McCain Contradicts Mullen: ‘Yes,’ We Have Resources To Fight In Iraq Without Hurting Our Efforts In Afghanistan
McCain Contradicts Mullen: ‘Yes,’ We Have Resources To Fight In Iraq Without Hurting Our Efforts In Afghanistan
During a press conference in Pennsylvania today, New York Times reporter John Broder asked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) if he shared the concern of “senior Pentagon officials” about the rise of the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan and if the U.S. has the “resources to devote to fighting those enemies there given the surge in Iraq.” “Yes and yes,” replied McCain brusquely.
McCain then began to take another question, but broke it off to “elaborate a bit” on the situation in Afghanistan. “To somehow think that it’s an either or situation, either Afghanistan or Iraq, is a fundamental misreading of the situation in the Middle East,” said McCain.
He then said “it’s not just a matter of more troops”:
MCCAIN: It’s not an either or situation. We need to succeed in Iraq and I am confident that we can succeed in Afghanistan. But it’s not just a matter of more troops. It is a matter of a whole lot of other factors, including those, and not exclusive to those ones that I just outlined.
Watch it:
McCain’s claims are at odds with the opinion of top military leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen. Just last week, Mullen said that Afghanistan is “an economy-of-force campaign,” which means that “we don’t have enough forces there.”
Mullen added that his ability to address the troop issues in Afghanistan is “constrained” by Iraq:
“In the last six or seven months, we have a put a tremendous amount of focus on Afghanistan, and I think rightfully so,” he said. “It is an economy-of-force campaign, and by definition, that means we don’t have enough forces there.
“I am constrained on forces I can generate quite frankly because of Iraq,” Mullen stated. “Afghanistan is a significant challenge and is going to take a significant period of time.”
Following a recent trip to Afghanistan, NBC’s Brian Williams reported last week that “several U.S. commanders complained” to the network that they lack “resources, aircraft, soldiers and support because of the war in Iraq.” According to the Los Angeles Times, “commanders believe that three brigades, or about 10,000 troops, are necessary” in Afghanistan.
While there certainly are “other factors” to al Qaeda’s resurgence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, McCain is contradicting the views of top military officials when he downplays the need for more troops in Afghanistan and says we currently have enough resources to fight both there and in Iraq.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Hey McDepends, do you EVER think about what you say before engaging those jowls?
But who is Mullen anyway, not an ex-POW, so WTF does he know, right?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:21 pmMcCain talks straight out of his ass. :|
June 30th, 2008 at 6:23 pmMcIIIrd is a military expert, and is much more knowledgeable about troop strength levels than …..WHO?
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen.
Oh.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:24 pmUnder McIIIrd’s regime, troops will not rotate, just stay the hell in harm’s way until they are killed or maimed. OK, so maybe the maimed are sent back to their posts as well.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:25 pmNo problem maintaining all the troop strength you need. See?
McCain Contradicts Mullen
He down played, at best.not that mullen would be nesessarly right.We can fight both, even in contraint.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:26 pmHey Rog2, knock off the glue sniffing while operating the keyboard, K?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:30 pmSo is contraint somewhere north, east and south of Kuwait?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:33 pmJesus on a Baguette Roger, you are pitiful. When the alcohol is running your brain and fingers you can’t even type for shit. WTF is contraint?
Get help little guy, before it’s too late and Mom has to replace the carpet.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:33 pmWith our little friend Rog2 as proof, it looks like they have dropped the minimum troll requirements to the same level as Repug candidate for president.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:37 pmIf the us can still fight iran, I don’t see the problem.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:39 pmBut…but…I thought that McCain was qualified to be the Commander and Chief. Unfortunately this statement, like so many others that McCain has made, showing how unfit to be Commander and Chief he is, will not be reported by the MSM.
One thing I don’t understand is why is Obama not releasing advertisements that show the American Public who the real John McCain is. You know, show him saying one thing and then saying the exact opposite. Or, why is Obama not advertising period? Why is he giving McCain a free hand to misinform?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:40 pmEver notice every time a commander disagrees with the president… he booted out… Mullen disagreed and he’s gone…
Is McCain going to fire those who don’t agree if he becomes president??
June 30th, 2008 at 6:41 pmrozerze Says:
McCain Contradicts Mullen
He down played, at best.not that mullen would be nesessarly right.We can fight both, even in contraint.
Anyone want to take a stab at interpreting this? Rog…you really do need to lay off whatever you are taking.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:41 pmWe can have it all, my friends. All we need to do is marry rich, white beer heiresses and we can have it all. War for 100 years in Iraq AND Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:43 pmrozerze Says:
If the us can still fight iran, I don’t see the problem.
As long as we can still attack Iran, all is well in this pitiful troll’s world. Except that it wants other people to do it’s fighting for him. Don’t see it out there volunteering, do you.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:43 pmBilbo, ragged is trying to say that we’ve got enough troops to liberate Iraq, dominate Afghanistan and attack Iran. He offers no evidence of any of these claims, just spouts crap and apparently believes it. Most of us question not only his typing and grammatical skills, but his very sanity.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pmroger2
Stupid troll? Or the most stupid troll?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:51 pmNow. Let’s be fair. When roz engages in a war of wits? He’s fighting with a constrained force. If he actually tries to form a coherent thought he risks forgetting to breathe.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:51 pmSo, does John McCain actually believe that he can win (strait-up)?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:51 pmhell - it’s no problem. The troops can just do 7 or 8 tours of duty - McStupid really knows how to support the troops
June 30th, 2008 at 6:52 pmRUCerious Says:
We have enough troops to re-enter multiple ww2s, do you really believe there’s no more resources for millitary defense?.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:52 pmrozerze Says:
RUCerious Says:
We have enough troops to re-enter multiple ww2s, do you really believe there’s no more resources for millitary defense?.
OOPS! Rog2 has lowered the Stoo-pid bar even more.
WHERE are all these magic troops and where have they been hiding? Why weren’t they used in Afghanistan and Iraq?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:56 pmLook, I know that the guy is a terrible extemporaneous speaker, but hey: parse the second sentence!
“We need to succeed in Iraq and I am confident that we can succeed in Afghanistan.”
Okay. Two apparently similar thoughts, run together in a single sentence. But, wait: the first is a declaration that we must succeed in Iraq, the second a statement that Senator McCain believes that we can succeed in Afghanistan. That’s telling, because logically, the second invites the idea that the candidate is NOT confident that we can or will succeed in Iraq, despite his claim that we must. And, can is not the same as will: can is synonymous with may or might - it is NOT a declaration that we will, in fact, succeed.
Run that against the claims that Senators McCain, Lieberman and their supporters have made about these dual theater conflicts, and the additional coming war in Iran. Implicitly they know that we are not likely to succeed in two out of three—even without hopelessly attempting to take on Iran and its proxies at the same time—despite their apparent public declarations to the opposite effect.
Words matter. Listen carefully. They are not actually saying what you think they are…
June 30th, 2008 at 6:56 pmMcCain just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. On what basis does he contradict everyone else who knows the real truth. He is as out of touch with the military as he is with the price of gas.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:57 pmHe forgets to pay his taxes, he forgets to pay for the use of his wife’s plane in his campaign, he forgets what he said yesterday, and we’re supposed to believe what he says about Iraq and Afghanistan?
Who trusts this guy?
WHERE are all these magic troops and where have they been hiding?
The 101’st Chairborne…
June 30th, 2008 at 7:00 pmdo you really believe there’s no more resources for millitary defense?.
We’re not being defended in Iraq. That’s crazy talk.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:02 pmpete Says:
You go to war with the wits you have, not with the wits you would want or wish to have.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:02 pmWords matter. Listen carefully. They are not actually saying what you think they are…
The people you cite want to set the world on fire, and all for the vanity of George W Bush. I know exactly what they are saying and I don’t like it. 80% of Americans don’t like it and 99.9% of the rest of the planet - save for Israel - don’t like it. A few warmongers going against their employers wishes.
We are losing two illegal invasions and occupations. Are you saying the third time will be the charm?
June 30th, 2008 at 7:05 pmupside99 Says:
WHERE are all these magic troops and where have they been hiding? Why weren’t they used in Afghanistan and Iraq?
Your right, with 1,039,053, including reserve, we could stabilize the entire middle east.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pmRoz claims our military is stronger than ever?
Yeah roz. That’s why virtually every officer in the Pentagon, including the highest ranking officer in the entire U.S. military, has expressed some level of concern over our weakening military. That’s why military commanders have been consistent in their claims that Iraq/Afghanistan has reduced our ability to respond to other emergencies. That’s why there were more than enough resources for Katrina and other natural disasters. That’s why enlistment and retention are going up. That’s why the VA has a surplus and is just waiting for more casualties so they can finally have something to do. That’s why we haven’t been cutting major procurement plans. That’s why we make sure that every soldier has the best, newest rifle money can buy, instead of Vietnam era M-16’s which might have been reconditioned at some point. That’s why we wouldn’t dream of equipping our troops with ammunition which is completely unsuited to the current conflicts.
WTF roz? Have you been channeling Bill Kristol again? I could fill a book with examples of the real weakening of our military due to Bushcos insane adventures. And you want to convince us that all is well?
Roz. I have a suggestion. Why don’t you start commenting on the “Bob the Builder” or “Sesame Street” sites. You really don’t have the intellect for political discourse. I’m really concerned about what continued participation here may do to your self esteem.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:12 pmYour right, with 1,039,053, including reserve, we could stabilize the entire middle east.
And watch the mid-west float away…
June 30th, 2008 at 7:13 pmyoutube aint workin for me is it workin for you guys?
June 30th, 2008 at 7:15 pmYour right, with 1,039,053, including reserve, we could stabilize the entire middle east.
And watch as North Korea pillages the South…
June 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pmOld Hack:
Yup, works for me.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:17 pmHey Rog. Dollars to donuts you are a born-again freak. The only primates left who support their alpha male Boy George are the born-agains. Why don’t you Xian fcks fight your Crusade by yourselves and leave the rest of the world out of it?
Why not leave America and found your own little Xian Nation on an island somewhere? But please make it a remote island and downwind of the USA so the fallout won’t reach us. There’s your Rapture.
My apologies to the non freak Christians here, of which there are several.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:18 pmYour right, with 1,039,053, including reserve, we could stabilize the entire middle east.
And have a big barbeque at the Mexican border, to welcome our hundreds of thousands of new friends!
June 30th, 2008 at 7:19 pmMichael Lafferty Says:
Words matter. Listen carefully. They are not actually saying what you think they are…
June 30th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
The big problem, as I see it, is that they don’t even say what they think they are. I am firmly convinced that the prime qualification to be a neocon, or neocon creature, is the ability to speak without realizing what is being said. If McPander Bear actually examined the semantic content of his recent speeches his brain, such as it is, would melt and leak out his ears. And Chimpy would simply try to shoot himself.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:20 pmYour right, with 1,039,053, including reserve, we could stabilize the entire middle east.
Smuggling?
Who needs the Coast Guard? Send ‘em all to Afghanistan!
June 30th, 2008 at 7:21 pmold_hack Says:
youtube aint workin for me is it workin for you guys?
June 30th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I have had intermittent problems with political videos, at least ones that make cons look like criminal idiots, over the last few weeks. I can’t imagine why. sarc/off
June 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pmEnough strength? Multiple World War IIs? Um, okay idiot- let’s do some simple math.
Under the now superseded Airland Battle Doctrine, we cut the active force—post Vietnam—to 13 division. Thirteen divisions, manned and equipped to conduct 1.5 wars. Listen, bright one: that’s the doctrine. There are now 10 seriously undermanned and under-equipped active divisions. 13 is to 10, as 1.5 is the the smaller value of roughly 1.2, or FEWER engagement. 1.2 is not equal to 3. Damn, you’re stupid…
With regard to the multiple World War IIs claim, again, you’re wait out in left field. The strength of the active Army stood at 5.4 million in 1942, and today: it’s 519,472. Oops. Just ten percent of a ’single’ World War II requirement. Hey: I will be kind here and assume that mutliple means just two, and not two or more. 10.8 million versus 519,472.
Thank God, you’re not responsible for planning (or apparently anything else) in my Army!
June 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pmpete Says:
Your idea of a severley weakened military is dumb, this is hardly even the biggest expense the military has faced…you just overbloat it to illustrate your distain.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:25 pmbarfly Says:
And have a big barbeque at the Mexican border, to welcome our hundreds of thousands of new friends!
Heh… sending the US Border Patrol to fight in Afghanistan so that no Talibans sneak in from Pakistan? Their record ain’t exactly stellar…
June 30th, 2008 at 7:27 pmDude: you are high! The Army is not simply ’severely weakened,’ it is BROKEN. So says no less than General Casey, the US Army Chief of Staff.
But, what the hell would he know? He’s only actually in charge of it.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:28 pmMichael Lafferty Says:
June 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
But? But? We have “smart bombs” now. According to great thinkers, like roz, that’s worth infinity divisions. Everyone knows that no one would dream of fighting against a country with “smart bombs”. sarc/off
June 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pmGood point. Fly-boys: you can kill anything from the air. Chuck Horner: Shock and Awe. That worked out well, didn’t it?
Come to think of it, Senator McCain is a fly-, albeit a Naval aviator. Explains a lot doesn’t it?
June 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pmOnce again McCain shows he really has no clue as to reality/facts. Not exactly someone you want to lead a country. Worse, this so-called war vet displays a frightening absence of knowledge about current wars. He really doesn’t know what’s going on, except when he is surrounded by troops, armour, tanks, etc. as he says, all is well in Iraq. God help the world if this war & fear monger gets in. He is so sad for the U.S.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:34 pmyou just overbloat it to illustrate your distain.
And you include the Coast Guard in the numbers, don’t you?
June 30th, 2008 at 7:40 pmNo roz. Our severely weakened military is a fact obvious to any honest observer. Here’s a short list, roz.
New rifles (XM-8)? canceled
New tankers? postponed
B-2? reduced
F-117? scheduled for early withdrawal rather than overhaul
F-35? Not even in production and orders are already being reduced
F-22? order reduced
MRAPS? canceled
I won’t bother with the rest of the 91 major procurement programs which have been affected to meet force requirements in Iraq/Afgnaistan. And I’m sure that the equipment which has been worn out or destroyed was all obsolete anyway.
Then, of course, there are the manpower shortfalls. It seems that, no matter how much goals are reduced and bonuses are increased, total recruitment is going down. Then there’s the, at least, 42,000 wounded soldiers (including emotional wounds) who have been returned to active duty despite persistent disability.
Really roz, you shouldn’t try to debate when you are so over matched. I’ve studied military history for nearly 40 years. The stupid lies you spread, courtesy of Reichradio to all appearances, don’t fly with informed people. You, utterly, fail again.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pmSenator McCain’s war experience was as an aviator. Stand off, fly in, kill, earn medals, go home…
Now, it didn’t quite work out that neatly for him, what with SAM missiles and an apparent skill deficit that may or may not have been related to falling out of the sky that day.
No, he doesn’t really get the ‘war’ picture: he thinks pretty much that it’s a neat, well planned and executed surgical operation. Damn surface to air missiles…
A much more reasonable view of the war from a conservative Republican standpoint would be that of Senator Hagel, an infantry commander in Vietnam. And, you probably know how he feels about the whole Iraq thing.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:43 pmI recently heard an interview with a, recently retired, 30 Naval Aviator. He made a very interesting observation. I paraphrase:
“There are three kinds of Naval Aviator. People who love flying for their country more than life itself, future politicians, and Admirals kids. As a member of the first group I can assure you that whenever a member of the other two manage to kill themselves, we throw a big party because our chances of survival just went up.”
June 30th, 2008 at 7:50 pmOops! That should be “30 year Naval Aviator”.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:50 pmRog, it is CLEAR that you have never been in the military and have NO EARTHLY IDEA how our military is deployed or equipped.
Just give it up and go back to your bat-cave and await further instructions from the rover, K?
June 30th, 2008 at 7:53 pmAnyone want to bet that McCain wasn’t actually shot down in Vietnam, that he actually crashed his own plane and that’s how he became a POW? Is that why he won’t release his military records? Inquiring minds need to know.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:56 pmIf Roger doesn’t want to serve, would he accept a compromise?
Since the jails are overflowing with those convicted of victimless crimes, such as drug possession, would he accept a proposal to allow these inmates the option of enlisting, and after successfully fulfilling their commitments, have their records expunged (and voting rights restored), so that they can return to society as productive citizens? Think of all the money that could be re-directed to the war effort.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:21 pmrozerze Says:
upside99 Says:
WHERE are all these magic troops and where have they been hiding? Why weren’t they used in Afghanistan and Iraq?
Your right, with 1,039,053, including reserve, we could stabilize the entire middle east.
Yeah, SURE we could. And yet after having ALL of the troops that the GOP wanted, they couldn’t stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan! You sure live in the land of ‘wishful thinking’ - otherwise known as UTTER DELUSION! Wow, you’re a DUM BOLD DINOSAUR!! ;)
June 30th, 2008 at 8:53 pmAfghanistan banana-stand owner, Johnny McJihad:
Yes, we have no bananas!
June 30th, 2008 at 8:59 pmLets see, the military says that the shift of resources to Iraq has allowed the resurgence of the Taliban. They say that their 2003 optomism in Iraq was misplaced and they didn’t have the resources there. Military tours are stop-lossed to a year and a half with stories of what the extra stress is doing to our folks. Even the call-up troops (as opposed to the regular army, etc.) serve multiple tours without adequate time between tours. We can’t armor our vehicles because we go to war with the army we have.
We’re talking about growing the war in Iran.
Are we ready to pour our whole GNP into the war ? Are we ready to re-institute the draft ?
Even then, how long would it take to convert our production factories to turning out military munitions ?
June 30th, 2008 at 9:55 pmSo who ya gonna believe, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or the (snark) candidate of the Party of Failure?
June 30th, 2008 at 11:04 pm.
The McDenier has spoken…
.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:20 am