McCain: Al Qaeda Might Influence Election

(CBS/AP)  Republican John McCain said he worries that terrorists might try to influence the November general election with increased attacks in Iraq.

"Yes, I worry about it," he said Friday, responding to a question at a town hall-style forum. "And I know they pay attention, because of the intercepts we have of their communications."

The questioner asked if McCain feared al Qaeda in Iraq or another group might attack in an effort to aid the Democratic nominee, because Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama both favor a withdrawal of U.S. forces.

McCain told reporters later that al Qaeda remains smart and adaptable despite an increase of U.S. troops in Iraq.

"We have had great success with the surge, but to think they're not capable of orchestrating really strong attacks ... I think is an underestimation of the enemy," McCain said.

"We still have the most lethal explosive devices coming across the border from Iran into Iraq," he said. "We still have suicide bombers landing at the airport in Damascus and coming into Iraq as we speak.

"So I would not be surprised if they make an attempt. I believe that we can counter most of it, as we are countering. But there will still be spikes and difficulties and challenges associated with this conflict. Otherwise, I'd be advocating that they come home," he said.

McCain plans to make his eighth trip to Iraq this weekend on a weeklong overseas trip that includes Israel, Britain and France.

He was campaigning Friday in Pennsylvania, which holds presidential primary elections on April 22. Clinton and Obama have claimed the spotlight in the state; McCain sewed up the Republican nomination with victories March 4 in Ohio and Texas.

[kansas1946]

Desparation is an ugly thing. The unstated conclusion to this, of course, is that al Qaeda will ramp up attacks which will be harmful to McCain in a campaign, thus, Al Qaeda wants Obama (or Hillary).
The sad truth of the matter is that Al Qaeda just wants to kill people, McCain and his best buddy Bush made Iraq accessable to them, and Cheney is over in Iraq today talking about "mission accomplished" as the bombs go off around him and 43 civilians were killed.
The Republican party has lost its moral center, its integrity, and its patriotism.
The party has consitantly put party above country.

[stn_sage]

It amazes me, how during the course of discussion, Mr. McCain will go on and on about all the problems in Iraq---and yet, in the end--- declare that ''the surge is working''?! HUH?! His conclusion don''t exactly follow from what he says!

What is this extra dimension I''ve heard of? I think they call it Bizarro world or universe. Is that it?
Do you think he''s in it---or transits it and we can''t physically notice it? May this account for the weirdness?!

[parrot2ok]

Republican John McCain said he worries that terrorists might try to influence the November general election with increased attacks in Iraq.


I felt like screaming out and asking if the Surge was working or Not ...... But then again this is coming from a Repug - How is it possible that an American would expect more attacks on our fellow Americans, which will ultimately lead to loss of life and expect to lead these same Americans after the attacks (?) and all for political gain. IMO, i believe McCain is very UnAmerican and very UnPatriotic. I was hoping he''d talk more about the importance of taking out our enemies like OBL who seems to have been forgotten for awhile. I still think it''s very Evil to wish anything like this on any American. The surge is working and our troops have everything under control - besides the Iraqi forces seem to be ready. Cheers!

[Stratmaster7]

OK George Jr.

[cheekygal-2009]

McInsaneCain: "But there will still be spikes and difficulties and challenges associated with this conflict. Otherwise, I''d be advocating that they come home," he said.

So, is idiot McBushCain saying that if there were no spikes nor difficulties he would advocate bringing the troops home? His is one of the dumbest nonsense statements I have ever heard coming out of the mouth of this flip-flopper-in-chief wannabe.

[ksh1022]

Miles1967 If you don''t like 9/11 being used for political purposes then you should contact Rev. Wright. He preaches that America deserved 9/11. He says "God *** America". Obama is an active member of this church for 20 years. He supports Rev. Wright financially so he can keep spewing hatred. If you don''t think the Republicans will use this in th fall you are crazy. You are going to clips from his sermon all over the T.V. so get use to it if you vote for Obama.

[homespunlady]

Rove to McCain,"See, John, I told you to just get them talkin'' about this war stuff and they will forget they''ve lost their jobs and their kids didn''t get any breakfast and that gas to go to work is $4 a gallon. You see, John, we Republicans really know how stupid the general public is and those Dems are still talkin'' that old *** about a Constitution and equal rights and keeping a middle class viable. The voters are so dumb, all you have to do is create something to be afraid of and they will believe any lie you want to tell them."

Posted by exCoachKen at 03:37 PM : Mar 15, 2008

THANK YOU!!!
It''s so bad all I can do is LAUGH!!!

The ECONOMY is DROPPING faster than the Twin Towers that GEORGE IGNORED ALL WARNINGS about.
ALL BUSH AND MCSAME seem to be doing is to CARRY OUT OSAMA''S STATED GOAL of DESTROYING THE US ECONOMY!!

Wonder what perverted logic George uses to JUSTIFY his TREASON.

DIVERTING AWAY FROM OSAMA BIN LADEN to ENRICH THE ARAB OIL COUNTRIES where OSAMA CAME FROM sure sounds like TREASON AGAINST the US to me!

McCain like HIS NAMESAKE "CAIN" in the Bible is jut lining the American people up for the killing of our way of life through the FURTHER DEVASTATION of our ECONOMY also.
I call that either "brain-dead" or insidiously TREASONOUS.

[the74blaster]

The Best defense is to deny everything? Shultz used to say "I know nothing." I think Obama thinks like shultz from hogans heroes!

Posted by Grand_Hotel,

Yeah lets keep throwing the trash on Obama. That way we can be just like Hillary or the republicans. Who cares if its true or not because we can lie just like our president and never be held accountable. In fact we can break the law and not be arrested because we can just force congress to change it or we will veto their spending requests.

If you have not figured it out, the reason Obama is doing so well is that he is least connected with Washington establishment.

Get a grip on ledger.

[grand_hotel]

Yes there is a double standard for the Obama supporters in which they are blind to it. Its called reversible color? Ever hear of it? Its a disease of the eyes that blinds them to the heart of an individual!

[grand_hotel]

When they found some of the remains of the people from the world trade tower the congregation from Obama%u2019s church wanted them as souvenirs to hang on their wall as a remembrance of their hatred for America and how we only had to pay for it a little! They figured that the future of America could get the same! %u201CWhite America" had the 9/11 attacks coming.%u201D