that at the current rate of deficiet spending, the nation will be bankrupt by 2012.
Of course he’s the candidate of hope!
“I hope he isn’t elected!”
“I hope Obama mops the floor/swabs the deck with him…”
“I HOPE I can survive another republican maladministration…”
Et cetera ad nauseum…
2013, that must be just after
McCain’sBush’s third term.We’ll be out of business before then.
P.D. @ 8:
YES, yes he is!
Huh, I guess McLames 100 years and 1000 years idea meme didn’t play well with the huddled masses he’s hopin to sucker into votin for him…….Fuckers fishin….. throwin spitwad ideas at a wall to see what the heck might stick…. None of it is gonna work on me slick… I see right thru your plastic mask war hero…. The old Who song ‘Substitute’ and the idea it suggests applies totally to you motherfucker!!!
P.S. Edgecity@5; For my money, it’s been nothin BUT wag the dog for the last 8 freakin years…….JD
Old Johnny sure is cute when he tries to play with the grown ups
NPR Lie Du Jour: “Voters are attracted to John McCain because he’s a straight talker and willing to reach across the aisle.”
I think he’s actually using a Magic 8-Ball…as in “signs point to yes,” and “ask again later…”
Wow!
He’s moving steadily towards HillarObama’s 2010 estimate.
Good for you, John.
At this rate will have a full consensus by November.
Good Lord…eight years of one imbecile…and then another four years of this twisted old fruit.
I think MY head would explode!
pissed off patricia @ 10:
Mr. McCain has been making shit up since he was first elected to Congress. Make it worth while for him and he will make up any shit you’d like. He only became a born again reformer because he got caught taking special interest cookies.
It could work.
Never underestimate the stupidity of a country that would allow Bush to be president, twice.
Blue Lensman @ 26:
And say absolutely anything and everything he thinks is necessary to get himself elected, even when it directly conflicts with earlier statements.
He’s a man of principle.
and the media will report this as a truth, instead of revealing it as the bullshit that it is.
Cracker’s for Christ Says: pissed off patricia @ 10:
I listened to part of McCain’s speech today and determined he doesn’t know what the hell is going to happen so he has decided to just make shit up from now on. Hell of a plan.
Mr. McCain has been making shit up since he was first elected to Congress. Make it worth while for him and he will make up any shit you’d like. He only became a born again reformer because he got caught taking special interest cookies.
Does he prefer his special interest cookies dry, or with fresh earmark milk?
Rusty Shackleford @ 32:
Yep…McCain and every other candidate of both parties.
Reminds me of the sorta of promises abusive teenage boys tell their girlfriends: Baby, baby, look, things are bad right now, and I can’t control my temper, but if you stick by me, then we’re gonna get outta this town, some place where your folks will never find us, and it’ll be just you and me, and it’ll be perfect. We’ll never fight again, and we’ll have a beautiful home with a satellite dish and a swimming pool, and I’ll never get mad at you again. Just stay with me a few more years, I promise I’ll make it all OK.
And the troops will be on their what, 15th tour?
Since I missed part of his speech, did he also promise each of us a pony during his first four years?
Typical neocon “I’ll tell you whatever you want to hear” crap.
mcstain isn’t sure the sun is going to rise tomorrow but he’s going to predict a ‘win’ in the illegal occupation of iraq which will conveniently occur only IF the populace elects him a second time.
Oy.
He forgot the part about the Iraqis taking our troops to the airport and throwing flowers at them as they board the planes.
If mccain has crystal balls, what’s his rod made out of?
“…thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Psalm 23 (KJV)
More repugnacan bs, he has no intention of bringing troops home.
Actually this isn’t a flip flop. If you’ve been at war for 9 years which we will have been by 2013 you would have “welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly” without drawing down troop levels at all.
There could still be 130,000 troops in Iraq but many more than that would have been “welcomed home” in the 9 years of the war.
pissed off patricia @ 38:
Yeah, only problem is it will be killed with Iranian-made munitions.
Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced.
Did he really say the violence is spasmodic? That’s the word you want to use to describe the violence……………………really?
McSame’s hope for unity speech.
How many drank this kool aid?
Republicans are liars and cannot be trusted.
This from the guy who’s voting against the new G.I. Bill that would actually provide some incentive to enlist or reinlist for the poor bastards that have to fight this “war”.
Where are the troops going to come from idiot?
Or the money with a severe recesssion beginning?
By the way, he should be forced, given the current reality in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq, just how this is all going to be accomplished.
If you vote for this fool, you are a drooling moron.
Man, talk about details, he left out a shit load. Like what has been mentioned on this thread. Where do we get the soldiers and how do we know China will extend our borrowing limit to continue this blood bath for that many more years?
Between McCain’s happy war shit talk and the accusations that bush slung around the corner at Obama, I wonder if Nancy is flogging herself now for taking impeachment off the table?
While bush is away, Obama should go in and change the lock on the oval office, take over and start getting things under control. Bush has proven even more clearly in the last couple of days that he is the frigin’ enemy of common sense and reason.
47 McCain the Liar Says: Republicans are liars and cannot be trusted.
So that would mean sometimes they tell the truth, so they can’t be trusted to lie.
“Kumbaya”