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May 28, 2008 11:38 PM

McCain Says Obama Will Change His Mind on War if He Visits Iraq

Posted by John Bentley
(CBS)


From CBS News’ John Bentley:


After offering to go to Iraq with Barack Obama and pointing out for the past few days that Obama hasn’t visited the country since 2006, John McCain said he was “certainly glad to hear Sen. Obama was considering a trip to Iraq.” If he does go, McCain added, he will change his position on the war because of the success the U.S. is having there. “Sen. Obama was driven to his conclusion by ideology, not by the facts on the ground,” McCain said. “Success in Iraq is undeniable.”

Obama’s campaign said no trip was imminent, but had been discussed. "A trip abroad is under consideration, but there are no plans at this point,” said spokesman Jen Psaki. “Obviously Iraq is a place to consider."

If he does go, it’s not likely he’ll take McCain up on his offer to accompany him on the trip. Obama’s campaign has referred to the idea as political posturing. “John McCain's proposal is nothing more than a political stunt, and we don't need any more 'Mission Accomplished' banners or walks through Baghdad markets to know that Iraq's leaders have not made the political progress that was the stated purpose of the surge,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

McCain also said he’d understand if Obama doesn’t want to go with him to Iraq, but not to call it a stunt. “It's long overdue – it's been 871 days since he was there,” McCain said. "I don't think that people who serve there would believe that a visit to find out the facts by a person who wants to lead the country would be a, quote, stunt."
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Add a Comment See all 46 Comments
by Torilin May 30, 2008 6:57 PM EDT
S_Temper

No1 likes war. No victor only troops that have their lives on the line! You talk of war so lightly as if it''s a fictional creation. You dishonor our soldiers'' sacrifice by your ignorance!!
Reply to this comment
by iddem May 30, 2008 3:27 PM EDT
If Iraq is as safe as McCain says then maybe the next time he visits he''ll refuse the hundreds of American Troops it takes to escort him and maybe he should give up the body armor he has always worn on previous trips. Old John should spend a week or two riding around in the back of a HMMWV with random troops on patrol, I''d say he should accompany some troops on a foot patrol, but he''s too *** old to walk very far. In a video the other day it showed his wife holding his arm so that he could walk down some stairs.

These politicians go to "combat zones", not to learn anything, but for photo ops, they are so well protected that they can''t see anything let alone learn anything other than what they are told by politically appointed Military leaders like Petraeus.
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by mattcat25 May 30, 2008 12:59 PM EDT
Ok, if Iraq is going so splendidly as John McCain claims then, it%u2019s a non-issue. Nobody needs to visit unless they%u2019re on vacation? And, when can our troops (with benefits the Republicans don%u2019t want to pay for) coming home?

That%u2019s all the American People want to know.
Reply to this comment
by samthetvcat May 30, 2008 4:00 AM EDT
First off, McCain''s 8 trips couldn''t have been that informative if after his latest he still couldn''t get straight the difference between Sunnis and Shiites, so clearly Barack''s already ahead of McSame in the knowledge department.

Second, wasn''t it reported after Hillary had her rebound in Ohio and Texas that the prolonging of the Primaries meant Barack''s plans to go to Iraq and abroad just like McCain did would have to be delayed? Hence, all McCain''s pointing out is that he''s been in the Senate longer, and that his primary ended sooner - not sure why he seems to think that says anything about Barack . . . it just makes him look like he''s trying to turn the race for the Presidency into a ''pissing contest'' as they say imo (Also, we Dems are in the midst of pivoting towards the general, so if he''s winning points at this time, he should be chalking it up to his head start rather than a competitive advantage!)
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by kansas1946 May 29, 2008 11:29 PM EDT
After offering to go to Iraq with Barack Obama and pointing out for the past few days that Obama hasn%u2019t visited the country since 2006, John McCain said he was %u201Ccertainly glad to hear Sen. Obama was considering a trip to Iraq.%u201D If he does go, McCain added, he will change his position on the war because of the success the U.S. is having there. %u201CSen. Obama was driven to his conclusion by ideology, not by the facts on the ground,%u201D McCain said. %u201CSuccess in Iraq is undeniable.%u201D

***************************

I am really starting to worry a bit about John''s mental state. Maybe all of this campaigning, in 2000, and now, has gotten to be too much for him. The above statement is really delusional. When Iraq makes progress, it will be because we withdrew. They will settle thier own differences in their own way, which is usually bloody in that part of the world. We are only making it worse.
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 8:58 PM EDT
Concern mounts over Rising Troop (Suicides)Last years 2,100 attempted Suicides --

An average of more than 5 per day --

Compares with about 350 suicide attempts in 2002, the year before the war in Iraq began, according to the Army.


Average of 5 soldiers Per Day tried to commit suicide in 2007, Army figures show

U.S. WASHINGTON

(CNN) -- Every day, five U.S.
soldiers try to kill themselves. Before the Iraq war began, that figure was Less than One Suicide Attempt a Day.


The dramatic increase is revealed in new U.S. Army figures, which show 2,100 soldiers (Tried to Commit Suicide in 2007).

"Suicide attempts are rising and have risen over the last five years," said Col. Elspeth Cameron-Ritchie, an Army psychiatrist.


"Our troops and their families are under unprecedented levels of stress due to the pace and frequency of more than five years of deployments," Webb said in a written statement.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, took to the Senate floor Thursday, urging MORE HELP for Military Members, especially for those Returning From War.

"Our Brave Service Members who face Deployment After Deployment without the rest, recovery and treatment they need are at the breaking point," Murray said.


According to Army statistics, the incidence of U.S. Army soldiers attempting suicide or inflicting injuries on themselves has SKYROCKETED in the nearly five years since the START of the IRAQ WAR.

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by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 8:57 PM EDT
Obama thinking about trip to Iraq

Note: You Sideline Patriots, Enlist and prove Your Bravery, or Your 18 Yr Old Son Or Daughters Bravery...Cowards.

May 29 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., says if he Visits U.S. Forces in Iraq, its to TALK to the TOOPS, not to Participate in a Republican Publicity Gimmick.


Obama visited Iraq in January 2006 as part of a Congressional Delegation.

While considering visiting U.S. TROOPS in Iraq this summer, Obama declined McCains invitation to take a JOINT TRIP to the Middle Eastern country, a blog on The New York Times Web site reported.

"I just dont want to be involved in a political stunt. ... I think that if Im going to Iraq, then Im there to TALK to TROOPS and talk to Commanders," Obama said. "Im not there to try to SCORE POLITICAL POINTS or PERFORM."

McCain said he was confident Obama would change his position about ending the war and withdrawing U.S. TROOPS after his visit "because he will see the SUCCESS that has been ACHIEVED on the GROUND.''
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 8:57 PM EDT
Obama thinking about trip to Iraq

Note: You Sideline Patriots, Enlist and prove Your Bravery, or Your 18 Yr Old Son Or Daughters Bravery...Cowards.

May 29 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., says if he Visits U.S. Forces in Iraq, its to TALK to the TOOPS, not to Participate in a Republican Publicity Gimmick.


Obama visited Iraq in January 2006 as part of a Congressional Delegation.

While considering visiting U.S. TROOPS in Iraq this summer, Obama declined McCains invitation to take a JOINT TRIP to the Middle Eastern country, a blog on The New York Times Web site reported.

"I just dont want to be involved in a political stunt. ... I think that if Im going to Iraq, then Im there to TALK to TROOPS and talk to Commanders," Obama said. "Im not there to try to SCORE POLITICAL POINTS or PERFORM."

McCain said he was confident Obama would change his position about ending the war and withdrawing U.S. TROOPS after his visit "because he will see the SUCCESS that has been ACHIEVED on the GROUND.''
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 8:53 PM EDT
McCain Needs to Listen to the Top Naval Commander, who Agrees with (Diplomacy over War with Iran)

U.S. Commander: Iran War Would Be ''Disastrous''

U.S. Navy''''s Persian Gulf Commander Says War With Iran Would Cause ''''Aftershocks'''' in the Region


By JONATHAN KARL and LUIS MARTINEZ
May 28, 2008


RSS The top U.S. Navy official in the Persian Gulf warned in an interview with ABC News that war with Iran would be "pretty disastrous," with "echoes and aftershocks" reverberating throughout the region.

Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, the top U.S. Navy official in the Persian Gulf, told ABC News that war with Iran would be "disastrous," and that the ideal way to interact with the country is through diplomatic methods.

Nobody I''''ve spoken to suggests that going to war with Iran is a good thing," Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff told ABC News.

"The preferred path by far is the (Diplomatic Path), keep working with the international community to bring the right sort of pressure to bear on the Islamic Republic of Iran."

For years, there has been a swirl of speculation about the prospects of war, as the United States has accused Iran of arming militias in Iraq, trying to develop nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism.

President Bush and other top U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed diplomacy when it comes to Iran, but say "all options are on the table," including the military option.
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 8:49 PM EDT
The Bin Laden Plan: What a Joke, Your Elected 2 Term President and his Father, George Bush Sr, have a (20 yr) Bin Laden Family & Friends Relationship and are Still Friends ..

The Bush Administration Gathered up all the Bin Ladens, via FBI Clearence and Flew them Home, Safely, Days After (911).

When the Bush Admin. could`ve Held & Detained them, until Bin Laden`s Surrender or Capture.

You Blind as a Bat... Low Lifes.

I Guess Bin Laden and the Bush`s really have a Great (20 Yr) Relationship..Huh


Suckers !!
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 8:47 PM EDT
The Bin Laden Plan: What a Joke, Your Elected 2 Term President and his Father, George Bush Sr & George Bush Jr. have a (20 yr) Bin Laden Family & Friends Relationship..

The Bush Administration Gathered up all the Bin Ladens, via FBI Clearence and Flew them Home, Safely, Days After (911).

When the Bush Admin. could`ve Held & Detained them, until Bin Laden`s Release.

You Blind as Bats... Low Lifes.

I Guess Bin Laden and the Busg`s really have a Great (20 Yr) Relationship..Huh


Suckers !!
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 8:41 PM EDT
Posted by layla61: McCain did it Without the CAMERAS and MEDIA ENTOURAGE.


Response: Your A!! is On Major Drugs. You must`ve been locked Up in a Asylum, with No TV Set.

McCain and Joe Lieberman were Photo opting and Playing as if they were President & Vice President.

It was McCain looking like a Nut on Middle Eastern Affiars, with Joe Lieberman, Correcting his Senile Old A!!....Please

You, McCain & his Geriatric Followers, are the Nuts.

You are typical of an Obama supporter; DEVOID OF FACTS, unconcerned about TRUTH.

Like the Un-Truths, you Typed, about McCain going to the Middle East, without the CAMERAS & MEDIA

Hahahaha !!!

This is not 1909..

Its 2008 and No Politician goes Anywhere, National or international, without the Press.

how do you Think Hillary was Caught, in All her International Lies..Dumb Dumb

Reply to this comment
by jone775 May 29, 2008 7:28 PM EDT
I think Obama should raise taxes until we rebuild our Federal coffers. Once this is done, we can resume some semblance of normalcy in this country. Bush Light is a moron. He speaks in platitudes and talks about "winning" the war. Meanwhile, our troops continue being slaughtered in Iraq and our economy is in shambles. This is not even mentioning our problems with education as so many McBush fans on these blogs have demonstrated...
Reply to this comment
by obama8years May 29, 2008 6:52 PM EDT
Hurry up Obama, call your supporters Hamas to create some chaos while your visiting , anything to win the presidency , wright.

The mainstream ISM leadership is made up of Palestinian Christian Arabs who are also communists/anarchists and pan-Arab nationalists first, that hold to the philosophy of the Popular Front for The Liberation of Palestine, the second largest faction of the PLO. Using communist revolutionary practices of %u201Csolidarity,%u201D it has been these Palestinian Arab Christian %u201Crevolutionaries,%u201D aligned with Jewish- American communists and anarchists, that have been working so well on the campuses in the US and the UK.

Now, it has become the ISM%u2019s time to deconstruct religious dogma of Israel belonging to the Jews as is preached in US churches and to increase the number of black churches in America that are working in %u201Csolidarity%u201D with this program. Jeremiah Wright%u2019s church is one of them. Even though the national synod of the United Church for Christ rescinded a boycott and divestment plan against Israel, a wing of the UCC church keeps trying to get it reinstated. That wing includes Reverend Wright%u2019s Trinity UCC Church in Chicago. Few people know also, that there are many Muslim members of Reverend Wright%u2019s %u201CChristian%u201D church, a close ally of Sabeel.
Reply to this comment
by realpatriot1 May 29, 2008 6:44 PM EDT
The Bin Laden Plan: Suck America into a protracted guerilla conflict in the Middle East that will drain the U.S. economy and make the U.S. the bad guy instead of him.

Bin Laden knew he could never defeat America militarily but he thought he could draw us into a 50 year war in the Middle East that would collapse our economy like Afghanistan collapsed the Soviet Empire.

John McCain wants to double his bet and keep us there 100 years.
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 May 29, 2008 6:18 PM EDT
john McCain has been a frequent visitor to VA facilities and a veterans advocate for years, long before it became chic !
Posted by layla61 at 02:21 PM : May 29, 2008

I''m sure glad McCain was right on the job with the dismal conditions found at Walter Reed Medical Center, and I''m feel so much more comfident that McCain will not support the new Iraq spending bill because of the pork the Republicans claim as the increased benefits for our Veterens.

The Republicans don''t support our Troops, Bush is going to VETO the spending bill.
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by May 29, 2008 5:37 PM EDT
How many trips does an inspector need to make to a brothel to know that it should be closed down?

Even General Patraeus concedes that the political leaders have made little progress (i.e. its still a brothel)
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031303793.html

...inspite of US soldiers now dying at 2005/06 levels
http://icasualties.org/oif/

McCain would escort Obama around in the green zone under heavy security and claim progress. After so many trips, McCain still does not get it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c

Unlike, McCain, Obama has at least tried to define "success"
"Obama said he worries that the goals %u2014 completely eliminating al-Qaida and Iranian influences %u2014 may be impossible to achieve and troops could be there for 20 or 30 years in a fruitless effort.

"If, on the other hand, our criteria is a messy, sloppy status quo but there''s not huge outbreaks of violence, there''s still corruption, but the country is struggling along, but it''s not a threat to its neighbors and it''s not an al-Qaida base, that seems to me an achievable goal within a measurable timeframe"
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by layla61 May 29, 2008 5:21 PM EDT
Dear omaar-101,
Before you make a statement, educate yourself, boob ! John McCain has been a frequent visitor to VA facilities and a veterans advocate for years, long before it became chic ! When did Clueless Barack last visit a vet center ? McCain did it without the cameras and media entourage. You are typical of an Obama supporter; devoid of facts, unconcerned about truth, only words in a state of flux. What a sorry lot. I only hope you can swallow defeat in November. You will be the wiser for it, so hold out Hope !
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 May 29, 2008 4:30 PM EDT
(increase spending)not raise taxes on the wealthy, keep the war going, provide no change in health care and smile.. I sure would like to be *kissed* first.

Vote McCain 2008.
Reply to this comment
by omaar-101 May 29, 2008 4:25 PM EDT
Obama thinking about trip to Iraq


May 29 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., says if he Visits U.S. Forces in Iraq, it''''s to TALK to the TOOPS, not to Participate in a Republican Publicity Gimmick.

Obama, seeking the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, has been criticized by presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain for his lack of National Security Experience. To emphasize that point, the Republican National Committee lists on its Web site the number of days since Obama visited Iraq -- 872 as of Thursday.

Obama visited Iraq in January 2006 as part of a Congressional Delegation.

While considering visiting U.S. TROOPS in Iraq this summer, Obama declined McCain''''s invitation to take a JOINT TRIP to the Middle Eastern country, a blog on The New York Times Web site reported.

"I just don''''t want to be involved in a political stunt. ... I think that if I''''m going to Iraq, then I''''m there to TALK to TROOPS and talk to Commanders," Obama said. "I''''m not there to try to SCORE POLITICAL POINTS or PERFORM."

McCain said he was confident Obama would change his position about ending the war and withdrawing U.S. TROOPS after his visit "because he will see the SUCCESS that has been ACHIEVED on the GROUND.''''''''
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