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."

[toldyouso21]

CBS/AP) A bomb exploded in the Iraqi parliament's cafeteria in a stunning assault in the heart of the heavily fortified Green Zone Thursday, killing as many as six lawmakers and wounding at least 10 other people.


McCain: the insurgents would like to personally invite you to a small luncheon to discuss why they will stop killing everyone and support your and Bush's long term plans for Iraq. To ensure your safety, they will submit to searches and will come on foot. They ask that the luncheon take place in the heavily fortified green zone cafeteria which, due to its location is one of the safest placest in Iraq. Still, to make you feel at home and safe, they suggest you bring 100 heavily armed US soldiers and a flak jacket.

Be sure all the soldiers are in the room please and --be there or be square.

[azman80]

Then do it again @sshole, do it again. McCain is a piece of cr@p, a liar, and a brown noser. hey McCain if its so safe, go back for a whole day over there without security. I will pay for your ticket!!

[vincan-2009]

McCain is just as big a liar now as Cheney and Bush. Why in the world did he decide to start kissing the butts of the biggest liars in govt? He is showing that he has not character left. I thought McCain was a real choice against Bush back in 2000. Instead of having a righteous disregard for Bush, who told tons of lies with Rove's help about McCain, he has jumped in bed with the losers.

[toldyouso21]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI&mode=related&search=

There's McCain doing what he does best--even better than the Bagdhad clip. If it does not come up just click on McCain vs McCain--honestly the man is scary and funny at the same time--sort of like Bush.

[toldyouso21]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI&mode=related&search=

There's McCain doing what he does best--even better than the Bagdhad clip. If it does not come up just click on McCain vs McCain--honestly the man is scary and funny at the same time--sort of like Bush.

[toldyouso21]

*Round trip to Bagdhad for Congressional tour group........658,473.92
* cost of fuel for the plane both ways..863,459.00
* hotel stay for all the tour group...22,958.22
*cost of armed escort to market..1,693,428.72
*cost to clear the market for 1 mile area..622,857.31 and 43,000 rounds of ammo
*cost of 3 prayer rugs from planted Iraqi...10.00 (note the guard rolling them up)
*cost of seeing McCain show the US the real McCain LIE and make a fool of himself....PRICELESS

Graham wants the American people to know that he will gladly pick up the cost of the 3 prayer rugs.

[iceman_1960]

"Iceman 1960,

I tried the youtube link. Which video? Thanks in advance" Posted by stevex47 at 02:02 PM : Apr 10, 2007

Here it is. You have to capture it all together as a single URL ending in Ebb8

These posts tend to break up the URLs.

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

[toldyouso21]

Daniel Something(?) and the young man that evaded the FBI that ...No doubt about it - No way McCain can become President now. His good common sense has left him. Posted by ramos937 at 01:29 PM : Apr 10, 2007

Daniel Pearle, the journalist was NOT killed in Iraq or even during the war. He was killed in Pakistan in 2002 by Islamic extremist. He was beheaded.

[toldyouso21]

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!
Posted by VastR-WCon at 01:14 PM : Apr 10, 2007


Don't offer that. Our military has Bagdhad on lock down--nobody is allowed on the streets---he could win your bet, if he goes when all the people are still locked in their homes.

[toldyouso21]

Somebody help McCain PLEASE!!! Tell him if he will go on to other issues maybe the story could die down--he's beating a dead horse and we are all sick of it--if his campaign likes him at all--tell him to shut up and MOVE ON!!!

[toldyouso21]

OK, try again, without the escort this time.
Posted by abbe7 at 12:42 PM : Apr 10, 2007


AND WITHOUT THE MILE RADIUS AREA CLEARED AROUND THE MARKET AND WITHOUT THE PRESELECTED SHOPPERS--GO ON MCCAIN AND DO IT.... AND ALL JOURNALISTS SHOULD USE LONG RANGE LENSES AND STAY AT LEAST 500 FEET BACK FOR THEIR OWN FVCKING SAFETY.

[toldyouso21]

McCain must think we are all really stupid. No matter his valor or what he could have done, the fact is, he had a heavily armed escort, the market was cleared in a mile radius and he came back and put his foot in his mouth by claiming not only were many Bagdhad neighborhoods safe....but in response to an Iraqi's question, he claimed he had "just walked in one today" Not misspeaking---lying and doing so with the few knowledge that it was so unsafe that everything from the market visit, to his trip in the humvee to the hundred soldiers with guns out and the Apache helicopters..was a staged event. Pure propaganda followed with lies--and the idiot does not even have the cover of the white house or GOP voters yet.

If he was smart--like Imus an the apology glut--he would GIVE IT A REST. A person can explain so much that his words begin to condemn him.

[tbradhansen]

It makes a noise when a presidential candidate falls from any possibility of victory this fast. The crazy talk express. What a caricature this guy just became.

[kansas1946]

david1737,
I am still laughing about your post. And your term, neo-con-artist is GREAT! If you made it up, you are a political genius, and if not, thanks for passing it forward.
It is a good match for goofy Ditto-head's "drive-by liberal media." I LOVE it.
neo-con-artist neo-con-artist....

[skyreader7]

If he truly feels that way. Send him back immediately and let him take Bush, Cheney, Graham and Delay with him without any cover.
Posted by lw56611 at 04:15 PM : Apr 10, 2007

You forgot Rove.

[lw56611]

If he truly feels that way. Send him back immediately and let him take Bush, Cheney, Graham and Delay with him without any cover.

[david1737]

When McCain took his walk he was surrounded by more than 100 armed troops, snippers gave cover from surrounding roof tops, and two apache war ships covered him from above.

With this kind of entourage I could walk through south Central wearing a white hood. LOL!!!

He's a Neo-Con-Artist.

[jimfinster]

I feel sorry for McCain. He has totally lost it.

[ubikvalis2]

Now that McCain has cleared up the fact that one doesn't need armed guard to walk safely through the often bombed markets in Baghdad ...

Perhaps he can convince another Republican that they are divinely protected.

I'm thinking Bush can stop protestors from being corraled into "free speech zones", without media access, wherever he goes.

After all, if McCain is immune from snipers and suicide bombings, surely Bush can handle someone holding a "Bush sucks" sign?

[randalds]

McCain has gone around the bend. He really IS senile and every time he opens his mouth he shows it more. For his own sake I hope a friend or family member pulls him aside and out of the public eye before he ends up so far gone that he's wetting his diapers during an interview. He needs medication and retirement since he's obviously no longer in his right mind.