McCain: Obama should go to Iraq

I'd be willing to buy him a one-way ticket.

I wouldn't go to Hagee's Church with McCain, let alone the middle east. I wouldnt trust any of these evil folks. Not only do they want Obama out of the race, they want him dead.

McCain is NUTS. Why should any of our presidential candidates participate in a charade---the only thing they should do is BRING THE TROOPS HOME.
Obama keeps voting to fund the war--and only 6 senators voted against it anyway--so he needs to SHUT UP about Hillary's vote.
I don't trust him---since Richardson who wants midwest water to throw after all the stupid, unsustainable development in the Southwest endorsed Obama.
http://www.chicagotribune
.com/news/nationworld/chi-water-warsmay27,0,4894872.story

Midwest's message: Hands off our lakes
Multistate pact would put water off-limits to parched South, West

By Tim Jones |

""For him to talk about dates for withdrawal, which basically is surrender in Iraq after we're succeeding so well...

"J. McBush"

Not sure how Grandpa Munster defines success. He probably believes he was a successful pilot too because he only had four crashes then was shot down.

It is clearly obvious John McCain has learned so much in his multiple visits to Iraq; he doesn't even know the difference between Sunni and Shia, so yeah, those trips have really taught him a lot.

And yes, things are so tremendously improved there. Now they won't sell food to US citizens. Yep, that's progress.

McCain has an inflated sense of his importance, I think.

I hate to be nasty about McCain, but his nastiness is getting to be a bit much. Here is a man who is an expert on war who got most of his war experience being tortured in a prison in Viet Nam. If that experience taught him anything it should have been that wars based on lies and deception should not be waged. But he did not learn anything from that experience. He is a war mongering old fool who relishes the idea of following his enemies to the gates of hell. On a day when there is much genuine homage paid to the fallen heroes of America, he talks of more war. And then this fool wants us to believe that he has a monopoly on foreign policy and defense knowledge. Then, too, when it came to trying to help service members old with a little help by allowing them to get college education, he balks, saying that they will all get out of the military and go to college. This man is a sick old fool.

Yes...There is nothing like a stroll down mainstreet to get a feel of success. Just ignore the Blackhawks and 100 or more troops behind you. Get a real feel as the generals huddle you into a few safe hideouts and feed you rhetoric. Kinda like a trip to times square tells you exactly how America is doing.

McCain is silly.

When any American official goes to a place like Iraq, what do they see or hear that teaches them anything?

They likely don't even leave the Green Zone. They are surrounded by guards. They are briefed by politically-sensitive generals and officials.
They are given reams of propaganda write-ups.

Do they see the carnage? Do they visit Iraqis in the hospitals and morgues? Do they visit ordinary houses where the people still live horrible lives? Do they ride around on roads to see security arrangements?

Of course not. And I would bet good money that John McCain knows less about the situation in Iraq than I do. His answers and questions in recent forums show clearly he doesn't even have it clear about which parties are on which sides.

Having worn a uniform doesn't mean you understand anything about such matters. It only means you learned how to kill.

Mauybe they could exchange trips. McCain could take Obama to Iraq, and Obama can take McCain to the United States.

Obama can introduce McCain to the poor, the elderly, those struggling to make ends meet. Those american people that McCain has no interest in and no vision for. Those who are so are far below his wealthy elitist experience that he never mentioned the poor or poverty once in his "2013" speech. Obama can introduce McCain to some american veterans that are struggling to get on with their lives after leaving the service, the men and women that McCain so callously insulted by not even bothering to show up for the debate and vote on Webb's GI bill. Obama can take him to meet a person suffering through a long term illness so that McCain can see the utterly devastating impact his healthcare plan would have in making that person's healthcare costs soar.

McCain needs to get introduced to that America. It would be nice if McCain showed half as much interest in the needs of the common American as he does in Iraq.

The Road to Baghdad!

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/971072,mccain052708.article

How many times did McCain visit Somalia before he urged withrdrawel and surrender to Al-Qaeda in '90s?

Obama should put on a Beret because he is just as ignorant as the French.

He won't go to Iraq because that will disavow his rhetoric that the war did not accomplish anything.

It did and it has - ask those of us who are there or were there.

If only Obama had some experience doing anything. Obama might go to Iraq but it would be either to put down the military or it's mission. We don't need Obama in Iraq because he will just demoralize the troops. Better to have Obama visit San Francisco where he can put down the middle class.

I with VICTOR!

Paul Frampton,
What did the war accomplish? US Soldiers are still over there and gas is $4.25 per gallon. Iraq should be PAYING US.

Great move McCain! Show this ridiculous presidential candidate Obama that he is ignorant to the truth! Obama can't handle the presidency as he is promising millions of programs and ideas that can't and won't be done. Obama is nothing but talk and a product of Chicago. Go ahead and bring the "windy city" politics to the White House to destroy this country.

Maybe when Obama wins the presidency, he can send McCain finish up there since he knows so much? Part of being the President is picking the best person for the task at hand.

While at it, we should send GW et al, to fix the mess they started. Don't let them back into the US until the mission is REALLY accomplished.

Don't confuse Obambi with the facts. Truth is, B. Hussein is not experienced in a potpourri of circumstances, among them the progress our great Military has made.
We haven't had a more shallow candidate for president since Donald Duck was nominated by the Acquatic Party.

There is no way the messiah will go to Iraq..

A visit there would require him to actually stand for something- instead of his often used, "present" vote.

It would require him to look the soldiers in Iraq in the eye and, unless he has a new view on Iraq, tell them that the effort and work is for a losing effort, when the facts support the opposite.

It would also requires him to listen and observe, and use judgement... instead of posturing and using rhetoric- His "years " of experience as a community organizer and activist mean nothing in this arena - so no, he will stay home. He will vote present again.

Obama should go,
They can go back to the market that McCain went to with a hundred US soldiers and black hawk helicopters flying around.
If nothing else it would show that Obama really is interested in foreign policy.
Put up or shut up. I would be interested in hearing what he has to say about his visit.

Paul Frampton,
What did the war accomplish? US Soldiers are still over there and gas is $4.25 per gallon. Iraq should be PAYING US.

Posted by: jethro | May 27, 2008 9:51 AM

Jethro- so you would be ok with the Iraq war as long as your gas is cheap?

My guess is that if Iraq paid us ( your words)- the left wingers in congress would be holding a congressional hearing on how this admin went to Iraq for cheap oil...

Truth is, B. Hussein
Posted by: LaSondra | May 27, 2008 10:16 AM

Holy cow...his middle name is Hussein? As one of the dimwitted I'm glad to know this because I won't vote for a name like that. I will only vote for real American names...Like...Rich, Jack, Sam, or LaSondra. As soon as I read that part of your post, I stopped reading because I knew all I have to know as to it's content. Thanks to another "great" American. You must be very proud.

Why shouldn't Senator Obama visit Iraq? He has made this issue a centerpiece of his campaign, and says that he wants to talk to leaders of countries like Iran. What's wrong with talking to Iraqis and Americans in Iraq, and getting some first-hand knowledge? Senator McCain has a good suggestion.

when j. mcBUSH "visited" exactly HOW MANY blackhawks, armored vehicles, armed escorts and flack jackets were involved?

what a joke that geezer is!!

the ONLY THING the "surge" accomplilshed is driving the bad guys UNDERGROUND where they will wait and wait and wait

time and geography are ON THEIR SIDE!!

W and the rest of the criminals doomed us in VIETRAQ from the start!!

Obama don't need to come to Iraq. This is my second tour of duty in Iraq and nobody has found a bottle rocket to shoot off on the 4th of July - let alone ONE weapon of mass destruction (which was the reason given to innitial send us here). Obama is the only canidate that has a plan to end this Iraq (hmm, you give it a name since the name of the mission keep changing) Thing. How many years has it been now?

He will vote present again.

Posted by: heartburn | May 27, 2008 10:26 AM

That's better than not showing up at all like John McCain, who decide to raise money rather than debaing and voting on Webb's GI bill an act of political cowardice, a dereliction of duty and a slap in the face to his fellow Vets.

Posted by: heartburn | May 27, 2008 10:33 AM

heartburn,
You've already won for the dumbest comment today. Look up Paul Wolfowitz's reasons...or were they excuses for going to Iraq.

You've already won for the dumbest comment today. Look up Paul Wolfowitz's reasons...or were they excuses for going to Iraq.

Posted by: jackson | May 27, 2008 11:37 AM

Jackson- I make a lot of dumb comments- which of my dumb comments are you struggling with?

That's better than not showing up at all like John McCain, who decide to raise money rather than debaing and voting on Webb's GI bill an act of political cowardice, a dereliction of duty and a slap in the face to his fellow Vets.

Posted by: Victor | May 27, 2008 11:04 AM

Victor- are you really going to compare the messiah's politically expedient stance on the war - with Mccain not voting for a bill that was going to win with or w/o his support? Having said that- I agree, McCain should have at least voted.

Even more interesting is that Mccain does support an alternative GI bill that, while it does not have as many benefits as Webb's, does have Mccains support. The bottom line here is that obama will not stand for an issue unless obama sees a benefit for himself. The messiah has nothing to gain and much to lose politically, by going to Iraq. So he won't go...

If McCain had a clue -- if if if if - - he'd understand that these photo-op trips only work for the 23 percenters who, from the comfort of their couches, awake from their stupor to call the Iraq Disaster a great thing, regardless of the facts.

In contrast, people in the middle and left long ago concluded that Iraq is a disaster. Phony photo ops from the Green Zone will not change that.

Since the election is going to be determined by the "swing voters," McCain is wasting his time with this nonsense. Iraq was, is, will be a complete disaster that McCain is responsible for. The "swing voters" know this.

Posted by: a blinkin | May 27, 2008 12:18 PM

So the messiah - who could quite possibly in 9 months be commander in chief- shouldn't go to Iraq to see first hand what is happening in Iraq ? Using that logic- why go anywhere? He could just run his campaign from Chicago.

He, won't and your deflecting the issue- the war has always been a political vehicle for the left and for the messiah- he is not touching this because he has tied himself to a radical withdrawal of troops if elected. A committment he cannot meet.

He will be forced, if elected, to acknowledge that since the surge, that withdrawing the troops at the rate he has promised would be disastrous to both our troops and Iraq.

Of course- this would mean he would have to acknowledge that Bush, Mccain and Patreus had it right with the surge strategy- not sure how he will dance around that one, maybe he needs to get his spiritual advisor back.

Is that the same Senator, who boasted how safe Damascus was, as he was smothered by a squadron of our great troops, protecting him !! They don't have enough to worry about, now they have to be concerned with a visiting dignitary, or our next President, Senator Obama, no less. Get real, Senator " Questionable Conduct " McCain, and help pass that new G. I. Bill, for our distressed and distraught veterans, returning home from the Disaster in Damascus, which you voted for, also !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.

I really cant get over the Republican refering to any troop withdrawls as "surrender" is this how they refered to our troops comming home after WWII. Whether you agree with it or not our objective acording to the Republicans, was to liberate the Iraqis from the evils of Saddams regiem. (mission accomplished) remember

I'l agree with McCain on this. How about once the nominations are official, just after the conventions, Obama and McCain go on a "good will" tour of Iraq together? What a great show of unity it would be if the 2 presidential candidates can show the troops, the American people and the world, that while we differ on how next to move forward in Iraq, we are united behind are troops. And we all pray for their safety and success. Happy belated Memorial Day everyone.

Heartburn:

Saying the surge strategy is working is like saying the "Going Out Of Business" sale is a success. The initial venture failed miserably, so any "success" thereafter is within the context of a failure.

The war was a terrible mistake based on deceptions, poor judgment and awful planning -- all of which McCain knew or should have known about in advance.

McCain's vaunted "judgment" as a member of the majority in the Sen. Armed Services Committee called for him to witlessly cheerlead Bush. McCain did not insist on planning, objectives, budget, post-war planning, etc.

As for going there to see what's going on, my recollection is that Dear Leader has only been there once or twice himself. Surely you wouldn't suggest that the situation would be any better if the Twit had been there more often. I think the value of these photo op visits is grossly overstated.

"...I think the value of these photo op visits is grossly overstated.

Posted by: a blinkin | May 27, 2008 2:11 PM

Of course you do- because they embarass the left's and apparently, your contention that the surge was a failure before it began...

you have your opinion about the success or lack of success in Iraq- but the REALITY is that almost every expert and informed person acknowledges that with the major decrease in violence, increased quality of Iraqi troop performance, and recent reconciliation legislation passed by maliki's gov't that the surge has been a huge success.

Now that the surge is working- even by the Dem, goal line moving standards - the Iraq war is the third rail for the DEMs. Obama is a good enough politician to avoid any circumstance that would put him in the position of having to defend his politicallly -not fact- based judgement of its success.

Heartburn:

I give you credit for being an optimist, but you've really gone too far by suggesting that Iraq is a third rail for the Dems. We've destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives, burned hundreds of billions of dollars, and the best you can say is that things are not as bad as they were at their post-invasion worst.Again, you're talking about a "success" in the context of a going out of business sale. That's not success. That's merely making the best of a lousy situation.

McCain is heading for a landslide defeat. He's a one-note piano, and no one wants to hear that note.

I give you credit for being an optimist, but you've really gone too far by suggesting that Iraq is a third rail for the Dems. We've destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives, burned hundreds of billions of dollars, and the best you can say is that things are not as bad as they were at their post-invasion worst.Again, you're talking about a "success" in the context of a going out of business sale. That's not success. That's merely making the best of a lousy situation.

McCain is heading for a landslide defeat. He's a one-note piano, and no one wants to hear that note.

Posted by: a blinkin | May 27, 2008 3:23 PM

Going out of business is the analogy to be better applied to Obama's get out as quickly as possible position..

Iraq has been a bad situation, mistakes were made marked with bad decisions and poor judgement- all are really easy to see in hindsight. Now here comes the grown up part.. we are obligated to complete our job in Iraq. The commander in chief - whoever that may be in November- owes it to the troops to be a leader NOW and be realistic about what should be done in Iraq that is best for the troops, Iraq, and the US.

Obama's promise to leave abruptly is either; really bad judgement- since no military advisors are recommending this, Or political postuting, pandering to the left anti-war crowd. Either postion should exclude him from the CIC job..

Now here comes the grown up part.. we are obligated to complete our job in Iraq. The commander in chief - whoever that may be in November- owes it to the troops to be a leader NOW and be realistic about what should be done in Iraq that is best for the troops, Iraq, and the US.

Posted by: heartburn | May 27, 2008 3:53 PM

I thought the more grown up thing to do would be to admit the mistake and realize "nothing" good will "ever" come out of this. You can say hindsight is 20/20 but McBush was one of the one who said and STILL says Iraq was a good idea. Mix that in with a little bomb bomb bomb Iran talk and I would have to say that is not the person I want with the football.

Heartburn:

It was easy to see, in foresight, that Iraq would be a disaster. Many people thought so at the time, and said so at the time. McCain failed, miserably, and anticipating the problems.

It speaks volumes for the Republicant position that you talk about "hindsight" and you speak in passive voice: "mistakes were marked with bad decisions...:" These mistakes did not just "happen." They resulted from purposeful effort by the worst president in history, and mindless cheerleading by his emasculated poodle, McCain.

I thought the more grown up thing to do would be to admit the mistake and realize "nothing" good will "ever" come out of this.

Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | May 27, 2008 4:23 PM

And what? Leave ? Even though no experts would support your decision? Thats a reasonable solution?

I know it's not the Dem political solution, but it is not the right thing to do.. Obama knows this, he just won't run on that premise.

Sorry guys- turns out Bush was right on this surge strategy..( which is really at the core of your argument) Iraq is light years ahead of where it was with Saddam in power- and we have been able to prevent Iranian and Al Queda from being able to get any type of foothold in the country- that seems pretty successful to me... my guess is that you won't see it this way. Get over this whole Anti Bush syndrome-he is leaving office in a few months... its clouding your logic and making you irrational.

HB:

Maybe you're better off to just cut the thread rather than pull on it. Soon enough there won't be a sweater left.

How, exactly, is Iraq now "light years ahead" of when Saddam was in power? One clue: When Saddam was in power, Iraq had electricity 24/7.

Facts please, not right wing bumpersticker puke.

How, exactly, is Iraq now "light years ahead" of when Saddam was in power? One clue: When Saddam was in power, Iraq had electricity 24/7.

Facts please, not right wing bumpersticker puke.

Posted by: a blinkin | May 27, 2008 5:23 PM

A blinkin- Really?

Some things that changed when Saddam was overthrown...

No more threats to our pilots with daily targeting of US warplanes. Pilots that were maintaining the no fly zones put in place as a condition of ending gulf war 1.

No more mass murder of thousands of Kurds and Shia after a failed attempt to overthrow the dictator.

Use of WMDs against his own kurdish people ( men, women and children) as well as iranian soldiers in the 80's

Uday and Qusay - any parent of teenage girls in Iraq would make this enough of a reason to overthrow hussein.

But as long as you have electricity to keep your beer cold - everything is cool?

Are you also okay with the old adage that " at least the Nazi's kept the trains running on time" ?