McCain: "General Petraeus and I and Osama bin Laden are in agreement"

[sabra]

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/03/mccain_petraeus.html

PALM SPRINGS, CA – Usually the political response to a new message from Osama bin Laden is one of universal condemnation, but at a VFW hall in Chula Vista here this afternoon John McCain announced his support of bin Laden's most recent message.

"General Petraeus is correct when he says that the central battleground in the struggle against Al Qaeda is Iraq, and Osama bin Laden just confirmed that again with his comments last week," McCain said before quoting a line from a recent audio recording of bin Laden calling for support of the Mujahadeen in Iraq.

McCain told reporters after his town hall, "General Petraeus and I and Osama bin Laden are in agreement. It is hard to understand why Senator Clinton and Senator Obama do not understand that . I don't know if it is naiveté or what the problem is, but it's obvious that they're dead wrong, and they're wrong when they say that we should leave Iraq immediately. … And it's time that they acknowledge that the surge is succeeding and the benefits of success in Iraq will spread throughout the entire Middle East."

Although his sentiment not new, McCain selected for himself some new, strange bedfellows. And much like his statement that American troops could be in Iraq for more than 100 years, this sound bite seems ripe for Democratic criticism.

[Mike Nelson]

1. McCain forgot to thank George W. Bush

for that

[alphafemale]

2. "Me and You and a Dog named Boo." nt

[MiniMe]

3. John, have you been talking to Osama lately? Does that mean you know

where he is? Then why is he still not captured, remember wanted dead or alive? Where are all the right wing pundits complaining that you compared General Petreaus to Osama Bin Lader, and said that Petreaus thinks like Bin Laden? Why is this not an issue?

[Tesla]

4. They will have McCain and Ol Sammy become buds

before the GE. And then all will be well!

[The_Commonist]

5. I agree with John McCain, General Petraeus and Osama bin Laden...

...that the "central battleground in the struggle against Al Qaeda is Iraq."

Of course, that wasn't true before we stupidly invaded that country.
And Al Qaeda was little more than a two-bit "organization" before we created a recruitment campaign for them. It's still just a four-bit "organization" compared to what we have conflated it to be.

I also agree with McCain's statement that American troops will be in Iraq for 100 years. I don't like it, but I agree with it. We've had troops in Germany for 60 years, and Korea for 50. Assuming there still is an America 100 years from now, and assuming we are still using petroleum, we'll have troops there until we squeeze the last drop of oil from the desert sands...

[MiniMe]

6. How about a course of McCain, Osama, and your Mama

[CJCRANE]

7. Bin Laden talking points are the same as Repub talking points.

I wonder why?

:shrug:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Note to McCain: I MIGHT not mention that in public if I were you.

IF I were you and running for POTUS, which, of course, I'm not.

Actually, since I'm NOT you and NOT planning on voting for you for POTUS, go ahead and mention this as often as you want. I'm sure that you'll find a sympathetic audience among the electorate in the general election. Also, I hope that General Patraeus appreciates being included in your remarks. I'm sure that it will substantially enhance his credibility within the ranks.

:evilgrin:

[Johonny]

9. anyone else scared

That he talks about fighting terrorism on the terms of fighting a conventional war? On another question if Al Qaeda only makes up 3 % of the groups fighting in Iraq, how exactly important is the central battleground in the struggle against Al Qaeda? Isn't this like declaring WW II over once we defeat the Italian army.