McCain: I Didn't Need Armed Guard In Iraq

Senator Insists He Would Have Visited Baghdad Market Without Heavy Security

(CBS/AP)  Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain said he would have taken his tour of an Iraqi market last week even if he had not been accompanied by heavily armed U.S. soldiers.

McCain said he would have walked through a central Baghdad market without the military protection, but the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, had recommended the armed escort.

"I'm not notorious for being nervous about going anywhere," said McCain. "I'll gladly go almost anywhere in the world, under any circumstances, but I did respond and do what Gen. Petraeus asked me to do."

McCain and other members of a congressional delegation toured the market last week, traveling in armored military vehicles and wearing body armor during their hour-long excursion.

The congressional delegation said the trips were proof that security was improving in the capital.

Some Iraqis in Baghdad said McCain's account of the visit to the Shorja market did not represent the current reality in the capital. The market has been hit by several recent bombings, including one in February that killed 137 people.

On Sunday, McCain told 60 Minutes he "misspoke" when he told reporters that conditions in Baghdad had improved so much that Americans could now walk freely through parts of the capital.

But at a news conference Monday in Phoenix, McCain said he talked to many Iraqis in the market who told him that, while they still worried about a sniper operating there, they felt as though things were getting better.

"That place is being rebuilt today and is a functioning market," McCain said. "Of course it isn't entirely safe, but it certainly is a functioning market and progress is being made there."

[macusweil]

McCain and `boy wonder` Graham didn't need the flack jackets & body armor either. They just wore the vests for all the swell pockets to hold things while shopping at the "market" .. gee whizz these guys must think we voters are as dumb as a box of rocks!!

[abbe7]

OK, try again, without the escort this time.

[roger_inkart]

Then, senator, go back and do so. Otherwise this looks like just another gaffe in a series of hilarious missteps. Or, rather, it would be if people weren't dyeing in Iraq on a daily - sometimes hourly - basis.

[tuckerndfw]

His excuses get more lame and pathetic each time he tries to justify his original lies.

Now, he is claiming that a General Officer is telling a US Senator what to do.

That is even more ridiculous than his first lies about the Baghdad being safe.

General Officers suck up to Senators, they do not tell them what to do. Unless they want to be ex-General Officers.

Since McCain had no input (according to him) in the decisions, how can he claim Baghdad is safe? How does he know if he only went where he was told to go, and under conditions established by others (full armor, heavy security, etc.)?

McCain is as dishonest as Bush. His lies are just as pathetic and lame.

McCain is only embarassing himself by pretending he is qualified to be president.

[truthword]

Do these Washington D.C. Traitors actually think people are still buying their BS? These people are so deluded they're ready for the freakin funny farm.

[roger_inkart]

What a BOZO! Does he really think people will buy this ***? Just admit you were wrong and move on. Who is his PR manager? Are they stoned or something?

Senator McCain, shut up about Iraq. You are embarrasing yourself.

[truthword]

These D.C. politicians need a psychological evaluation, they've obviously lost their minds and live in their own deluded little world believing their own delusions.... they think they're so smart and we're so stupid that we'll believe anything they spout out of their lying mouths.... They need some serious help, I think their psychosis is called MEGALOMANIA.

[afmca]

And to think this could be our next President. He is more delusional than the one we have now. Without the escort he would have been dead before he reached the marketplace. Hang it up - John - you're toast!

[irishbitch1]

McCain you are a bigger liar than bush is!

[truthword]

They won't even walk the streets of America without armed guards. They're afraid of we the people, let alone the Iraqi people.

[vastr-wcon]

McCain: DO the right thing and go back to Baghdad WITHOUT A MILITARY ESCORT. If you survive ALONE in the center of the city for 5 MINUTES, you can have my vote - DEAD or ALIVE!

[nyckate]

oh please - not only did he have a heavily armed guard there were also bunch of humvees and a couple helicopters overhead - the 'market' was almost completely empty - all that were there were the few stall owners that were there for PR only.

Sheesh - who's kidding who - this is about as 'real' as then Bush's guy watched the marines take down the statute of saddam.

Whatever credibility McCain may still have had left is now gone - he's gone over to the dark side of the Karl-Rovian PR stunts.

[clestes-2009]

This decides it for me, McCain suffered BRAIN DAMAGE as a POW and no longer reconizes danger until the bullet hits him!

[stevex47]

He probably didn't need the armed guards, what with all the blackhawk helicopter gunships hovering overhead.

[nyckate]

irishbitch1 - I think the thing is we expect Bush to lie and we expected better from McCain - and now he's just like the rest of the Bushies - disappointing - but better to know it now.

[truthword]

Remember when you see John McCain on the campaign trail he really doesn't need that secret service security detail that will be all around him. He's not afraid of anyone or anything, especially the american people.

[iceman_1960]

"Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain said he would have taken his tour of an Iraqi market last week even if he had not been accompanied by heavily armed U.S. soldiers."

Prove it, Senator.

Disguise yourself like Dan Rather did in Afghanistan many years ago, go back and tour around Baghdad without escort. Put a big sign on your back that reads "Kiss Me, I'm American."

Do that, and we'll give you the grandest funeral Phoenix, Arizona ever saw.

[stevex47]

Again, if it's safe, why don't I hear his call for troop withdrawal?

The reich wing ought to apologize to the world for their transgressions, give up on 08 and donate all those monies back to charities. They got zero chance in the next election

[sevenveils]

How can you associate a man who was against the Iraqi war from the start with G.W. Bush?

[truthword]

Fact is these liars won't even walk the streets of america without armed guards, who is he trying to BS? himself?

[ramos937]

McCain is a hero to me and many vets. But, now it is absolutely tragic that his senses have left him. Everybody remembers the reporter - Daniel Something(?) and the young man that evaded the FBI that was trying to send him home from Iraq. The first was kidnapped and the second just gave himself up to the insurgents. Both were beheaded. If McCain is serious, and he was allowed to do what he says, he would first be used for propaganda and then suffer a horrible death.

No doubt about it - No way McCain can become President now. His good common sense has left him.

[iceman_1960]

"McCain said he would have walked through a central Baghdad market without the military protection, but the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, had recommended the armed escort."

So he was just humoring that silly General Petraeus. That's the only reason he had those "Robocop"-looking bodyguards around him. He didn't want to offend the general or hurt his feelings.

I guess this guy is like D*ick Cheney. He enjoys insulting the intelligence of the American people by telling blatant untruths.

But Cheney isn't running for president.

[walt1944-2009]

I can think of places in this country where walking the streets would be like walking the streets in Bagdad. That must be why politicians never visit those neighborhods. Now we have big brave McCain saying he wasn't afraid in Bagdad. Funny he never said so when he was back there, only when he is back home thousands of miles aways from there!

[stevex47]

"I'll gladly go almost anywhere in the world, under any circumstances, but I did respond and do what Gen. Petraeus asked me to do."

Could just one reich wing nut job not pass blame onto others when confronted?

If we are getting lies and hypocrisy from this guy now, what would we get when he's President?

[rafterman1]

McCain's right, he wouldn't have been killed without an armed escort. The terrorists would have kidknapped his a$$ instead. Can you imagine how much a United States Senator is worth as a hostage?

[truthword]

Walt, when you see John McCain on the campaign trail ask him why he has all the armed guards.... he obviously doesn't need them now does he..... so what are they so afraid of, is he more afraid of the American people than the Iraqi people?

[roger_inkart]

Man, you just can't make this stuff up. John Stewart must be grinning from ear to ear. Little wonder shows like the Colbert Report and The Daily Show are so successful and funny - GOP clowns like McCain make it too TOO easy.

McCain is lucky for the Imus flap otherwise his follies would be much more widely reported.

[stevex47]

Just wanted to make clear, I do highly respect McCain as a war hero and veteran. However, my respect for him as a politician is sadly extremely low.

[iceman_1960]

"John McCain's Bizarre Visit to the Bazaar"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=05kIBzcEbb8


(After what will be eight years of George W. Bush in the White House, the American people are not going to elect a John McCain to succeed him.)

[king77shaw]

McCain's flip is flopping ... I respected him before the hostile corporate takeover of Iraq but no longer believe he cares about "we the people" ... no Republicans do for that matter ...

[rafterman1]

"Just wanted to make clear, I do highly respect McCain as a war hero and veteran. However, my respect for him as a politician is sadly extremely low."

Ditto. But politcally, McCain went insane. I don't know, maybe he figures this is his last chance at president (age-wise) and so he's going to pull out all the sleazy politcal stunts since he's got nothing to lose. But by shiftng from independence to just another Bush koolaide drinker, he lost the very thing that appealed to many Americans.

[iceman_1960]

"McCain is lucky for the Imus flap otherwise his follies would be much more widely reported."

Posted by roger_inkart at 01:37 PM : Apr 10, 2007

A potential conspiracy theory here ?

Imus and his buddy are right-of-center.

You don't suppose that Imus crack was deliberately intended to...

Naaaa.

[rfstevens]

Well, since he says he could have walked around without all that security, I guess he could always go back and give it a shot (no pun intended).

[truthword]

King777Shaw, none of these politicians in either party care about "We the people" all they care about are themselves and their big shot buddies. First of all governments on every level in this country have been running a double bookkeeping scam since 1946 called CAFR reporting where they hide all of the tax surpluses, investments, liquid assets, holdings, profit centers, etc etc., they're sitting on enough of our $ to literally pave the streets in gold, they hold onto this money so they can use the almighty dollar as that invisible boot on the back of everyones heads. If you see a politician that isn't talking about getting this money back to "We the People" to whom it rightfully belongs, which none of them are trying to do, or will even mention, then you're just observing another lying scumbag politician, and that's the facts...

[iceman_1960]

John McCain and his heavily armored bodyguards ("Dead or Alive, you're coming with me") enter the Iraqi Bazaar, where the centerpiece of the visit is an Iraqi rug merchant who assures McCain that things are improving in Iraq.

Monty Python couldn't improve on that satire.

[truthword]

"I have very special hand made carpet for you abi"

------------------------
John McCain and his heavily armored bodyguards ("Dead or Alive, you're coming with me") enter the Iraqi Bazaar, where the centerpiece of the visit is an Iraqi rug merchant who assures McCain that things are improving in Iraq.

Monty Python couldn't improve on that satire.
Posted by Iceman_1960 at 01:53 PM : Apr 10, 2007

[terrapin78]

The tap dancing continues.

He's full of S h I t. He'd be dead just going to the bazaar. If he goes unarmed than he must ride in a non-armored vehicle with no GUARDS.

He is so done. He has lost the campaign for the nomination. He is a non-player.

[truthword]

These politicians won't even walk the streets of AMERICA without armed guards. Stop voting for the plutocrats in the republicrap and democrap parties! As a matter of fact I reccomend not even voting, it's all a big dog and pony show anyways, why even waste your time, they're going to INSTALL whomever they want to. Just start ignoring the government and their mass media. We own this country not a few plutocrats in D.C.

[stevex47]

Iceman 1960,

I tried the youtube link. Which video? Thanks in advance,

[inventagod]

...and I have beachfront property I visit in Baghdad whenever I wish - wanna buy an acre?

[teeus]

You know, where I come from, we call that 'full blown crazy whack-a-doodle.'

What happened to the "Straight Talk Express?" I'd be careful if I was him. I think McCain's tongue migh burst into flames if he tells many more whoppers like that.

[inventagod]

McCain - "I am returning to Iraq, and have invited our vice president to accompany me. He has ASSured me he will have his shotgun loaded for my security..."

[truthword]

If the McCain campaign comes to your town show up with a megaphone or just yell at the top of your lungs asking why he has all the armed secret service (SS) agents around him.... These cowards really think we're stupid.....

[funkiwiteboy]

Used and abused I sit once again totally amazed at the actions of MY govment's leaders. I plead guilty to ignorance on just why they do what/when/where/and how?!?! I dearly love this country, The USA, but I fear that which I don't understand. I know in this case it's a healthy fear. Whom do I trust & who will do what we know to be right for US? Been too many deaths over $$
aw hell, better go take my medz.
Please LORD hep me...
The DOG for president!!!

[us_infidel]

"McCain: I Didn't Need Armed Guard In Iraq"
He needed a GUARD on his ARM....probably to help him walk or to keep him from falling down.

John, your presidential time has come and gone. Please give it a rest and live the remainder of your life with some dignity.

[bobbycya]

If he's not scared, tell him to trade that body armor for armour hot dogs, and the body guards for a body glove.

My what a joke. Sunday stroll thru Bagdad? What did they eat, CHICKEN?

[ekucrew]

ODD how ol' Senator Lindsey Graham has been stone silent lately....except to brag about his Baghdad Wally World bargains.

[heartlight3]

Perhaps the reason General Petraeus wanted him to have a huge armed guard was that he, as a "commander on the ground", knows it is still not safe to walk around Baghdad unprotected.

[rharrin1]

McCain should go back to Baghdad and show us.

[roger_inkart]

As Bugs Bunny would say "what a MAROON!"

If, by some miracle, he ends up on the GOP ticket in '08 the only ad the Dems will need will be a clips of:

1. His absurd claim about Baghdad neighborhoods "being safe."
2. His absurd stroll through the marketplace in a bulletproof vest
3. His absurd post-stroll statement that he didn't need protection.

If he isn't toast already, that should pretty much finish him off.