McCain: Iraq Milestone No Thanks to Obama

(CBS)  President Barack Obama touted the end of combat operations in Iraq - a milestone that comes seven years after the U.S. invasion of that country toppled Saddam Hussein's regime - during an Oval Office address Tuesday, but many Republicans have argued Mr. Obama is simply taking credit for a success owed to his predecessor, George W. Bush.

During an "Early Show" interview Wednesday, Arizona Sen. John McCain continued to hammer home that point, saying that "if we had done what President Obama wanted, we would have failed in Iraq."

"It was President Bush who made the decision over the vociferous option of … then-Sen. Obama, to do the surge," McCain told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith.

McCain's comments echoed similar sentiments by the top Republicans in Congress, Rep. John Boehner and Sen. Mitch McConnell.

During his address, Mr. Obama said the U.S. had "met its responsibilities" in Iraq and it was "time to turn the page" on what is the second-longest war in American history and refocus efforts on restoring the country's shaky economy.

"The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people," he said. "We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home."

Mr. Obama also addressed the ongoing war in Afghanistan, reiterating plans to draw down U.S. troop levels in the middle of next year "because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people's."

Mr. Obama also repeated that a final decision on force levels would be made in light of conditions on the ground, but McCain, long a critic of any notion of military timetables, again criticized president on that point.

"The thing that disturbed me the most is this continued repetition that we are leaving at a date certain. You don't win conflicts when you tell the enemy you're leaving," he said, adding that the July 31, 2011 goal of beginning a troop withdrawal was "purely a political decision."

Full Coverage of Iraq Transition:

U.S. Officially Marks Last Phase of Iraq War
Obama Hails End of Iraq Combat, Stresses Economy
Obama Calls Bush Fellow Patriot in Iraq Speech
Obama: Most Urgent Task to Restore the Economy
Obama's Iraq Speech: Full Text
Obama Calls Bush, Talks to Troops about Iraq
Biden: Time to Focus on the Economy
McCain: Iraq Milestone No Thanks to Obama
Real Risks for 50,000 U.S. Troops Still in Iraq
A Bittersweet Homecoming for Iraq Troops
Obama on Fallen Soldiers
'Transition in Afghanistan Will Begin'
Obama on Bush Conversation, Patriotism
American Challenges at Home

[RobAla]

Arizona Sen. John McCain continued to hammer home that point, saying that "if we had done what President Obama wanted, we would have failed in Iraq."

Regardless of whether we should have gone into Iraq, this is a true statement. In 2007 and 2008, Obama spoke out against the surge that helped bring success in Iraq. Obama was just plain wrong. I hope that infant Democracy is strong enough to endure.

[actornaught]

"Success"? I guess you missed some Talking Points.

Regardless, its very easily argued whether the surge did ANY good. Iraqi's themselves said it would just raise casualties and it did, by a percentage consistent with the troop increase. And there's the Awakening that started before the surge.

Ultimately, BHO was correct since before it started, when Addled John is on record claiming it would end in weeks. That it would pay for itself. Blah blah. John is just too desparate to get reelected.

[23bigdon1]

As a thirty-year retired sailor who served on the carriers with McCain, I have followed his career with interest. I always respected his courage as evidenced by his conduct during years in captivity, even though he had the reputationh of being a "so-so stick" in the Navy light attack community, and was considered to be pretty much a "legacy" Naval Aviator because of his Admiral father. I respected him when he stood up to the religious right during the 2000 campaign, labeling them (and rightly so as "agents of intolerance". However during the 2008 campaign, when he needed thier support, he got down on his knees and kissed thier butts. He even gave a commencement speech at Jerry Falwells hick college. I lost all of my respect for him then, and when he picked that Alaskan disaster to be his running mate, I completely gave up on him. Flip-flop grande.

[democracy5]

Yep, I'd have to say that you pretty much summed him up fairly accurately, sorry to say.

[liberalme]

Mr McCain, no one wants to take credit for Iraq--your party owns it---Obama took the "high ground" rather than pointing out that the Iraq bloodbath was George Bush's doing.

[worldcitizen1]

Milestone;4,000+ US dead 30,000+severely injured & 100,000+ Iraqi dead millions displaced thanks to the support by McCain for Cheney,Rumsfeld and Bush's disastrous unnecessary war! Having seen the horrors of war in Vietnam, and still promoting this war and the next one for Israel against Iran he is much less than competent. "Bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran" Scary, almost like Reagan.

[deohgee]

Whiner.

[polisigh]

McCain wants Obama to credit Bush for approving a surge after W. bungled the strategy for a war that never had to be fought. If the resources, human and monetary, had beed devoted to Afghanistan, maybe Obama would have had one less Bush mess to remedy.

[democracy5]

So VERY true!!!

[lancesackless]

Go John Go! Another term for you is already in the books and gets even better the more Obammy screws up!

[Bisk1]

Yea yea - send the troops back into Iraq, 93 more years to go. Dumb Dumb Repugs !!

[earlysaid]

We never had any business attacking Iraq and now fast approaching the staggering figure of $800 billion spent on that misbegotten war we are a much poor country for it. President Obama and most of America who were opposed to attacking Iraq have every right to stand by that position.
The Iraqis may have a glimmer of hope now in truly becoming a democratized sovereign nation but it was not a noble war. It was not for the Iraqi people. It was not for anything other than neocon greed for oil and getting revenge on an enemy. What a price we paid. Iraqi still have no reliable electricity. Costs were low with Saddam and now very expensive. There is more chance that Iran will try to make a move and then it will be a more serious crisis for America than ever.

[rickwarre]

Oh, go away you silly old man. You can't make up your mind on anything.

[starleo146]

Yep Mc Cain Obama had nothing to do with Iraq. Your President started all this mess once again, The economy, foreign Policy, give him credit you are so right, he will get the blame for the whole mess he caused this country, and Obama was against the Iraq war from the beginning, and as soon as he became President he ended the conflict. Bush was leaving and he wanted credit if he was still President you can bet your Arizona boots we would still be fighting that illegal war. You Republicans and the way you think and try to brainwash the American people with your hog wash. You will win this senate race because no one is bright enough in your state OR HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY TO WIN. So shut up Mr Senator we do not care anymore what you think today because tomorrow you may say something else no creditability .

[Bisk1]

Shouldn't he be home enjoying his golden years with his family, instead of continually showing his age. Dumb Dumb Repugs !!