Americans Are "Sick and Tired" of War, McCain Says, But Vows to Succeed
(CBS)
From CBS News’ John Bentley:
Retired Navy officer and former POW John McCain acknowledged on Memorial Day that “the American people have grown sick and tired of the war in Iraq,” but maintained that pulling the U.S. military out of the country now would be “a mistake of colossal historical proportions.”
“Our defeat in Iraq would be catastrophic, not just for Iraq, but for us. I cannot be complicit in it. I will do whatever I can, whether I am effective or not, to help avert it,” McCain told a group of veterans and their families in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “It is not much compared to the sacrifices made by Americans who have volunteered to fight this war for us. I know that and am humbled by it. But though my duty is neither dangerous nor onerous, it compels me nonetheless to say to my fellow Americans, as long as we have the opportunity to succeed we must try to succeed. And I firmly believe that, with the continued right course of action, we will succeed.”
While McCain did not mention either of his Democratic rivals by name, he and Barack Obama have had an ongoing dispute about the new GI Bill introduced by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. Obama supports the bill, saying it is important because it gives veterans help in paying for a college education. McCain maintains the bill would hurt re-enlistment rates. “The most important difference between our two approaches is that Sen. Webb offers veterans who served one enlistment the same benefits as those offered veterans who have re-enlisted several times,” McCain said. “At a time when the United States military is fighting in two wars, and as we finally are beginning the long overdue and very urgent necessity of increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps, one study estimates that Senator Webb's bill will reduce retention rates by 16 percent.”
McCain has a fundraiser tonight in New Mexico, then heads to Colorado for a speech in Denver tomorrow morning.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
A McCain Presidency would be a nod of approval of the previous Administration%u2019s actions and lack of positive results. There needs to be some sort of change of course, and that should start at the top, The Republican Party has no credibility when speaking to the American People on their agenda for Iraq. The Iraqis Oil profit sharing scam to turn their Oil revenues over to private multinational corporations has failed, thus the Iraqis invasion and occupation has been a failure.
Demand that McCain submit to an Alzheimer''s test and to short term memory loss testing, as compared to naval aviators, not to "average" 71 yr olds.
I would move some troops to the north and save the Kurds from the Turks, and leave the Shi''a and Sunni''s to their bloodshed and eternal self-damnation. The Sunni''s think they are God''s gift to planet earth. That it is not going to change by our staying there another 5 years.
We were told the same bs about the great slaughter to come, in Vietnam.
In a couple of weeks after we left, we didnt hear a word about Vietnam.
Oh, no, we are not allowed. And no MD''s are allowed. But we were told that it did NOT cover possible short term memory loss and it did not include testing for incipient Alzheimer''s although 13% of persons over 65 have Alzheimers.
This report is a whitewash. It is worse than a cover up. They avoided taking the two kinds of tests that we care about.
What he failed to mention is that someone who serves 30 yrs would receive LESS UNDER THE MCCAIN BILL AND
MORE UNDER THE WEBB BILL
He is also a liar, because Sen. Warner has agreed to amend the Webb bill to provide transferability to dependents.
I almost forgot, what do we get if we win? The undying gratitude and affection of the Iraqi government and their people? Maybe they''ll show their appreciation by selling oil to America at pre Bush era prices and the price of gasolene in the USA will be 1 dollar a gallon again. Will they side with the US against Iran?
I can dream, can''t I?
Just say %u201Cno%u201D to a third term for Bush. It%u2019s time clean house, get %u2018em out.
AMERICANS ARE SICK and TIRED of the McBUSH!!!
Americans are dying in a place they are not welcomed nor wanted!!!!
McCain how do you sympathize with the loss of our children for a war that started with a SERIOUS LIE!!!
Jack Kennedy did not learn from the French defeat n Indochina.
Lyndon Johnson learned even less.
Bush 2 has learned nothing from anything substantial in the world, only in his conversations with "a higher authority." Just was this authority high on?
- by dewardbowles May 26, 2008 4:55 PM EDT
- McCain should be ashamed of himself. His self righteous and self important rebuke to Obama suggesting he is the only one who understands the military and the vets and implying that anyone who disagrees with him is unpatriotic and unAmerican smacks of a 3rd Bush term.
- Reply to this comment
See all 16 CommentsIt is a slap in the face to the vets and our current people in uniform and to Webb, Warner, Hagel and every other senator, Republican and Democrat alike, who voted in an overwhelming veto proof margin for the Webb GI bill.
Webb and Warner are former Secretaries of the Navy for crying out loud.
You want more of the same, vote McCain.
My vote is for Obama.