McCain Discusses Iraq Market Visit

Arizona Senator Speaks Exclusively With Correspondent Scott Pelley

(CBS)  Senator John McCain says the House, the Senate and the majority of the American people are all wrong when it comes to Iraq. He set out to prove it last week by walking into the heart of Baghdad. What he said about security after that walk set off front page outrage in the media. Correspondent Scott Pelley and a 60 Minutes team were the only reporters with McCain.

McCain is gambling his bid for the White House on success in the war. When Pelley sat down with him in Iraq, he said Americans can't lose their nerve now, just when he thinks there’s reason to hope.

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"I believe that we can succeed and I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic. Those who say 'Just withdraw,' then you say, 'What next?'" Sen. McCain says.

"I wonder at what point do you stop doing what you think is right and you start doing what the majority of the American people want?" Pelley asks.

"Well, again, I disagree with what the majority of the American people want. Failure will lead to chaos, withdrawal will lead to chaos," McCain replies.

With pressure to withdraw building at home, McCain landed in the midst of the Baghdad surge and did something that would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago.

The new commander, Army General David Petraeus, sealed McCain inside the latest armored Humvee, soldiers call it a "Full Up Frag 5," and took McCain on a Sunday drive to the market.

Gen. Petraeus wrote the book on the Bush administration’s new strategy. He started eight weeks ago, moving U.S. troops off bases and into neighborhoods to clear and hold the streets. The centerpiece is the al Shorja market. Two months ago it was devastated by a car bomb. Now the Army has banned vehicles and laid on extra security.

Petraeus brought McCain to a rug shop, an ordinary scene, until you step back to see the 22 soldiers outside. Inside, McCain did his own reporting, asking the rug merchant, "In the last two months are things better or worse?"

The merchant said things are better, but, he said, there are snipers in the neighborhood that sometimes paralyze the market. The tour of the bazaar seemed, well, a little bizarre. The delegation played the role of tourists while surrounded by enormous firepower. The guns, though, couldn’t protect McCain from his own words.

The week before, trying to build support for the surge, he said this on television: "General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in an unarmed Humvee."

And he said this on the radio: "There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods today."

Those words came back to haunt him in a Baghdad news conference. And he made it worse.

"Senator McCain, I just read in the Internet that you said there are areas in Baghdad that you can walk around freely," a reporter asked.

"Yeah, I just came from one," McCain replied.

But backing up that stroll through the market were ten armored Humvees, soldiers with rifles, and two Apache attack helicopters circling overhead.

"I understand why they would provide me with that security but I can tell you if it had been two months ago and I'd asked to do it, they'd a said, 'Under no circumstances whatsoever.' I view that as a sign of progress," McCain tells Pelley.

"You mentioned in an interview that General Petraeus sometimes goes into Baghdad in an unarmored Humvee, and that there were neighborhoods you can walk though without being concerned for your safety," Pelley asks the senator.

"There is no unarmored Humvee, obviously that’s the case," McCain says. "I’m trying to make the point over and over and over again that we are making progress. There are signs of progress. But it’s long and it’s hard and it’s tough."

"You were a little annoyed with yourself, I think," Pelley remarks.

"Of course I'm going to misspeak and I've done it on numerous occasions and I probably will do in the future. I regret that when I divert attention to something that I've said from my message but you know that's just life, and I'm happy frankly with the way I operate, otherwise it would be a lot less fun," McCain says.

He's worried that the market misspeak is distracting from his conviction that the strategy is working after years of mismanagement by the Bush administration.

McCain describes former Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as one of the worst secretaries of defense in the history of the country. Asked why he says so, McCain says, "Well, the war was just very badly mismanaged, there's ample evidence of that."

"But the secretary of defense is not commander-in-chief," Pelley remarks.

"No, he’s not," McCain agrees.

"What responsibility does the president bear for this?" Pelley asks.

"Again, I think the president has great responsibility for it, the buck always stops there," McCain says.

"But you seem to give President Bush a pass even though you are so hard on how this war was managed you don’t seem to criticize the president for that," Pelley says.

"I say that he is responsible and I'll continue to say he is responsible. Should I look back in anger or should I look forward and say 'Lets support this new strategy, support this new general, and let's give it everything we can to have it succeed,'" McCain replies.

[arnol_]

Note McCain's benchmarks for success as he laid them out for Iraqi leadership:

#1. We've go to have the oil revenue thing pass.
#2,3,4,5,.... all those other issues.

"the oil revenue thing" he's talking about is a pending legislation that will turn control over the Iraqi oil to oil companies.

McCain is clearly part of the *** Cheney cabal, who took us there for oil, and we are still there for oil.

We can't leave now he says, because if we do, what's next?

But don't be fooled. This is not a question he and all of them want you to think about. They want none of that. All it is is a way to start their fear mongering on you. Chaos, haven for terrorists, if we leave they will follow us here, 911.

And I am so disgusted with the subservient media who never dares to confront them with a simple "how do you know?" And this is the same people who lied us into this war, and who have been wrong on everything they predicted about how this adventure would turn out, now trying to prolong it as much as possible with more lies and more fear mongering.

I used to respect him. Now there is nothing but contempt.

[firststate]

earlcornbrea
Our children, grandchildren and probably beyond will have to pay for all the insanity in Iraq, including the Bushshit tour by the former straight-talker. Now, McCan't talk straight is just a mouthpiece for the Pedophiles for a new American century (PNAC). They continue thinking that if nobody notices the bad news, it goes away. Now McCan't talk straight is hoping to prevent anyone's noticing the surge in US military fatalities that's rising slightly faster than the the surge in forces. The extra soldiers are providing extra targets.

The current "whack-a-mole" policy proves that the generals really did know more than the political hacks about the size of the force needed. We might have prevented the Iraqi civil war if we had started with enough troops and/or left the bulk of Iraq's military & police intact. The dicknbush crew decided that the bushie a$$kissers knew more than the military about the size of the force needed, as their second mistake. Their first being, letting "daddy" issues drive military policy. The number of their mistakes has risen steadily, along with both the human and financial costs of those mistakes.

[earlcornbrea]

Who is paying for John McCain's security? TWO Apache helicopers, soldier support, etc?... This is clearly a campaign stunt. He put lives in jepardy and spent MORE of our American dollars - to what? TRY to prove himself right? He proved he is a liar and we paid for it.

[bandit931]

since you decided to insult my MOS bluestardad, lol, I thought I would post again, my point was you should ask your kids and I am sure they will agree with me that a good portion of the troops are not seeing combat, instead getting paid to sit around on FOBs eating fat kid food in the mess halls, hence why I said its a "paid vacation", I am sure your kids would agree. And please dont insult my MOS again cause you have no clue what I do.

[bluestardad]

I agree that the Bush administration is Hated outside the bubble of Washington Republicans That is why they are covered in security and only speak at Military bases. If Bush went out in Real Public he would be stoned by the American People! We have been drawn to Iraq for the interest of things other than American National Security Interest? If this can be proven then America can and should arrest Bush and Cheney their Entire Administration and put them on trial for War Crimes just like we did the Nazis after WWII.

If you follow the money trail you will find that most of those elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm

50 years of American involvement in the Middle East is enough. If these animals do not want to play in the sand box together it is not in Americas interest to make them. We Should get out of the entire Middle East! They have nothing worth one more American Life anywhere in the Middle East!
If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[e-mail] Here is the Republican Party email address too!

[e-mail] Here is the Democratic Party email address also!

[toldyouso21]

People of McCain's generation are less likely to have been heavily involved in drugs, less likely to have plaigarized their way through high school & college, more likely to have volunteered for military service. Posted by jaye43 at 02:13 AM : Apr 10, 2007


I was laughing soooo hard at those remarks, that I almost forgot to post. What was it we heard about vietnam? Oh yeah..that drugs like heroin and weed were rife among soldiers and back home--they were doing the same and tripping out on LSD. Even king bush did coke and weed right? How old was McCain in Vietnam. Let's see....40 years ago.... hm 32. I guess your right. No 32 year old would even THINK about doing drugs (not)

Seriously though--McCain is a liar. It is just like that moment when Bush claimed he (and his admin) never was about staying the course and Youtube and the media played clip after clip---you get caught with your pants down on tv (in a lie) and it is all over but the singing.

McCain is promising us more of the same--and outside the GOP bubble Bush is HATED and despised by most Americans. You tell us more of the same--in lies, in leadership in the stance on the war--it is time for your azz to go.

[hillaryin08]

I guess you kook liberals didnt get the word that Nancy and Dingy Harry got water-boarded on this issue by the Real Democrat Leadership!

Nice Try............

[forthepeopl1]

Administration officials led by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez have been meeting privately for weeks with Republican senators. That expanded to a meeting in late March with key senators from both parties.

privately means how much money will i get if i go along with you boys. so how much for me.me.me.me.me.me.me.me.

that what it all about..how much money is in it for me..

time to get rid of our government......
Posted by forthepeopl1 at 08:38 AM : Apr 10, 2007

[forthepeopl1]

A declassified Pentagon report released Thursday concludes that there was no
direct cooperation between Saddam Hussein's regime and al Qeada. But *** Cheney,
apparently, remains convinced there was. ONLY IN HIS AND BUSHES HEAD!!!! ALSO
RUMSFELDS HEAD..THEY SHOULD BE HANGED FOR TREASON AGAIST OUR COUNTRY...FOR THE
MURDERS OF OUR KIDS.

The Washington Post on Friday said the report, which had been issued in summary
form in February, drew on "captured Iraqi documents" and "interrogations of
Saddam Hussein and two former aides" which "all confirmed" that Saddam and al
Qaeda were not working together prior to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. THERE
HAVE BEEN ALOT OF US SAYING THIS EXECT THING FOR A LONG TIME NOW, SO WERE ARE
THE ONES THAT LOVE THERE BUSH CRIME FAMILY.THIS SHOULD KILL THEM..SEEING CHENEY
WINEING LIKE A BABY.

WHY NOT LET ALL AMERICA KNOW ALL THIS, THIS SHOULD BE IN ALL PAPERS AND NEWS FOR
DAY ON DAYS UNTIL OUR ELECTED DO THE RIGHT THING. IMPEACH AND CHARGE THEM ALL
WITH WAR CRIMES...

at what point do you in congress take our consitution,bill of rights and play by the law..before there is a coup on your hands

[yeibiche]

"I wonder at what point do you stop doing what you think is right and you start doing what the majority of the American people want?" Pelley asks.

"Well, again, I disagree with what the majority of the American people want. Failure will lead to chaos, withdrawal will lead to chaos," McCain replies.

So, basically McCain is telling us that even though he hopes to be our President, he doesn't give a f%$** what we want, he's going to do it his way. Seems we've already had 6 years of THAT strategy. And to think I was supporting him before Bush stole the crown. When will these arrogant *** learn that "we the people" are the boss?

[yeibiche]

"I wonder at what point do you stop doing what you think is right and you start doing what the majority of the American people want?" Pelley asks.

"Well, again, I disagree with what the majority of the American people want. Failure will lead to chaos, withdrawal will lead to chaos," McCain replies.

So, basically McCain is telling us that even though he hopes to be our President, he doesn't give a f%$** what we want, he's going to do it his way. Seems we've already had 6 years of THAT strategy. And to think I was supporting him before Bush stole the crown. When will these arrogant *** learn that "we the people" are the boss?

[bluestardad]

bandit931; Great take your happyass back over there! When my kids go again if you can soldier up to their MOS then you can swap for them! Take McCain with you!

[bandit931]

Sorry to tell you all this but the majority of Iraq is really not a dangerous place, and for 85 percent of the troops over there its a "paid vacation", except obviously being apart from their families which sucks. I spent 13 months operating every day in the city of Ramadi, one of the worst cities to be in, and this might be hard for some of you to hear, but there is progress happening. I definitly dont agree with how Bush has handled everything, but from my experience a good majority of the troops want to be over there.

[bluestardad]

Stick a Fork in McCain he is done! IN fact Republicans are endangered species! They are all but gone from the political Horizon for about the next 12 years! If America lets them come back then!

[jaye43]

I watched most of Scott Pelley's interview with McCain. Stereotypes of aging are no more accurate than stereotypes of gender, race, or sexual orientation, and the electronic media does us a disservice to perpetuate that stereotype. People of McCain's generation are less likely to have been heavily involved in drugs, less likely to have plaigarized their way through high school & college, more likely to have volunteered for military service. Bush was younger than McCain when he was elected. "Youth" certainly didn't make him a good president! The change in McCain's behavior isn't for any medical reason, he's just trying not to offend any potential voters. All candidates do that to some extent which is unfortunate.

[dylon5]

Remember when Bush was "the uniter and not a divider"? Remember when he wasn't into "nationbuilding"? Remember when, as governor of Texas, while Ann Richards was the preferred choice, he actually reached across the aisle? Republicans believed in small government, states' rights and balanced budgets? Sure, Bush lied. He pretended. Many hood-winked Americans voted for dub'ya in 2000, but that was long before Iraq, torture, absolute arrogance, an unconstitutional power grab, etc. Most Americans now (actually for years now), recognize that the guy is a freakin' train wreck. His apppointees are cronies and his cabinet full of hacks. The war on terror is simply word-speak to justify a son's adolescent compulsion to avenge his father's "failure" at any cost. The solution to the current administration is not to attack eachother. All converts welcome.

[randalds]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If there is anyone close to John McCain, friend or family, that really does care about him then please sit him down and talk him into retiring. It's becoming more and more obvious that he's not as mentally together as he once was. Get him looked at by a good geriatric specialist, get him on the appropriate medications and get him to leave public office while he still has a few shreds of dignity left and before he completely destroys the heroic legacy he spent a lifetime building. Please, for his own sake, get him to retire now.

[toldyouso21]

Of course I'm going to misspeak and I've done it on numerous occasions and I probably will do in the future. I regret that when I divert attention to something that I've said from my message but you know that's just life, and I'm happy frankly with the way I operate, otherwise it would be a lot less fun," McCain says.

translation: McCain is a liar like Bush..and that is just the way he operates--lying is fun.

"I wonder at what point do you stop doing what you think is right and you start doing what the majority of the American people want?" Pelley asks. "Well, again, I disagree with what the majority of the American people want. Failure will lead to chaos, withdrawal will lead to chaos," McCain replies."

Translation: I don't give a ***** what the American people want or think, when I rule, it will be my way or my way, just like Dubya.

Super translation: see GOPers. I can be just like George and take up where he left off...I can! I really, really can!

[firststate]

. . . it is beginning to work in the formerly Al Qaeda controlled parts of the countryside.
Posted by Superpatr898

No parts of the countryside have been Al Qaeda controlled. They've never been more than a tiny minority of the insurgents. They weren't there anywhere until a cowboy with "Daddy" issues invaded Iraq so they could go in and also made sure of Iranian influence over Iraq's government.

McCain knew his Bushshit about Baghdad's safe streets and that Petraeus was riding around Baghdad in an unarmored humvee, was a lie when he said it, but he's painted himself into a corner.

McCain had to notice being whisked through Baghdad in the latest "Full Up Frag 5" armored humvee not a convertible in a motorcade. He couldn't miss the helicopter gun ships, the 100 plus soldiers and a fleet of humvee escorts. It's simple, if he didn't notice any of the security activity, he's senile and needs supervision. If he noticed the level of security, he lied.

He didn't mis-speak, he lied in the tradition of the bushshit we've come to expect from dicknbush. The sale of his soul for a chance to be president is now final. Mr. Straight-talk is no more.

[pakaal]

McCain is "...worried that the market misspeak is distracting from his conviction that the strategy is working after years of mismanagement by the Bush administration."

He should probably be worried about the fact that he's a liar, and that every time he lies, people hear him lying. First he says Petreus drives around in an unarmored Humvee, then admits that wasn't true? And he blow's it off with "that's the way I operate"?! He seems to be following Bush's lead on how to be a President. Lie, and keep lying.