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In comments to reporters on Thursday, McCain, in referring to Iraq, said "I can tell you that it is succeeding. I can look you in the eye and tell you it's succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels."
In fact, as the Obama campaign was quick to point out, the troop level in Iraq is at about 155,000 right now, well above the 130,000 that would mark a return to pre-surge levels.
It just keeps sinking in.
Was it a senior moment? Maybe. I don't know. But here's what I know: A Commander in Chief who is bragging about surge levels needs to know how many troops he has.
You know, I've been giving McCain a free pass in the area of military knowledge, foreign policy, and international relations. Mostly, because of his service record and years of experience.
But a mistake like this makes me wonder... how much more experienced is he really?
Why aren't people more concerned about this? Not knowing how many troops you have strikes me as a bigger mistake than getting Shiite and Sunni transposed.
Yes and he's been the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Want to compare that to Obama and Clinton?
So to add injury to insult a Ranking Member of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committee has no idea the troop strength in the most contentious theater of War on the Planet?!!
This last gaffe has left me wondering what Senator McCain has accomplished while on the Committee as well.
What makes McCain strong on foreign policy and military leadership? Specifically?
So to add injury to insult a Ranking Member of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committee has no idea the troop strength in the most contentious theater of War on the Planet?!!
This last gaffe has left me wondering what Senator McCain has accomplished while on the Committee as well.
What makes McCain strong on foreign policy and military leadership? Specifically?
I never defended him on his remark. He should know the numbers; I don't know the reason he said that. I was challenging the point raised that his experience is "a joke."
I never defended him on his remark. He should know the numbers; I don't know the reason he said that. I was challenging the point raised that his experience is "a joke."
Gotcha.
I'm just curious what that experience is and why his appraisals of the situation in what are claimed to be his strongest areas, are coming out so poorly. I would expect an expert to dominate in his field of expertise. Thus far he has been very disappointing in the area where I expected his strongest showing.
Tying Obama to George Bush is going to be even more interesting.
Obama really is like George Bush -- little experience, a Washington "outsider," promised to being Unity to the country, no military experience -- there are a LOT of comparisons and most of them are not flattering.
I agree....I agree with most of Bush's foreign policy and monetary ideals, but he was completely inexperienced, he made the mistake of surrounding himself with people with their own agenda's and people that would not question those people, he showed no interest in working with the Democrats, and was pretty incompetant at following through on most of his policies.
I really see Obama following suit by not working with Republicans (especially if the Dems gain a bigger majority in the fall), ignoring his military and civilian advisors that don't agree with his plans, and glowing with inexperience.
McCain may share a lot of beliefs with Bush, but he has shown time and again that he will break with the party, he will work with Democrats, and he will surround himself with brilliant (and well-rounded) advisors and will take their advice.
I agree....I agree with most of Bush's foreign policy and monetary ideals, but he was completely inexperienced, he made the mistake of surrounding himself with people with their own agenda's and people that would not question those people, he showed no interest in working with the Democrats, and was pretty incompetant at following through on most of his policies.
I really see Obama following suit by not working with Republicans (especially if the Dems gain a bigger majority in the fall), ignoring his military and civilian advisors that don't agree with his plans, and glowing with inexperience.
McCain may share a lot of beliefs with Bush, but he has shown time and again that he will break with the party, he will work with Democrats, and he will surround himself with brilliant (and well-rounded) advisors and will take their advice.
Then how do you explain away Senator Obama's respect among Republican legislatures' regarding his work ethic and insistence on reaching out to them?
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