McCain: Al Qaeda Might Influence Election

Republican Candidate Thinks Terrorists Might Ramp Up Attacks Before November Voting

(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.

[smirk5]

McCain is publicly announcing his fear of a possible increase in attacks by our enemy in Iraq this coming fall. You don''t tell the enemy what you''re worried about. What a bum. He''s really worried by what the American voting public may do if shown just how the surge isn''t working. He plops this out now so he can later argue that there is only a minor blip in the surge due to the election if the enemy ramps up during that time. Also, he''ll argue that the enemy wants the democrats to win and that''s why they may increase attacks at that time. He may be right about that. Iraqis want us out of there and 98% of the folks we''re fighting there are Iraqis. But, it''s hard to argue that Bin Laden wants us out of Iraq. This Iraq mistake is the gift that keeps giving if you''re Al-Qaeda central.

[fightfascism]

ooh mcsame, i''m sooooo scared, please, save us from the sand dwelling boogey men, save us! please, give tax breaks to the big corporations so they can protect us from the scary camel riders!

[miles1967-2009]

McCain does not have the judgment and patience to lead America. He is an ill-informed, myopic, close-minded man who is easily swayed by the bigoted religious right. Check out the result of his BRILLIANT support of the "Surge", not to mention the fatally wrong idea to go to war with Iraq in the first place, and not actually go after the 9/11 terrorists. Check this link out:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18722376/the_myth_of_the_surge

[fightfascism]

1939: "The questioner asked if Mcsame feared hebrews in poland or another group might attack in an effort to aid the anti-nazi nominee, because anti-nazi Sens. Helga Krautenheim and Hans Schwartz both favor a withdrawal of wermacht forces."

[fightfascism]

please johnny, save us from the scary camel riders!

[ontheleft]

It''s remarkable how the Republicans now equate "Al Qaeda in Iraq" with bin Laden''s Al Qaeda as if they are one and the same.

The Iraq War is all about "defeating Al Qaeda" while bin Laden and his cohorts remain safe and untouched in Pakistan.

[singingrick]

That''s a nice picture of McBush on his bus consulting with all of his lobbyist campaign advisers.


lol!

[samthetvcat]

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

Replace ''terrorists'' with ''Iraqi''s tired of foreigners trying to steal their oil out from under them'' and I''d say McCain is finally starting to get a clue about how much chit his campaign is in and why Barack''s wing-nut pastor isn''t ultimately going to matter come November.

[nothappyatall]

Yeah, more scare tactics- run run!! the terrrrrrorists are coming to get you!! run run run!!! better vote for ME ME ME so we can keep the failed Bush war going another 100 years @ $14 billion a month.

[tawpdawg1]

"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.

Well, then, the sooner we nuke Tehran and Damascas the sooner they''ll knock off this monkey business. Then we win and come home ! Right?

[nothappyatall]

Terrorists already won babykiller, and one of their stated goals was to destroy the US economy, read THIS and see how bad things really are;

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article3542775.ece

Despite the Federal Reserve''s efforts Wall Street fears a big US bank is in trouble
Global stock markets may have cheered the US Federal Reserve yesterday, but on Wall Street the Fed''s unprecedented move to pump $280 billion (#140 billion) into global markets was seen as a sure sign that at least one financial institution was struggling to survive.

The name on most people''s lips was Bear Stearns. Although the Fed billed the co-ordinated rescue as a way of improving liquidity across financial markets, economists and analysts said that the decision appeared to be driven by an urgent need to stave off the collapse of an American bank.

%u201CThe only reason the Fed would do this is if they knew one or more of their primary dealers actually wasn''t flush with cash and needed funds in a hurry,%u201D

[nothappyatall]

The Fed''s intervention sparked fears of deeper underlying trouble because it came only days after it had made $200 billion (#99 billion) available in emergency funds. The nature of the financing was also unusual, bankers say, because it was the first time that the Fed had offered to lend Treasury securities in exchange for ordinary AAA-rated mortgage-backed securities as collateral.

Chris Whalen, of the financial consultancy Institutional Risk Analytics in New York, said: %u201CThe Fed move is confirmation that at least one of the banks is in trouble. A huge part of the banks'' inventories are illiquid. If a broker-dealer is illiquid, it dies.%u201D

Speculation has swirled for months about the collapse of an American bank as the credit crisis has escalated and spread from sub-prime to other mortgage-backed securities, treasuries and bonds.
Yet banking sources said yesterday that a collapse seemed inevitable. One senior banker in London said: %u201CSomeone will go under in this crisis, that''s for sure.
One problem with the credit crunch is that banks'' solvency positions can change overnight.

[nothappyatall]

All I can say now is youd better hope you dont have your credit card or cash connected to the bank that DOES collapse,cause when it happens your money is locked up tight, and your credit card is worthless- a good deal when you need to buy groceries or pay bills today and your funds are locked up while they fix the mess.

[samthetvcat]

---"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.---

Yeah, those of us on the left already know this - it''s the dorks on the right who actually think it''s working. Mostly because Mc''Straight-talk'' told people the surge was working to get himself the nomination.

Only 30% actually like the idea of staying the course without setting a timeline . . .

[fightfascism]

news: polluting, middle-class hating, mega-corporations, oil companies, and war-profiteers may try to influence election by buying off sell-outs like john mcsame a.k.a bush''s beotch from the last diebold rigged election.

[feelfree1]

Re: "McCain: Al Qaeda Might Influence Election"

Many of us suspected that the regime would dust off the old scarecrow, and ramp up it''s "al Qaeda" boogieman fables as the selection draws nearer. McShame has now confirmed that this is the plan.

Who knows?- The regime still has the option of staging another "terror" attack, declaring martial law, and postponing elections until they are deemed safe.

[shingles1]

Nice photo of Huggy Bear McCain talking with his base (the media).

[brianbwb-2009]

McCain is begging the CIA to order more "AL Qaesa" action, with the thought that it will get hem elected to continue this illegal war.

When it becomes clear that the public is not fooled anymore by these tactics, then the CIA might very well order up a domestic "event", then the war mongers will shout "see, we told you so".

A simple Bin Laden video, aired three days before the election, helped Bush beat Kerry, this time it may not work, so expect more drastic "measures", say, a mass ricin poisoning, or some such tragedy from the war criminals and their supporters.

[feelfree1]

brianbwb,

Re: "a mass ricin poisoning, or some such tragedy from the war criminals and their supporters."

That recent Las Vegas ricin poisoning is very mysterious.

Just a rogue bean collector, or "al Qaeda" gone awry?

[feelfree1]

...Or perhaps a glimpse of what''s in store...

[brianbwb-2009]

"Just a rogue bean collector, or "al Qaeda" gone awry?"
Posted by FeelFree1

When I was a kid in Detroit, the Michigan branch of the kkk used to circulate leaflets on their plans for the "imminent race war", these plans included dissemination of biological toxins, like anthrax, and other poisons, ricin wasn''t yet considered as a weapon.

It is likely that such groups were responsible for spreading anthrax in the wake of the 9/11 event, the Australian prime minister at the time questioned why the US FBI seemed to ignore that possibility, which is a testament to how far they had spread their hate literature.

I wouldn''t be surprised if the CIA called on such a group to carry out such a deed, then the CIA could cover for them, blaming the "Al Qaeda boogie man".

You know how the rest of the story goes.

[samthetvcat]

It''ll be interesting to see who McCain can actually get to be VP - I don''t think he''s got the platform to get an A-lister like Gov. Crist in Florida, even in light of Obama''s whole pastor ''flap''.

People believe the Iraq war and our economic woes are intertwined, and when even the ''surge'' doesn''t succeed in tamping down violence, people are going to feel they have no choice but to vote against continuing a war without benchmarks that could last at least 100 years.

Economic self-interest trumps race almost every time . . .

[clifden6]

McCain: Al Qaeda Might Influence Election, and who else, John?

NYT Saturday, March 15, 2008 McCain%u2019s London Fund-Raiser. The transatlantic fund-raiser, to be held March 20 at the home built by the first Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, comes at the end of a foreign trip that Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has repeatedly said is not political.

Mr. McCain is to travel to London, Paris and the Middle East next week with Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, the Connecticut independent.but now he will expand his pursuit of campaign donations at a $1,000-a-plate lunch at the 18th century Spencer House in London.

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment.

[andor3]

McCain? I thought he had dropped out of the race and the two presidential candidates remaining are Obama and Clinton

[samrensho]

Of course al qaeda will play a roll in the election. All the republicans can do is chant "terror, terror, terror" and scare all the brain dead voters into voting for them. Same old story. Bankrupt the economy and scream the sky is falling.

[r9119111]

Don%u2019t you just love warmongers? We are being prepared for more war. More craziness.

[jsilver2th]

they ought to be able to do better than this...
george w kind of used this line up in ''04

[cyberus-2009]

----
Of course al qaeda will play a roll in the election. All the republicans can do is chant "terror, terror, terror" and scare all the brain dead voters into voting for them. Same old story. Bankrupt the economy and scream the sky is falling.

Posted by samrensho at 03:50 AM : Mar 15, 2008
----

Sad but true .. chicken little politics at its finest.

Terrorists, abortionists, and gay marriage OH MY!!!

[crater7]

McCAIN IS TRYING TO USE HIS NEW FRIEND BUSH''S SCARE TACTICS. SOUNDS LIKE CARL ROVE MIGHT BE HIDDEN IN THIS CAMPAIGN SOMEWHERE.

THE VIOLENCE IN IRAQ IS FIVE YEARS INTO THE WORLDS GREATEST MILITARY BLUNDER OF ALL TIME. NOW McCAIN WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT YOU MUST VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE aL QAEDA WILL ATTACK IF YOU VOTE FOR THEM DEMOCRATS.

NOT SO FAST MY REPUB FRIENDS, THE DEMO''S HAVE A NEW PLAN. IF OBAMA IS ELECTED HE WILL SEND THE PREACHERMAN TO IRAQ, AND THEM TERRORIST WILL SURLY RUN FOR THE DUNES.

[pensacola88]

Terrorists have their lovers and fighters too!!

If Obama wins, the lovers will be dancing in the streets!

If McCain wins, the fighters will be dancing in the streets!

Wait a minute! Did I say here or there?!? Well...it''s the same for both places!!!

[grazinggoat]

Mr. McCain is to travel to London, Paris and the Middle East next week with Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, the Connecticut independent.but now he will expand his pursuit of campaign donations at a $1,000-a-plate lunch at the 18th century Spencer House in London.
Posted by mutmee at 03:40 AM : Mar 15, 2008

-Joseph I. Lieberman, this chameleon is travelling the Repukons campaign, because he''s always been a fake Democrat. Never in his wise mind he was a democrat. He was a spy influencing the Demcorats political decisions. His first stance is for Israel, he would give his blood, soul for Israel, not the USA. Pukin''! Isn''t it?

[mcvet]

If there is an attack close to the elections, it won''''t necessarily be to push a particular candidate into the forefront, but to scare people. Pure and simple. It''''s as if they would be saying to Americans, "See, even when you are performing your greatest feat of Western society, we strike at you. You are not safe."


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Posted by TheGateway1 at 06:40 AM : Mar 15, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL I''ve come to the conclusion that there''s NOTHING absolutely NOTHING you Nazi''s won''t do to retain power. Give it up sparky! It''s over! Sieg Heil Bush

[grazinggoat]

LOL I''''ve come to the conclusion that there''''s NOTHING absolutely NOTHING you Nazi''''s won''''t do to retain power. Give it up sparky! It''''s over! Sieg Heil Bush
Posted by MCVet at 06:53 AM : Mar 15, 2008

-Do you expect them in another 911-type of event, MCVet&?

[mcvet]

-Do you expect them in another 911-type of event, MCVet&?


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Posted by grazinggoat at 07:00 AM : Mar 15, 2008
+ report abuse

My friend when it comes to the Religious Reich and their Religious War, NOTHING would surprise me. Notice McSame says NOTHING about where the money to continue this insane policy is going to come from... NOT A WORD! Sieg Heil and Amen

[scottyusa]

I agree that they will find some way to endorse the democrats especially Obama because he wants to surrender soonest. I don;t think they will attack us here. They don''t need an excuse for that. I think they will up the activity in Iraq to try and convince us that surrender is our only option. So shallow

[mcvet]

I agree that they will find some way to endorse the democrats especially Obama because he wants to surrender soonest. I don;t think they will attack us here. They don''''t need an excuse for that. I think they will up the activity in Iraq to try and convince us that surrender is our only option. So shallow


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Posted by scottyusa at 07:29 AM : Mar 15, 2008
+ report abuse

SO? You think Al Queda will help the guy who wants to STOP the insanity of Iraq and actually go after THEM?? ROFLMAO Right! Now we know the mentality of those who gave us the WORST in US HISTORY!! Sparky Bin Laden and the Al Queda that attacked us ARE NOT in Iraq. In fact the Penagon just finished a study CLEARLY showing there WAS NO CONNECTION between the two! But I guess when you''re a bootlicker that doesn''t matter does it?? Sieg Heil Bush! Sieg Heil McSame!!

[mcvet]

Besides, Hillary was saying this same thing a year ago (there being the possibility of a terrorist attack before the elections). Research it.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/rich
ard-newcomb/2007/08/24/hillary-terror-at
tacks-help-republicans


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Posted by TheGateway1 at 06:42 AM : Mar 15, 2008
+ report abuse

Our OWN Pentagon, just last week, finished an investigation that shows with NO doubt that Al Queda and Bin Laden were IN NO way connected with Iraq. But hey whats facts to a bunch of Nazi''s huh?? Sieg Heil Bush

[scottyusa]

The sad thing is we could win these wars and get them over with if we had a president that knew what he was doing. We are breaking our army. I hear that all the time. Well it is not necessay to "break our army" and unfairly keep sending the same soldiers back time after time. We have thousands of soldiers in Europe sitting on their duffs doing nothing. We could at least rotate some of them through the wars to give some relief to the ones fighting over and over again. What? Do we expect if we move soldiers out of Europe tp fight in the wars that Russia or China will attack Britain? We could have both countries under control if we knew what we were doing. Any country not helping would get zero aid as well. Time to take off the gloves!

[fibonacci_]

I find it ironic that Republicans talk so tough yet seem to be so afraid of everything. I wonder how many of them realize how tight their back side is. They need to take a chill pill and get some education - would be good if some of them left the USA for a couple of years too to realize that the world is actually bigger than just the USA.

[scottyusa]

MCVet you idiot that argument is long gone look into the future for once fool.

[runningralph]

Which American political party does Al Queada like better? Why?

[fibonacci_]

That is actually a great question, runningralph. I think probably the democratic party - that does not mean that the democrats are worse though. Idiots are not always wrong about everything, and there are reasons why Al Qaida does what it does - as dumb as they are. Religion is stupid in general - there is no reason why people in this day and age should believe in such clearly made up nonsense.

[sleepyric]

anything is possible, but one thing is sure..you republican idiots will not fail to play the "fear card" as much as possible! Repeating...idiots!

[excoachken]

Rove to McCain: "Pssst, John, talk about ANYTHING but the economy. If they ask you about their 401Ks switch it to terror, or give somebody an award, do something else, but DON''T TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY!"

[sleepyric]

Hey John McCain...why don''t you just substitute "Boogeyman" for Al Qaeda...that way, you won''t get befuddled when you use that line in your boring stump speeches! (if you use the phrase "my friends" one more time, I''m gonna puke)... When you bring up the same old tired fear tactics we''ve had for 8 long years, it just proves that you are as stupid as the incumbent. Too old, and too stupid!

[trillion1]

The only one''s we having to worry about influencing our elections are the rightwing and the Supreme Court.

[hypnotoad72]

This article is a prequel to "April Fools'' Day", right?

Our President has kept America safe since 9/11/01, that is indisputable.

More importantly, terrorists - historically - don''t take days off, nor care when they strike. The definition "terrorist" is to use force or violence as means to intimidate or coerce governments into complying with their demands. As usual, we should always be vigilant and report suspicious behavior.

Candidate McCain is showing paranoia. Is that a sign of a good leader? Candidate Obama hasn''t spoken much of foreign issues at all. Inadequacy is inferred. Is that the sign of a good leader? Candidate Clinton has consistently been upfront, well spoken, and firm regarding foreign policy. For terrorism, I concede she is the best candidate.

And to address a previous poster, I wholly agree the world is larger than the USA. The USA is part of the world too. That seems to becoming forgotten, but that might be paranoia on MY part. :(

[realpatriot1]

The first thing I notice is that McCain thinks anyone involved in the insurgency against thre American occupation is Al Quaeda. The second thing I notice is that any attacks against Americans won''t be blamed on the policy not working but will be blamed on Al Quaeda trying to help Democrats.

I know those arguments will go over well with the Republican converted but I don''t think they will fly with the undecideds who want a rationale policy.

The fact is that if attacks increase it will be because the surge is not working as advertised, the British are gone, there''s no progress on benchmarks as pointed out by Petraeus this week, and our soldiers are still bearing too much of the brunt.

My fear is that the Republicans are developing a political strategy to blame Democrats for any failure in their own policy.

A new/old Bin Laden tape release or even a false flag operation attack on America is not beneath the character of at least some of these people.

[grumpas]

"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.

If he knows all of this then why haven''t they stopped it???????? Why is the war still claiming lives and we are bleeding tax dollars???? I think these kind of phrases play well to all the chicken Little''s in their party! It makes them sound intelligent and suggest they know what they are doing. But, I don''t buy most of it! It''s become a standard phrase to blame Iran and everyone else for the mess they made.

[jwind11]

Gradpa McPTSD, your Great Grand Pappy''''s candidate!

Posted by FloydZepp at 09:28 AM : Mar 15, 2008

what? what an idiotic post