BAGHDAD, April 1, 2007
McCain In Iraq: "Signs Are Encouraging"
From Baghdad, GOP Presidential Hopeful Says Americans Not Getting Full Picture Of Progress
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Senator and presidential Candidate John McCain (R-Ariz.) gestures during a press conference at the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, April 1, 2007. McCain and a group of U.S. Congressmen are on a visit to the war-torn country. (Getty Images/AFP/Sabah Arar)
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Who's Who 2008 Republican Hopefuls McCain and Giuliani head up the Republican pack chasing the presidency.
McCain, a Republican presidential hopeful who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, acknowledged a difficult task lies ahead in Iraq, but criticized the media for not giving Americans enough information about the recent drop in execution-style sectarian killings, the establishment of security posts throughout the city and Sunni tribal efforts against al Qaeda in the western Anbar province.
"These and other indicators are reason for cautious, very cautious optimism about the effects of the new strategy," said McCain, who was leading a Republican congressional delegation to Iraq that included Sen. Lindsey Graham.
McCain, R-Ariz., was combative during the news conference, refusing to respond to a question about whether the U.S. had plans to attack Iran. He also replied testily to a question about remarks he had made in the United States last week that it was safe to walk some Baghdad streets.
"Things are better and there are encouraging signs. I've been here ... many times over the years. Never have I been able to drive from the airport, never have I been able go out into the city as I was today," he said.
"I'm not saying 'mission accomplished,' 'last throes,' 'dead-enders' or any of that. It's long and it's hard and it's very, very difficult," he said. "I believe that the signs are encouraging, but please don't interpret one comment of mine in any way to indicate that this isn't a long, difficult struggle."
Members of the delegation spoke at a Green Zone news conference after they rode from Baghdad's airport in armored vehicles and under heavy guard to visit the city's largest market, which was been hit by several recent bombings, including one in February that killed 137 people. They said the trips were proof that security was improving in the capital. Prominent visitors normally make the trip from the airport to the city center by helicopter.
The congressmen, who wore body armor during their hourlong shopping excursion, said they were impressed with the resilience and warmth of the Iraqi people, some of whom would not take money for their souvenirs. They were accompanied by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus.
While the capital has seen a recent dip in violence as extra U.S. and Iraqi troops have flooded the streets, an Iraqi military spokesman said that militants fleeing the crackdown have made areas outside the capital "breeding grounds for violence," spreading deadly bombings and sectarian attacks to areas once relatively untouched.
With U.S. voters increasingly impatient with the conduct of the war and the American death toll rising, Democrats in the House and Senate have pushed through funding bills with timetables for withdrawing U.S. forces. The measures need to be reconciled before they are sent to President Bush, who has promised a veto.
Graham said setting a deadline would be a "huge mistake" and Bush would be right to use his veto because the security plan — to which Bush has pledged 30,000 extra American troops — was working.
The delegation included Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz.
In Other Developments:
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See all 93 CommentsAmericans see nothing, hear nothing, do nothing. America is not at War. Our troops are at War. America is at the Mall. America is watching relaity TV. America is overworked, underpaid, while the rich are spending their massive tax cuts and complaining about liberals who don't have the "stomach for war" as Cheney likes to sneer and snarl. But their kids can afford college tuition so they didn't have to volunteer for the Army. How convenient!
So here's a little visualization to help understand the scope of the Bush-Cheney Murder Machine. If the coffins of all our killed troops were lined up end to end, they would stretch down the highway for 4 long miles. Think about it next time you drive to work. Watch the clock as you are going 60 miles per hour, rushing past all those coffins, and think about all the fatherless kids, the grieving families surrounding each one. And tens of thousands more suffer permanently maimed, brain damaged, psychologically wounded.
Now think about the dead Iraqis - the end to end bodies (no coffins for most), would go on and on for a couple HUNDRED MILES. That is the legacy of our fascist WAR PRESIDENT - a murderous thug.
JAIL CHENEY and JAIL BUSH for Mass Manslaughter
He said while wearing body armor, surrounded by a company of marines with 3 attack helicopters overhead.
He tried to cooperate - too bad the people don't believe him.
To be so anxious to shill for an 'enemy' who shamelessly dishonorably sinks McCain in the past presidential race is a sure mark of senility on his part.
Someone needs to remind the senile old man that Iraq is more than Baghdad.
Great post! That's the point, it's too early to tell
and the violence has just moved.
The straight talk express was against the surge before he was for it. It's true if you go to market accompanied by 100 soldiers, 3 Blackhawks,and 2 Apache Gunships you can feel safe. But that doesn't help regular Iraqis.
There is little substantial proof that anything as changed other than the areas being protected and the areas not being unprotected therefore open to use by the insurgents. Attacks still occur in unprotected areas and from unprotected areas into protected areas.
Question has the Straight Talk Express bus been retrofit with rose colored windows?
need to read any further ?
"The congressmen, who wore body armor during their hourlong shopping excursion,..."
they were feeling so safe ...
"well, you know. In fact if Al gore would have been pres on 9/11" ...
then, there would have been no operation northwoods********** sorry, no 9/11
Older people have difficulty changing a view even in the face of overwhelming reasons to do so (remembering weaning my dad to email from fax).
Poor old John, you might have made a differnce in 2000 - but no longer. You missed your chance and we don't want the same re-heated meal bush has been serving these last 6 years.
Goodbye John -- time to do some fishing buddy!
Get a clue McCain, at this point--Americans do not want to WIN in Iraq--they want to leave Iraq and leave that country to sort out itself. This is not a game and there will never be any winners. There will simply be those that are the problem (terrorists) those that are part of the problem (Insurgents, militias and terrorists and the US and most importantly--those who created the problem in the first place--the United States. Guess which group will be held responsible for all of it from buildings in rubble to dead, blown up people and chaos---yep, the US. Because we meddled and we broke it. We don't want to stay and win because every day we are there--someone who was not dead the day before may lose their life and the blood on our hands can only grow--never diminish. Death and destruction is like that.
MCCAIN IS DELUSIONAL!!!
From the BBC News Website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6516155.stm
"Iraqi figures estimate civilian deaths in violence across the country rose by 13% last month, despite the security crackdown in Baghdad.
Data compiled by several ministries put civilian deaths in March at 1,861 - compared with 1,645 for February.
A BBC correspondent in Baghdad says insurgents seem to have shifted their focus outside the capital to avoid recently introduced security measures."
Here's something the neo-cons could try for once in their lives.
It's called - the truth.
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