Iraq Vet: U.S. Can't Afford McCain Victory

Army Ranger Blasts GOP Candidate's Iraq War Stance, Says McCain Would Ignore Other Threats

(AP)  Speaking on behalf of the Democratic Party, an Iraq combat veteran said Saturday that apparent GOP nominee John McCain should not win the presidential election because he would continue the war in Iraq.

Roger Martinez, who served as an Army ranger in Afghanistan and Iraq, noted in the Democrats' weekly radio address that President Bush endorsed McCain this week. Bush said McCain "won't flinch in the face of danger" and McCain strongly supports the U.S. efforts in Iraq. Electing a leader who would continue Bush's policies in Iraq would be a mistake, Martinez said.

"Our country and our armed services cannot afford another leader like President Bush who would keep our overstretched military in Iraq for 100 years while ignoring the other threats our country faces both at home and around the world." McCain has said that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for many years if those troops were no longer being injured or killed.

"I honor and thank John McCain for his years of military service to our country," said Martinez, who is studying at the University of Texas at San Antonio. "But I don't think he offers the right leadership on Iraq or understands how to reinvigorate our economy here at home."

Martinez said U.S. troops are fighting bravely, "but no matter what they do they cannot solve the political problems in Iraq." The next commander in chief needs to promise to make the fight against al Qaeda in Afghanistan a greater priority than the war in Iraq, Martinez said.

McCain has acknowledged that he must convince voters of the wisdom of defense of the Iraq war, and the increase of troops that has improved conditions there.

The Arizona senator has said that both leading Democrats in the presidential race want to abandon Iraq to al Qaeda.

Martinez said McCain also is out of touch with families like his own.

"He says the economy is strong but how can he not see that families like mine are struggling to pay for out-of-control health care costs, home heating bills, gasoline and college tuition," Martinez said.

McCain, who has said economics isn't his strong suit, said Friday tax cuts and job training are needed to lift an economy that is either in recession or is headed toward one. He was responding to a report showing widespread job losses amid the housing and credit crisis.

[truthspeake2]

Unfortunately, the infighting among democrats may allow this idiot to sneak under the radar...

[jerr11]

McCain will be our next president.

The neocons have too many future contracts at stake to let the election go to the democrats.

If they can''t win them, they will steal them.

Remember Florida 00, Ohio 04.

[taotxzen]

(cont)

%u201CThe department is cooperating with that investigation and has no further comment,%u201D said spokesman Peter Carr.

Sutton, whose ties to Bush date back to the president%u2019s Texas gubernatorial campaign, has been singled out himself by Republican critics who have called for his resignation. So far, he%u2019s weathered the political storm.

The critics have accused Sutton of leading an overzealous prosecution of Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, each sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for shooting a Mexican drug courier as he was trying to flee back to Mexico.
%u201CThe type of protection from political pressure that Johnny has gotten was the kind of protection that I thought we would get,%u201D said Iglesias, who said he bears Sutton no ill will. %u201CAnd we didn%u2019t get it, I think largely because we didn%u2019t have a personal relationship with the president.%u201D

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Iglesias said he asked Sutton how he knew about his firing.

%u201CI saw your name,%u201D he quoted Sutton as saying.
Iglesias said in an interview that Sutton refused to elaborate, %u201Cbut to have one of the most powerful U.S. attorneys tell me my firing was political was confirmation, in my view, that I was fired for the wrong reasons.%u201D

During a congressional investigation of the firings, department e-mails revealed that Sutton was given a heads-up about the firings because he was the chairman of the Attorney General%u2019s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys.
Justice Department officials said they couldn%u2019t comment on Iglesias%u2019 account because of an ongoing probe of the firings by the department%u2019s inspector general and the Office of Professional Responsibility.

(cont)

[Stratmaster7]

Cut taxes, spend trillions on waging war. There is a great formula for our economy.

[taotxzen]

(cont)

%u201CI couldn%u2019t believe what I was hearing: a U.S. attorney all but admitting that a colleague was being hung out to dry for reasons that had nothing to do with performance or professionalism,%u201D he wrote in a draft of the book, which McClatchy obtained.

Sutton, who%u2019s the top U.S. attorney in San Antonio, didn%u2019t return phone calls Thursday seeking comment.
As a result of Iglesias%u2019 and several other prosecutors%u2019 accusations that they were fired in December 2006 for improper political reasons, the Justice Department turned over thousands of documents, and Congress forced top officials, including Gonzales, to testify.

No one has determined who decided which prosecutors should be fired and why. Democrats say that must mean the White House was calling the shots, while the administration has said it demonstrates that the firings were blown out of proportion.

(cont)

[lmcq1]

oh lord - still talking about florida 00 - GET OVER IT!
btw truthspeake2- if you call someone who took years of torture to defend his country an idiot, then i''ll take him any day over our other options!

[taotxzen]

Fired US Attorney Says Colleague Told Him Politics Was Behind His Ouster

Published on Friday, March 7, 2008 by McClatchy Newspapersby Marisa Taylor

WASHINGTON - A longtime protege of President Bush told former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias that he was fired for political reasons and that he shouldn%u2019t fight his ouster, Iglesias says in a new book.

%u201CThis is political,%u201D Iglesias recalls Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton telling him shortly after he was ousted. %u201CIf I were you, I%u2019d just go quietly.%u201D
Iglesias, a former U.S. attorney in New Mexico, is one of nine federal prosecutors whose firings triggered a yearlong controversy at the Justice Department and led to the resignations of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and 11 other Justice Department officials.

Iglesias cites the exchange with Sutton in his upcoming book, %u201CIn Justice,%u201D as further evidence that he was forced out because Republicans were displeased with his refusal to prosecute Democrats.

(cont)

[Stratmaster7]

John McCain is not an idiot, and he served our country well. However, his skill set is irrelevant in today''s world. He has waffled numerous times, and eventually succumbed and capitulated to the Bush crime family.

[vet_sk]

I have nothing bad to say about McCain but to say that you support him and think he is up for the job because he ended up in a POW camp for six years, I don''t get it. That was six years that he lost of his life.

And then if he would have stuck to his guns over torture, that would have been good too - but instead he supported the torture bill. That''s unacceptable.

As a Vet of Iraq myself, I will not be able to support McCain either or anyone else that voted for that war that has cost so many lives and so much treasury.

[wfbdem]

I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends... If they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them

[mbievtea]

You would think an ex-Ranger like Martinez would understand the consequences of walking-away from Iraq. We are not in Iraq "to solve the political issues". Being in Iraq is a complex set of varioius goals. Helping to establish some type-form of representative government; shaking the status quo that gave us 9-11; letting our dangerous enemies know that America will not be intimidated and is willing to fight back; taking the moral responsibility that other countries haven''t the "backbone" to acknowledge. It''s hard to understand how someone like Martinez who knows what it is like to work through difficult situations -- remember, he is an ex-Ranger -can think that everyone is "owed" something. Yeah, it''s not fun to pay all the bills and things aren''t always perfect. But ... they never have been! I have a thought: how many families have too many television choices and pay for them? how many families simply choose not to buy health insurance? how many families think they have to have every "bell and whistle" on their phones? You have to make choices.

[blmratl]

it is just so ridiculous how left leaning how our wonderful news publications are. anything negative about the GOP - post it!! god forbid anything bad is said about good ole barack our hillary!

[besscannon-2009]

This country! Our government is now bilinqual, they speak English and DOUBLE SPEAK! Since Bush has been in there, nobody is allowed to speak honest English.
You double speak or you are fired! No two ways about it. Oh! Yes! There are two ways, Bush''s way or the Highway. "Nuff said!

[chgrbill]

GOP ALL THE WAY!!!

[newz4i]

Ubetcha, Iraqi vet ! ! !

A Bush/McCain ticket is not the leadership our military needs to place their hands in.

This nation needs to see our America not through the eyes of a temper tantrum but with a vision of an honest respect for American''s finest ... our people and all people around the world.

Vote out more Republicans, as we did in the 2006 election, and we CAN get there.

[bhappy2-2]

I have been following all the candidates for this one. So far, all of our options suck. There is not a single candidate that represents America, everyone that has a chance to win really represents the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. These candidates have NO compassion for the Citizens they claim to represent. Their compassion is reserved for ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS because they are making HUGE PROFITS from the use of ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. These "Americans" SUCK!!!

[Stratmaster7]

mbievtea said: "Being in Iraq is a complex set of varioius goals. Helping to establish some type-form of representative government; shaking the status quo that gave us 9-11; letting our dangerous enemies know that America will not be intimidated and is willing to fight back; taking the moral responsibility that other countries haven''''t the "backbone" to acknowledge."

Sorry, but none of those types of issues have ever been used by America to invade a country and start a war before. Afghanistan was letting our enemies know we would not be intimidated. Iraq is an attempt to justify a desire for oil profits with an attack that had nothing to do with the country we invaded.

[homespunlady]

I wondered why CBS didn''t do an article on what George said in HIS Saturday Speech so I found his speech and read the synopsis.

King George DEFENDED his VETO of the Congressional Bill restricting TORTURE to the methods outlined in the Military Manual.

My BIGGEST LAUGH was his statement calling WATER-BOARDING -"one of the MOST VALUABLE TOOLS in the WAR ON TERROR"!!!!!

Hey George - what about hang, drawing and quartering to go along with your water-boarding!
Apparently taking pliers to the testicles of the kids of alleged terrorists is allowed according to your EX atty general. How about RAPING the daughters to go along with that. the ACADEMY AWARD winning Documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side" PROVES turning the bones in the legs of INNOCENT citizens into PULP was allowed to happen because of YOUR DEFENSE of UNRESTRICTED TORTURE.

Sheesh...now wonder CBS AVOIDED despot W''(astrel)s speech.

[fleshmonger1]

"Never underestimate the power of denial" How true that as it is proven by those who continue to support policies that produce no tangible results, or at least none of the results that our government claims as our goals. One tangible result is that Afghanistan is now again one of the leading producers of herion that elements of our government receive profits from to fund all kinds of secret programs and agendas. Another tangible result would be that the U.S. will now have a military presence in most of the remaining oil producing countries so that they will be able to excert "influence" in those countries as oil reserves continue to dwindle and the situation becomes more volatile. I wish I could personally thank each and every person in uniform for their service to our country. It is not those who follow orders who should shoulder the responsibility for these kinds of actions, it is those people who dictate policy and conceive the strategies used to acheive policy objectives that should have trouble sleeping at night...

[it_oldtimer]

You Repugs just love to dish out vicious, personal attacks, but you sure can''t take any criticism yourselves, can ya?

That''s pretty funny, considering you Republicans were the ones that refined "attack politics" into a high art form by encouraging the likes of Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter.

Quit your pathetic whining. You''ve made your own bed, and now you''ll just have to sleep in it!

As a retired military veteran who has served in that region I agree 100% with Mr Martinez. Our presence there is making everything much, much worse, not better.

We should never have gone into Iraq in the first place. The best course now is to just get the hell out before things degenerate even more.

[sjc_1]

We need to get out of Iraq and redeploy big time to Afghanistan. That is where Al Qaida was and still is. Iran would not even think of doing anything stupid with huge U.S. military bases right next door. Pakistan might actually behave itself with us able to strike whenever necessary.

[homespunlady]

Yep, George sure is HELPING his FAMILY FRIEND OSAMA BIN LADEN WIN the "War on TERROR" and his OPEC OIL BUDDIES win George''s secret "war on the American Peasants".

George''s NEW Sound Byte:
Feudalism is NOT Dead - we''re WORKING HARD to bring it to America and the rest of the world.

[joyous88]

I am another retired vet with many years of combat service in all the recent conflicts and vietnam;

Mr Martinez if correct the republiCONs are not out for a safer world and are not caring for the troops; they are scaming America

war profiteers, and greed driven capitalist conservatives

[joyous88]

this war was designed to help the republiCONs win
an election based of fear,

They have become UN-american

Python Charlie Six, Out:

[hotpaulie]

I trust Iraq veterans more than anything that comes out of McCains mouth. An endorsement by King George does nothing good for him.

[it_oldtimer]

It''s really dissappointing to find that a guy like McCain, who suffered years of [illegal] torture himself, would not only support the continued use of torture now, but actually wish to enshrine it as official US national policy.

I guess that, when you get right down to it, we''re really no better than the old NVA, or any other brutal, backward little third-world country.

At least as long as the Republican''s continue to get their way.

[hungry1968]

McCain, as President will end the war with honor and Crush the Al-Qaida and its Co-horts. Just you watch!

Posted by dumbshun at 12:26 PM : Mar 08, 2008





By continuing the same failed policies that Bush and the rest of the war mongering neo cons have instituted?

Yeah - sounds like a brilliant plan.

[lmcq1]

hey rafterman1 - why don''t you try tuning into your news programs in the mornings (today show, gma, etc.)- they give the democratic candidates more than double the air time that they give the republican candidates. please don''t expect an educated person like myself to believe that they are fair and unbiased! you obviously don''t watch the news very often, eh?

[it_oldtimer]

"McCain, as President will end the war with honor and Crush the Al-Qaida and its Co-horts. Just you watch!"

Posted by dumbshun

---------------------------------

How can you end a war with "honor" when that war was TOTALLY dishonest and dishonorable to begin with? That''s like trying to find something honorable in a vicious, pointless hate crime.

There was never, ever anything "honorable" about attacking Iraq.

And you''ll never crush Al Queda either - it''s a philosophy, not a disease like smallpox. As long as we continue to make Muslim people hate us, with our aggressive in-your-face politics, then Al Queda will live on.

If Al Queda were HERE telling YOU what to do, you''d do the very same thing theyr''e doing - and you wouldn''t quit until they were finally gone. What makes you think they''re any different, in that regard?

[mcvet]

Cut & Run from Iraq? Let Al-Qaida Grab Iraq? Board the Bama-mobile Labeled "SURRENDER EXPRESS"? Go to Afghanistan to Harvest the Record POPPY crop? Booze the Booze and smoke the joint of the joints?... and live in a "Fools Paradise" for ever?


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Posted by dumbshun at 12:39 PM : Mar 08, 2008
+ report abuse

This is absolute HOG WASH from a follower of the "Party". Someone who isn''t able to admit he was LIED to and that the real enemy, the one who attacked us, is in Afganistan completely rebuilt. They are sad but continuing to follow failed policy and failed leadership isn''t going to win anyone anything. Iraq had NOTHING to do with that attack on us and if we are to survive as a country we HAVE to send a message to those who DID attack us. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[j-whitman]

Many Pentagon Generals who have met McCain say he''s the last one you''d want with his finger on the nuclear trigger ---- They say he suffers from PTSD & trips out.

[mcvet]

McCain is a VETERAN TOO! You forgot? or You didn''''t know?


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Posted by dumbshun at 12:31 PM : Mar 08, 2008
+ report abuse

McCain was a pilot who never was in actual ground combat. He knows NOTHING of what it''s like to fight a civil war! Any fool can look at the situation we''re in and understand we are losing. Iraq was a big mistake and it''s time we just turned it over to the UN and went on with business. We have NO right to go in there and start telling these folks how to govern themselves. ANYONE who thinks the Shiite and Iran will allow Al Queda to "take over" is drinking way to much Kool Aid. We can''t afford it any longer... Sieg Heil Bush

[j-whitman]

T-racyMorgan,,,, At the very least he should get a complete psychiratic exam for PTSD.

[mcvet]

and another story could run tomorrow about an Iraq vet that says McCain is correct. Probably not from CBS though.

LOL


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Posted by T-racyMorgan at 12:52 PM : Mar 08, 2008
+ report a

Well yes, if the nazi''s have enough time they can round up someone I''m sure. Happened during vietnam as well. Will that make a difference? Will that suddenly turn the 6 year mess called Iraq into a success? Will that stop Al Queda from recruiting and training? Nope!. When you''ve been whooped as bad as the Neocon''s have it''s time for a new plan and new ideas. Sieg Heil Bush

[it_oldtimer]

McCain''s notorious "From A-to-Z temper" is actually highly characteristic of serious unresolved PTSD issues.

The man was tortured for years - how stable could ANYBODY really be after that?

[mcvet]

Many Pentagon Generals who have met McCain say he''''s the last one you''''d want with his finger on the nuclear trigger ---- They say he suffers from PTSD & trips out.


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Posted by j-whitman at 12:51 PM : Mar 08, 2008
+ report abuse

After seeing him on the plane the other night I must agree. We have had all we can stand of a brain dead bully, who''s idea of statesmanship is pounding his chest and yelling bring em on!!

[j-whitman]

T-racyMorgan,,,, Think about it --- McCain crashed 5 aircraft, spent years as a POW, & many say he was the pilot who started the fire on board the USS Forrestal that killed over 100 of our servicmen.

[mcvet]

hey rafterman1 - why don''''t you try tuning into your news programs in the mornings (today show, gma, etc.)- they give the democratic candidates more than double the air time that they give the republican candidates. please don''''t expect an educated person like myself to believe that they are fair and unbiased! you obviously don''''t watch the news very often, eh?


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Posted by lmcq1 at 12:47 PM : Mar 08, 2008
+ report abuse

It''s called NEWS you simple minded MORON! They are trying to MAKE HISTORY... they are having a race for the nomination that we have NOT seen in decades! You poor simple minded Nazi''s see anything that doesn''t set with the "Party" as biased. LOOK at the numbers of people going to the polls in this primary. You think THAT isn''t news??? Now if you freaks don''t wake up the eagle is going to sail without you yet again!! Sieg Heil Bush!

[Stratmaster7]

Stratmasters Message Board Rule #1: The people who refer to themselves as "educated" will be the least informed posters on the board.

[mcvet]

The man was tortured for years - how stable could ANYBODY really be after that?


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Posted by IT_Oldtimer at 12:56 PM : Mar 08, 2008
+ report abuse

Yes and I have all the admiriation for him in the world. I just do not want someone who is VERY questionable mentally, as you state, with his finger on the button. Give him a medal if you like just not the job of Commander in Chief thank you!! Sieg Heil Bush.

[vet_sk]

" These are just two things from the Washington Post''s Factcheck.org:

"I''m a little busy right now; I hardly have time to sleep. But I will certainly work toward releasing [my tax returns], and we will get that done and in the public domain."
--Hillary Clinton, MSNBC debate, Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 26, 2008.

The Clinton camp has been trying to make hay on the income tax returns issue for weeks. During a campaign stop in Ithaca on July 7, the first lady said she found Lazio''s failure to make public his returns "frankly disturbing."
--Associated Press report, Aug. 3, 2000.

[hgrayowl]

Unfortunately, if Hillary suceeds in stealing the nomination, this Democrat will have no choice but to vote for John McCain, even if he is Bush-lite

[Stratmaster7]

Sure hgrayowl. Let the criminal conduct, murder, torture and wiretapping continue.

[j-whitman]

T-racyMorgan--- Do you have any idea what Admrial Fallon is doing in Iraq now ???

He''s trying to figure out how our troops can hold on to what ground they take & still proceed against Al Queda --
-- He & SECDEF Gates know many have to redeploy to meet other military commitments in this War on Terror.

[hgrayowl]

Stratmaster.....Hillary the Monster is even worse and will do anything it takes to destroy anyone who disagrees with her.

[realpatriot1]

j-whitman,

Tracy Morgan should also be given a full psychiatric exam.

He''s changed his persona from an angry black gangster to a Republican operative in a manner of weeks.

Schizoprenia possibly?

Next thing you know he''ll change his name to Sybil.

[Stratmaster7]

Our economy is headig toward the biggest depression since the "big one". We illegally invaded a sovereign country. Our President simply states that he will ignore laws that he does not agree with. We have the largest deficit and debt in history, mostly owed to other countries who could now bring us to our knees financially. We are wiretapping our own citizens without warrants. Whenever the administrationw ants something it says the word "terror" and scares the public into being passive. But another 4 years of GOP would be better than Hillary because... why again? You lost me.

[lmcq1]

stratmaster2 - anybody making a "message board rule list" can''t be too much of a nitwit...

[j-whitman]

T-racyMorgan --- Think about it,,,,,, McCain is flat asss lying & nucking futs ------- He can''t attack Iran without the troops to invade it.

Hillary has said, somewhere between 20,000 to 80,000 troops have to be kept in Iraq for years to come, Obama knows that also

In the 1st Gulf War which was over in less than 20 days, it took around 3 years before all our troops & equipment was out. ------ This clusterf_ck has been going on 5 years.