McCain: "We Will Come Home In Victory"

Exclusive: Ariz. Senator Tells Katie Couric Obama Does Not Understand Challenges The U.S. Faces In Iraq

(CBS)  CBS News anchor Katie Couric talked exclusively, and separately to both presidential candidates. What emerged was a kind of long-distance debate. Their differences over the wars have never been sharper ... or clearer. Couric spoke with Sen. John McCain over satellite hookup while he was in New Hampshire and she was reporting from Amman, Jordan. What follows is a full transcript of the interview.

Click here to read Couric's full Obama interview.

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Katie Couric: Sen. McCain, Prime Minister Maliki and Sen. Obama seem to be on the same page when it comes to a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops by 2010. Are you feeling like the odd man out here?

Sen. John McCain: Prime Minister Maliki, General Petraeus, Admiral Mullen and the other leaders in Iraq have all agreed that it's conditioned-based. Sen. Obama said the surge would fail. He said that it couldn't succeed. He was wrong. He said he still doesn't agree that surge has succeeded now that everybody knows that it has succeeded. I said at the time that I supported the surge. I would much rather lose a campaign than lose a war. Sen. Obama has indicated that by his failure to acknowledge the success of the surge, that he would rather lose a war than lose a campaign.

I know what this conflict is all about. I will bring our troops home. I will bring them home in victory. I will not do what the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said would be very dangerous. We will have a stable Iraq that we won't have to return to because we have succeeded in the strategy and we will come home with victory and honor and not in defeat. Sen. Obama has said that if the surge failed that he might have to send troops back. After this surge has succeeded and we’ve won a victory, we’ll never have to send Americans back.

Couric: Why do you think Prime Minister Maliki publicly supported and endorsed the concept of a timetable - a 16-month timetable? And isn’t that one of the main objectives of the operation, Sen. McCain, to get the Iraqi military to stand up so U.S. forces can, in fact, stand down?

McCain: Well that’s what they’ve been doing and we’ve succeeded. And the fact is that Prime Minster Maliki … always said it would be conditioned-based. And so has all of our leaders, and so has General Petraeus, who has had enormous success. If Sen. Obama had had his way, we'd of never had the surge.

And we'd of been out of there last March. Probably having to come back because of chaos in the region. Increased Iranian influence. So the fact is that we have succeeded. We are winning. They'll come home with honor. And it won't be just at a set timetable.

It'll be condition-based, which all of us are in agreement. We're including our military leaders. Including one of the great generals in history, General Petraeus, who device his strategy was succeeded when, frankly, most people, and those who thought, including political pundits, said we had lost the war, including Harry Reid, including Sen.Obama. So we've succeeded. And we will come home in victory. And it'll be based on conditions. But al Qaeda is not defeated. They're on the run, but they're not defeated. So we have to be prepared to continue to do what's necessary to succeed. But we have in order to win the war. But we have succeeded in the strategy. There's no doubt about it.

Couric: Senator McCain, Sen. Obama says, while the increased number of U.S. troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel McFarlane (phonetic) was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history. Thanks to General Petraeus, our leadership, and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. I mean, to deny that their sacrifice didn't make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think, does a great disservice to young men and women who are serving and have sacrificed.

They were out there. They were protecting these sheiks. We had the Anbar awakening. We now have a government that's effective. We have a legal system that's working, although poorly. And we have progress on all fronts, including an incredible measure of security for the people of Iraq. There will still be attacks. Al Qaeda's not defeated. But the progress has been immense. And to not recognize that, and why it happened, and how it happened, I think is really quite a commentary.

Couric: A commentary on what?

McCain: That Sen. Obama does not understand the challenges we face. And … not understand the need for the surge. And the fact that he did not understand that, and still denies that it has succeeded, I think the American people will make their judgment.

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Watch the CBS Evening News piece on the candidates' vision for Iraq.
Watch part of Couric's exclusive interview with Barack Obama in Jordan.

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And I think that they will agree with me, that at enormous sacrifice, after four years, nearly four years of failed strategy, we have succeeded. And our troops will come home with honor. And we won't be defeated. And there won't be chaos in the region. There won't be increased Iranian influence in the region. And it will have a bearing on what happens in Afghanistan, as well as the entire region of the world. And I'm proud of what they've done. And to deny their success, I think is a fundamental misunderstanding of what happened. The American people will make a judgment.

Couric: Sen. Obama also told me, Sen. McCain, that the money spent on those additional troops, on the surge, might have been more effective had it gone to Afghanistan or even to a better energy policy in the United States. What's your response?

McCain: The fact is we had four years of failed policy. We were losing. We were losing the war in Iraq. The consequences of failure and defeat of the United States of America in the first major conflict since 9/11 would have had devastating impacts throughout the region and the world.

Thanks to a great general, thanks to a lot of courage and bravery on the part of American men and women in the military, we succeeded. And we are on the path to an honorable withdrawal and … victory. Not having to return, as Sen. Obama said we might have to, if his strategy of straight dates for withdrawal didn't succeed.

So, of course it's been enormous sacrifice. And Americans are all saddened by it. But the consequences of failure would have been devastating. And that would have been the result if we had done what Sen. Obama wanted to do. Which would have meant our troops were out by last March, much less anytime soon, according to an arbitrary date.

And, again, the future is bright for the people of Iraq. The future is bright for stability in the region, for strengthening our alliances and succeeding in Afghanistan. And it's gonna be long and hard and tough struggle. If we had done what Sen. Obama had wanted, we would have been defeated. Now, we have the chance and opportunity for a very bright future.

Couric: Sen. Obama describes Afghanistan as the central front on the war on terror. That is where, after all, Senator, 9/11 was plotted. And now the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan seems to be a hot bed of al Qaeda activity. Why do you believe Iraq is the central front in the war on terror?

McCain: Well, one reason is because that's what Osama Bin Laden said that it was. He said, "Go to the country of the two rivers." That's what General Petraeus says, who I think is extremely knowledgeable. That it is the central battleground. And Afghanistan is very tough. And there's a number of great challenges there. And we have to employ the same strategy there that succeeded in Iraq. And we can succeed there. We've got the problems on the Pakistan-Afghan border.

We've got the poppy problems. We've got a weak government there in Kabul. But we can and will succeed there. And if we hadn't succeeded in Iraq, then the complications would have been incredibly more severe. And the chances of succeeding in Afghanistan would have been greatly diminished. Now that we've succeeded in Iraq, obviously, we will be freeing up troops to go to Afghanistan. And we will urge our NATO allies to send more troops and be more involved as well. We can succeed.

Couric: Do you agree with Sen. Obama's contention that up to three additional brigades should be deployed to Afghanistan?

McCain: I've said that for a long time. But, you see, Sen. Obama doesn't understand it's not just troops. It's an overall strategy. The kind that we employed in Iraq, which he said couldn't succeed, and wouldn't succeed, and still doesn't acknowledge as having succeeded incredibly.

That's the same strategy that will work in Afghanistan. So it's not just troops, it's hold and build. It's working and building up the Afghan army. It's combating the poppy crop. It's a stronger government of Afghanistan. It's a resettling and addressing the issue over the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan. So, it's an overall strategy. It's not just two or three brigades. It is also increased engagement on the part of our NATO allies. But I guarantee you, if we had failed in Iraq, and been defeated in Iraq, our challenges in Afghanistan would have been dramatically complicated and worse.

Couric: Sen. McCain, you sound very frustrated with Sen. Obama's perspective.

McCain: No, I'm not at all. I respect Sen. Obama. I admire his success. He won a very tough primary campaign. I respect him. I look forward to debating these issues. He's just has been wrong and he is wrong. And, therefore, I strongly disagree. And I think the American people will make a judgment about who was right. And so I admire and respect Sen. Obama. I wish he would have engaged in town hall meetings with me, as I asked him to do. So that we could talk about this and other issues, including the economy, which is the overriding issue to Americans today.

Couric: You have said, quote, "I know how to win wars." Which war, Sen. McCain, are you referring to?

McCain: Bosnia. Kosovo. First Gulf War. The conflict in Iraq. To name a few. I've been engaged in every single one of them, and in a decision making process as one of the senior members of the Armed Services Committee. And engaged in the debates on the floor of the United States Senate. And involved in the Armed Services Committee. I know those wars. I know conflicts. And I hate war. No one hates war more than the veteran who feels most plainly the loss of a veteran. And I know how to win wars.

Couric: What does victory in Iraq mean to you? And how long are you willing to engage U.S. troops to achieve it?

McCain: We have succeeded in Iraq. We are winning. We will be making additional withdrawals as everybody acknowledged. We may have an advisory capacity as even Sen. Obama agrees. And we may have security arrangements that are in the interest of both countries. But the fact is victory is being achieved now. A stable society. Secure environment. Functioning government. Functioning legal system. All of the trappings of a nation where people can feel secure in their future in a free and independent nation. And that's what we've succeeded in the strategy which will then mean we are winning the war and bring our troops home.

Couric: What is your biggest fear about bringing troops home too soon, Senator?

McCain: That we lose the fragile success that we have achieved. Al Qaeda is not defeated. They're on the run, but they're not defeated. So my greatest concern is that we announce a date for withdrawal, which would have had devastating consequences if we had done it when Sen. Obama wanted it done.
And we lose all the hard won gains that we achieved at the great sacrifice of American blood and treasure. I don't want that reversed. Sen. Obama had said, well, if things don't go right, he's prepared to send American troops back. I'm prepared to leave when we have victory; so, we will never have to send American troops back.

Couric: Finally, Senator, your campaign released a video today complaining about what you call the media's love affair with Sen. Obama. (LAUGHTER) Clearly you believe you're getting unfair coverage. Why do you think that's the case?

McCain: I don't think so. I think …it is what it is. I'm a big boy. And I'm enjoying every minute of the campaigning. And I'm certainly not complaining. And, in fact, I think its fun to watch.

Couric: Do you think your campaign simply isn't as adept as Sen. Obama's when it comes to facilitating media coverage?

McCain: No, I think my campaign's doing fine. We're two or three points behind. We're doing fine. I'm very happy with where we are. Sen. Obama has run a very successful campaign, gaining the nomination of his party, and attracting the attention of many people.

I'm happy. We're putting one foot ahead of the other. I'm happy with where we are. I relish the underdog. And I'm confident we're gonna be victorious. I'm very happy with my campaign. I'm very happy with where we are. Love the town hall meetings and I love the kind of campaigning we're doing.

Couric: Sen. John McCain, Senator, thank you very much.

McCain: Thank you, Katie. Thanks for having me on. And it must be late at night there, so I appreciate it.

Couric: Yeah. It is. And it's good to talk to you, Senator. Thanks again.

McCain: My pleasure.

[omded]

WE? Victorious over what?

[pvperson]

McCain: "We Will Come Home In Victory"

Let me finish your statement John; "Or We Won''t Come Home At All"

[dmgenet]

Victory? What are the goals? What price victory? Who gets to define ''victory''? Do we get all our money back to help pay down the national deficit?

Does victory mean we no longer will be threatened by terrorists? Does victory mean we will have established a democracy within a theocracy? does victory mean we will get cheap oil? WHAT?

It''s just more political bullpuckey than we know what to do with.

[pvperson]

The man is beginning to sound like a melodramatic character from an old war movie.

[jeffstersf]

More Bushy spew. Shut the man up. Send McCain to the infirmary where he belongs, not to the White House, which has already housed 8 years of utter ineptitude.

[renegademom-2009]

McCain''s Surge of Time Travel
22 Jul 2008 05:17 pm


Here''s John McCain talking to Katie Couric and explaining -- but with his facts all wrong -- why the Anbar Awakening counts as a consequence of the surge:

Colonel McFarland was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that''s just a matter of history. Thanks to General Petraeus, our leadership, and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. I mean, to deny that their sacrifice didn''t make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think, does a great disservice to young men and women who are serving and have sacrificed.
Spencer Ackerman asks the press corps to recognize that "this is completely ****ing wrong" and points to then-Colonel, now-General Sean MacFarland explaining the origins of the awakening to UPI''s Pam Hess on September 29, 2006. That was a bit over a month before the midterm elections. The surge wasn''t announced until after the elections and wasn''t actually implemented until long after MacFarland gave the interview. And presumably the events he was describing happened before the interview itself.

This specific timing issue aside, we can see here the larger point that McCain doesn''t actually seem to know what the surge was.......

[pvperson]

McCain, "Al Qaeda is not defeated. They''re on the run"

If their on the run, it''s to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Is it "victory" when our enemy regroups and attacks elsewhere?

[joereed007]

Let me put it this way: John McCain still thinks the Vietnam war isn''t over.

[b2stealth1]

Did you mean the border between Iraq and Pakistan????

[newview08]

Victory? Sort of like that old-time religion? How about some flutes and snare drums? Maybe some home coookin and lots of red white and blue all about? Little 5-year-old Johnny with with his football? What about a ticker tape parade in New York? What planet is this guy from?

[middleman8]

McCain won wars...WTH is he talking about? All these places he named was why he was hiding in the W H. As in Nam he hid in a pow camp.

[gmond]

McCain: "We Will Come Home In Victory"

from where?

[javalation]

McCain does this kind of misrepresenting all of the time. One of the ways he''s like Bush is that he makes his mind up about issues then wants to twist the facts to support his perception. Haven''t we had enough of that kind of "leader"?

[pvperson]

McCain is getting as bad with his constant "surge" "surge" "surge" as Guiliani was with his "911" "911" "911".

[pvperson]

Javalation, careful with that word "leader", we haven''t had one of those in quite some time.

[dmgenet]

Blah, blah, blah...oh did McCain say something interesting? Oh, SOS.

[midclaspower]

Couric: Why do you believe Iraq is the central front in the war on terror?

McCain: Well, one reason is because that''s what Osama Bin Laden said that it was. He said, "Go to the country of the two rivers."

Too bad Jim Henson has passed away because the powers that be really could use him.

[chief_king]

Wow I went to both Bosnia, and Kosovo; and to my knolodge they were both peace keeping missions not wars. And oh yeah they were both Nato lead. If the first Gulf War was won, why did we have to go back. This is in responce to Sen. McCains comment on how he knows how to win wars.

[Stratmaster7]

Gee, he finally got the border countries right. good to see someone is helping him study geography.

[formrusmcsgt]

"If Sen. Obama had had his way, we''d of never had the surge."

Correction, McFeeble.

If Obama had had his way we''d not have wasted 4,000+ warriors and a trillion dollrs on an absolutely needless war.

[mnguyen4]

McCain is definitely a veteran with post-Vietnam syndrome. He will never allow American troops to leave an area of military conflict until the enemy has been submitted in defeat like the Japanese and the Germans did in WWII. Unfortunately, today''s wars are no good to anyone. Look at wars have done to places like the Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan, the Balkans, etc. Wars bring on destruction to fragile human societies and the social and economic infrastructures that sustain them.
Had McCain been the President of the United States in the Sixties, Vietnam would never become a prosperous country the way it is today.

[stn_sage]

The fact is we had four years of failed policy. We were losing. We were losing the war in Iraq. (McCain fm article)

And the reason HE''s willing to admit this now---whereas Reps have been denying it?! Because now, he wants to claim, ''we''re winning the war''!

What''s the proof?! A temporary lull in fighting! The respective combatants are on ''vacation''---reforming, rearming, resting---they''ll be back! You don''t have to take my word for it, think for yourself!

Any bribery money---they''ve been paid to cease operations---aside, they may be looking at Obama and concluding it might be a good idea if he became president. Then there would be someone who might be willing to conduct talks in a human and dignified manner unlike Bush, McCain, & the GOP!

The irony is: whatever deal Bush&co made with the insurgents---not to fight---might actually help Obama get elected!

[formrusmcsgt]

McCain does this kind of misrepresenting all of the time. One of the ways he''''s like Bush is that he makes his mind up about issues then wants to twist the facts to support his perception. Haven''''t we had enough of that kind of "leader"?

Posted by Javalation at 07:06 PM : Jul 22, 2008

He does it because there is a percentage of self-righteous, paranoids, and xenophobes who simply lap it up as fact.

[newview08]

He crashed three planes didn''t he? So maybe he just wasn''t that great of a pilot and easy pickings for the Vietnamese. He could have crashed while crop dusting. His performance in captivity is commendable though, you have to give him that much. But qualified for president? No. If I were an employer (which I am of sorts) looking at his resume, I would be greatly concerned about the amount of time he''s spent not doing his job as a Senator, which is a lot when you look at it.

[ubrew12]

McCain: "there won''t be chaos in the region. There won''t be increased Iranian influence in the region."

I don''t see how he can say this. Both chaos and Iranian influence have, so far, been issues. When we take our eyes off this pot, will it boil over?

[formrusmcsgt]

Seriously, you people really have to watch McCain at this town hall meeting. If you haven''''t already.
Only a few minute clip:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3RoC4qOPjWk


Why would we vote for this guy? Why??

Posted by azure11 at 07:26 PM : Jul 22, 2008

Good podt.

McCain claims a 100% approval rating from veteran''s organizations while the truth is that his rating is only 20% compared to Obama''s 80%.

Sheesh....

[kansas1946]

Just getting our troops out of there will be a victory. The Iraqi government wants us gone. Nothing could be clearer than than. McCain is out of step and wrong.

[it_oldtimer]

Yeah, riiiight Johnny!

In "victory" (whatever that actually is) and totally bankrupted nationally by the effort, too.

[kansas1946]

"If Sen. Obama had had his way, we''''d of never had the surge."

Correction, McFeeble.

If Obama had had his way we''''d not have wasted 4,000+ warriors and a trillion dollrs on an absolutely needless war.



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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:24 PM : Jul 22, 2008
report abuse
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Amen.

[babooph]

"Complete "victory now is a total defeat of the future of what was the US middle class-paying for this idiocy is beyond their means,& the rich never have to pay a dime-their tax relief for 10 years lets them pay out of dividends & have a large wad leftover.The 600$ will placate them though.

[stn_sage]

ubrew12:

McCain: "there won''''t be chaos in the region. There won''''t be increased Iranian influence in the region."

Posted by ubrew12 at 07:32 PM : Jul 22, 200
--------------------------------
As you very well will recall, ubrew12, the exact opposite of this---that there will be chaos in the region, and undue Iranian influence will overwhelm Iraq---were the very arguments Bush, MCCAIN, and the GOP used to support the surge in the first place!

NOW, they''d like all of us---the public---to suffer the same ''memory lapses'' that they evidently are victim to!

[outlawric421]

what I would like to know is why is the US paying to rebuild Iraq?
What happened to all the "GOLD" that was found when Iraq was taken over?
outlawric421

[wardoglrs]

We have had 11 wars and were going to win these one?
1 out of 11 good betting odds... Place your bet''s please,,, Place your bets...

We never won any war this is insane. You cant fight a guerrilla war with these insurgents there professionals
And there having a great time planning and killing our troop''s.
Dr Paul warned of this and he''s right on all these issues. BRING THEM HOME NOW. This war is illegal enough said

[stn_sage]

kansas1946:

Just getting our troops out of there will be a victory. The Iraqi government wants us gone. Nothing could be clearer than than. McCain is out of step and wrong.

Posted by kansas1946 at 07:38 PM : Jul 22, 2008
--------------------------------------
ABSOLUTELY! He''s never been right about Iraq or the war, yet! Why in heaven''s name, would we want to make him commander-in-chief?! I find the idea of him with his ''finger on the button'' absolutely frightening! Due to his deteriorating health, the right combination of errant events, and we could be looking at Armageddon with him in the WH!

[midclaspower]

outlawric421 says: What happened to all the "GOLD" that was found when Iraq was taken over?
Posted by outlawric421 at 07:52 PM : Jul 22, 2008

MidClasPower replies: Hidden, just like the WMD''s! Hehe

[harrydoghiny]

Another geriatric McBush brain-***. The Sunni ''Awakening Councils" preceded the "surge" One had nothing to do with the other.

[rlw387]

I am somewhat upset that I have to look on this website to read the other side of the story. I was watching evening news July 22 and the program started and ended with Obama and McCain in the middle with very little to say according to the program. I had to read the complete interview on the web. It certainly doesn''t reach as many people that way. McCain said a lot of good things and they seemed to make a lot of sense. We need to let the people decide instead of making the canidate you want get all the time. We need someone that has experience and loves our nation enough to wear a flag or salute it. Obama didn''t even answer you question on how he was going to run the country without experience, except to say hire capable people to make the decisions for him . What a Leader

[shoebox119]

Tell us again, Gramps, how an occupying military power achieves victory. What is actually "won?" I think your imprisonment overseas 40 years ago has affected your sanity.

And that experience, as unfortunate as it was for you, does NOT in any way qualify you to be president. We once had an incompetent old man for prez back in the 80''s and I shudder to think of suffering under another one.

[miles1967-2009]

And the "surge" only appears to be working because we are giving money and arms to the Sunnis, who until recently were placing IEDS and shooting at U.S. soldiers. Arming your enemies and paying them a salary never works unless you plan on doing those for 100+ years like McCain wants to. Once we stop giving the Sunnis money, they will go right back to being insurgents against us, the Shias and anyone else. Wake up people, the Iraq fair is a colossal blunder that had no military/U.S. national relevancy and has only fanned the flames of the already existing civil war. We should never have been involved.

[vgirl11]

CBS and Ms Couric, why did you edit out the points that Sen McCain made that showed he got the facts of the surge wrong (ref the Sunni awakening) while he was chastising Sen Obama for not understanding the facts on Iraq? Is it because once again the press is trying to protect McCain the ready on day one Commander-in Chief from his own lack of knowlege (Chekoslovakia, Iraq borders Afghanistan, Sunni vs Shiia)?

McCain is begging for press coverage. Why didn''t you give it to him? Are you trying to protect him or do you also not know the facts?

[pmerritt1126]

The dis-service done by CBS in not airing the full interview is that it protected McCain from public viewing of yet once again a gaffe on the facts...how can this man be the Republican candidate? For that matter, why isn''t this man residing in some assisted living facility? He is growing more incompetent by the day.

[dr1faust]

I very much appreciate what CBS has done over the years. That being said, I wonder why the part of the interview with McCain, where he either lied about "the sunni resurgence" taking place after the surge started, or, once again, had a senior moment, or even worse (GASP) did not know , that the Sunni''s decided to open communications with the US Military Command structure in Iraq MORE THAN TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE SURGE WAS EVEN BEING DISCUSSED AT THE WHITE HOUSE INTERNALLY! tHE SUNNI RESURGENCE PRE-DATED EVEN TH3E MENTION OF A SURGE BY OVER TWO MONTHS (Thank you Keith Olberman!).

Why was this portion of the interview left on the editing room floor? Was this favoritism by CBS? They included the full statement on-line! Did they not know that what McCain said was factually incorrect (again, GASP!)? There is no good answer to this question - it makes both parties to the interview, CBS and McCain look very , very bad. This should be corrected on tomorrow''s broadcast!

[taotxzen]

(cont)

And here is the NY Times talking about the Anbar Awakening back in March 2007.

The formation of the group in September shocked many Sunni Arabs. It was the most public stand anyone in Anbar had taken against Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, which was founded by the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

And here is Colin Kahl in Foreign Affairs

The Awakening began in Anbar Province more than a year before the surge and took off in the summer and fall of 2006 in Ramadi and elsewhere, long before extra U.S. forces started flowing into Iraq in February and March of 2007. Throughout the war, enemy-of-my-enemy logic has driven Sunni decision-making. The Sunnis have seen three "occupiers" as threats: the United States, the Shiites (and their presumed Iranian patrons), and the foreigners and extremists in AQI. Crucial to the Awakening was the reordering of these threats.

[vgirl11]

My question on why did you edit out McCain''s mistake on the Sunni awakening obviously dealt with what was shown on air as part of the evening news, as this transcript clearly shows the mistake.

I think your viewers had a right to see Sen McCain make this erroneous statement? Again, why was he being protected from his words which were either intentially meant to mislead or an error?

[taotxzen]

(cont)

With respect to the violence between the Sunnis and the al Qaeda -- actually, I would disagree with the assessment that the al Qaeda have the upper hand. That was true earlier this year when some of the sheikhs began to step forward and some of the insurgent groups began to fight against al Qaeda. The insurgent groups, the nationalist groups, were pretty well beaten by al Qaeda.

This is a different phenomena that''s going on right now. I think that it''s not so much the insurgent groups that are fighting al Qaeda, it''s the -- well, it used to be the fence-sitters, the tribal leaders, are stepping forward and cooperating with the Iraqi security forces against al Qaeda, and it''s had a very different result. I think al Qaeda has been pushed up against the ropes by this, and now they''re finding themselves trapped between the coalition and ISF on the one side, and the people on the other.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

There He Goes Again...

McCain: ''I don''t know how you respond to something that is such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel McFarlane (phonetic) was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that''s just a matter of history. Thanks to General Petraeus, our leadership, and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. I mean, to deny that their sacrifice didn''t make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think, does a great disservice to young men and women who are serving and have sacrificed.''

One problem. The surge wasn''t even announced until a few months after the Anbar Awakening. Via Spencer Ackerman, here is Colonel MacFarland explaining the Anbar Awakening to Pam Hass of UPI, on September 29 2006. That would be almost four months before the President even announced the surge. Petraeus wasn''t even in Iraq yet.

(cont)

[republic1776]

Mr. Obama lives in a make believe liberal-land

[charles847]

McCain got it wrong again, only this time he lied. The sunni awakening started months before the first surge troops ever set foot insude Iraq. McShame has no shame.

[charles847]

McCain got it wrong again, only this time he lied. The sunni awakening started months before the first surge troops ever set foot insude Iraq. McShame has no shame.

[chrisl45]

John McCain is the only possible person to fill the shoes of president of the United States. He has the military knowledge. If Obama guides our military he will kill them. Obama will increase taxes while John will not. John would be greated all across the world, but Obama would be laughed at.