John ‘100 Years’ McCain: Afghanistan Policy Needs Less Focus On ‘An Exit Strategy’
John ‘100 Years’ McCain: Afghanistan Policy Needs Less Focus On ‘An Exit Strategy’
Last night Fox News, host Greta van Susteren asked former GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) what he thought of reports that President Obama plans announce his intention to send 34,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan. McCain said he’s not concerned about how many troops Obama is sending, he just wants to succeed — regardless of whether we have an exit strategy or not:
VAN SUSTEREN: What do you think about that? Is that a decision that — that you think is a wise one or do you want the full 40,000 that was originally requested?
MCCAIN: Well, I’m not so much concerned about the number because I understand that it may be additional allied troops to help out, too. I’d like to look at the overall strategy. I would like to see the emphasis on succeeding, not on an exit strategy.
Greta, the exit strategy takes care of itself once you succeed just as it did in Iraq. But I’d like to hear the whole thing. I hope the president will make the right decision here. And I would like to support him if he does.
Watch it:
At least McCain is consistent; an exit strategy for the war in Iraq has been of little concern to him as well. When running for president, the Arizona senator and fervent Iraq war supporter said he would “be fine with” the U.S. military staying in Iraq for “a hundred years” and later “excitedly declar[ed] that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for ‘a thousand years’ or ‘a million years,’ as far as he was concerned.”
Indeed, as the Wonk Room’s Matt Duss has noted, McCain’s knee-jerk reactions to the crises in Iran last June and in Georgia last October, and now with his “no exit strategy necessary” policy, reminds the U.S. of the bullet it dodged last November by not electing him president.
Obama reportedly plans to announce an exit strategy in the coming days.
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There’s a killing to be had at making wars…
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November 25th, 2009 at 3:19 pm.
Dear Johnny McConfused,
If Iraq was a success…
… Why are we still there?
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November 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pmPerpetual war?!
That’s the way McInsane’s brain works — he doesn’t know any other way of life. We should thank our lucky stars that he is not president. Between this old warrior who thinks in war terms for everything and his former running mate who criticizes other nations out of sheer stupidity, the nation would beyond hope today.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:21 pmYea, and deficits don’t matter…..except when Democrats control Gov’t.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:22 pmWhen did john get anything right?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:22 pmMarie@3, Touche! I coundn’t have said it better myself. Although from what I hear, good ole John may find himself out of a job. Already the Repugs are putting up a real Right-winger to challenge him in the Primary.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:24 pmDidn’t Flippy get the memo? If anyone supports the President on anything, even if it was what one suggested five minutes ago, one will be expunged from the GOP.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:25 pmWhy is anyone still listening to “bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran?
Just because he was in the military and a POW doesn’t mean he’s an expert on military policy. He admitted during his campaign that, although he may make mistakes, he relies on his “gut” to guide his decision-making.
Evidently he suffers from an ongoing intestinal flu.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:28 pmmccain had the economy right too. /snark
November 25th, 2009 at 3:29 pmahhhhhhhh…..perpetual war……straight out of Orwell’s 1984
now….give us some homoerotic sinful hugs Grampy……ahhh….that feels good.
http://www.pmgentry.net/blog/uploaded_images/mccain_bush_hug_713122-744103.jpg
November 25th, 2009 at 3:31 pmWhy do these warmongers never have a definition of “victory”?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:34 pm“…the exit strategy takes care of itself once you succeed just as it did in Iraq.”
Really, grandpa? Did we already exit Iraq? Or do you have the only copy of “Iraq Exit Strategy” that was published?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:34 pmI’m praying for the day when someone asks McSenile to define success in Iraq or Afghanistan. I don’t think that word means what he thinks it does.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:36 pmDear McIIIrd,
Describe, in a simple sentence, the criteria for ’success’.
Then describe how many American lives and dollars are going to be pissed away in a vain attempt to acheive it.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:36 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
You lost grampy, deal with it. You chose a backstabbing bimbo as a running mate and she ran you into the flight deck. just like did with all those planes back in Nam, before you ran one into a rice paddy.
America listened to you and decided we decided we wanted to go in a different direction. Thank God!
November 25th, 2009 at 3:39 pmThe problem with today’s hawks are that they are pemanently stuck in a mindset of year’s past. McCain fought in Vietnam and is no doubt still angry that he fought, was captured, and tortured for his coutnry and his country still lost. Too bad. Blame the politicians that put him there. The whole Vietnam mindset came about because we did so well and kicked ass so thoroughly in WWII that we gave ourselves a false sense of immortality. WWII was a war against clearly defined state actors with a clearly defined objective of total victory…something we’ve haven’t had since.
Iraq and Afghanistan aren’t Vietnam. And they sure as hell aren’t WWII. Saddam wasn’t Hitler. The Taliban aren’t Nazis. And Obama isn’t Lyndon Johnson.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:39 pmHey Turdrama, shouldn’t you be on the other thread defending the whore from Wasilla?
November 25th, 2009 at 3:42 pmWhy even ask a Republican anymore. It’s over. They’re fully corrupted.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:42 pm“Obama isn’t Lyndon Johnson.”
November 25th, 2009 at 3:45 pmWe’ll see. I hope he doesn’t stay in Afghanistan because he knows he’ll get attacked from the right if he pulls us out. that’s what Johnson did. We’re not going to defeat the Afghanis, they got nowhere else to go.
That stupid, senile old fart is so full of shyte his eyes are brown.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:46 pmApe-Man, which came first, Fox or corrupt republicans? It’s one of those Zen Koans on which to meditate.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:46 pmMcIIIrd:
A word of advice.
Next time you’re flying a fighter jet and you get a SAM lockon warning light on, take evasive action like you were trained to do instead of stubbornly continuing your attack run and getting shot the fcUk down.
Thanks.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pmThe taxpayers.
Using republican logic, McCain wasn’t a war hero, he was a deserter who spent 8 years living in a hotel in the capital of our enemy, at their expense, while we we’re fighting them.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:49 pmThere are times when Palin looks like the smart one compared to McCain. And that’s a very frightening thought indeed.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:49 pmzxbe, she certainly knows her audience better. and she’s smart enough to give them what they want so they’ll give her what she wants. McGrampy thinks everyone should just shut up and listen, and then get the hell off his lawn.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:51 pmBob@26, Yeah. He reminds me of Abe Simpson. ‘Old man shakes his fist at cloud.’
November 25th, 2009 at 3:55 pmBobwurst ~ AND he’s keeping your football!
November 25th, 2009 at 3:56 pmJohn–your exit from the US Senate would be greatly appreciated, and please take your friend Joey with you.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:57 pmEvidently Johnny and company are bound and determined to fight the good fight, right down to the last penny. Just like the Soviets did.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:58 pmLOL! Off Topic. Sarah Palin AND Michelle Bachman are going to headline at the ‘National Tea Party Convention’ in Nashville. Talk about a lot of crazy in one room!
November 25th, 2009 at 4:01 pmAt least McCain is consistent; an exit strategy for the war in Iraq has been of little concern to him as well.
– – McCain still insists we shouldn’t have had an exit strategery for Vietnam. He wanted to see if he could crash 5 MORE jets.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:08 pmt, here’s the veto’s. Be sure to look at them and point out where they caused or assisted in the runaway spending of the bush admin……be sure to note the dates….they are relevant to sane people.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
33 accidentally posted on wrong thread…..dealing with tundra on cantor thread…apologies.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:10 pmContrast THIS McCain with McCain of 1993, who was adamant that we leave Somalia as quickly as possible:
“There is no reason for the United States of America to remain in Somalia. The American people want them home, I believe the majority of Congress wants them home, and to set an artificial date of March 31 or even February 1, in my view, is not acceptable. The criteria should be to bring them home as rapidly and safely as possible, an evolution which I think could be completed in a matter of weeks.
Our continued military presence in Somalia allows another situation to arise which could then lead to the wounding, killing or capture of American fighting men and women. We should do all in our power to avoid that.”
I like for him, and other Republicans who felt likewise during the Clinton years, to explain the strategic differences between Somalia then and Iraq/Afghanistan today.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:17 pmOf course the GNOP do not want an exit strategy… a quagmire in Afghanistan will be their meal ticket for the next election. This may be all they have.
In fact, I agree with a caller on Thom Hartmann’s show that:
it was US that encouraged Russia to go after Afghanistan as we knew it would weaken them.
This is too typical of the GNOP.. anything to win an election.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pmOld man still yelling at the clouds.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:20 pmThe GOP…All War, All the time. This is the American Way!
No wonder the rest of the world just looks at us and shakes their collective heads.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:23 pmThere’s a certain additional irony here: one of the reasons given for our continued presence in Afghanistan is to prevent al-Qaeda from regrouping. At this point, militant Islamism is a bigger threat in…Somalia. Not to mention the piracy.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:23 pmFrom C&L…
http://crooksandliars.com/jason-sigger/debating-freedom-agenda
November 25th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Obama will lose approval points if he continues business as usual with Afghanistan and fall into the quagmire trap the GNOP have ready for him.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:27 pmThe MSM is still clinging to a now fully corrupted, politically hostile faction because the Republicans have always been full partners in MSM entertainment formula, and they don’t know how to entertain without the Republican foil. Well, it’s just become too dangerous and counter-productive to continue.
Do you hear us NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC?
POX Theatre is obviously not included as they are the Republicans.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:34 pmDear MSM, Stop asking Republicans questions. We want to be informed.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:36 pmMcCain wants us to succeed in Afghanistan? How?
The British couldn’t do it. Neither could the Russians.
McCain and the GOP should try reading history, instead of making it.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:37 pmI find it interesting that McCain says the US succeeded in Iraq. Outside the US, the entire debacle is viewed as a total failure.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:37 pmFrom Ben’s post:
“Greta, the exit strategy takes care of itself once you succeed just as it did in Iraq.”
WTF? We succeeded in Iraq already? Those are mirages in digital camies out there, not real grunts? Dang. Thanks, Grampy McGrump, you’ve just made my day; high comedy, that.
After I pick myself up from the floor and get the stunned look off my face, would someone tell me what that idiot meant?
November 25th, 2009 at 4:38 pmWould someone please tell Johnny Boy that an exit strategy IS a succes strategy?
His mind seems to be slipping in his old age…
November 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pmIm@44, Yeah, even Alexander the Great couldn’t conquer Afghanistan. Now we have to figure out how to get the Hell out of there.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pmJohn McCain (R-Insane) says, “The exit strategy takes care of itself once you succeed just as it did in Iraq.”
So, McCain is saying “mission accomplished” in Iraq? Then why are we still fighting, torturing, and killing Iraqi civilians?
November 25th, 2009 at 4:42 pm@32. Badmoodman says: At least McCain is consistent; an exit strategy for the war in Iraq has been of little concern to him as well. – – McCain still insists we shouldn’t have had an exit strategery for Vietnam. He wanted to see if he could crash 5 MORE jets. November 25th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Aw, lighten up, B’moodman. It takes time for a McGrump to learn how to yank the ejection seat lanyard and not splatter himself over the hangar ceiling cause he forgot to go airborne first.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:42 pmWe should count our blessings as we could be involved in 3 Wars if McCain/Palin had won. Sarah still has dreams of attacking Russia for no reason at all. Israel would have a friend in the McCain/Palin team and right now Iran would have already been attacked by Israel with the help of Secretary of State Joe Liberman. Wow I am trutly thankful for God’s blessings of having President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden with their Administration.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:42 pmBy staying in Afghanistan we continue to rob America to feed the corporate beast.
Have to wonder how stupid we look to the world… we are the only industrialized country that does not provide a decent health care system – because we pay 50% of our tax dollars to defense… more money than all countries put together… for what… so we can police the world?
November 25th, 2009 at 4:46 pmNote to JohnnyOwnedByTheRichMrs.
The tenuous peace that exists in Iraq is glued together by the 140,000 troops STILL stationed there.
As we leave, the partisan sects will use the opportunity to blow the crap out of each other.
Great Success.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:49 pmOn the Palin thread Tundra said the following:
:@63. Tundra says: … I fully agree with you, people that aren’t citizens of a country should keep their trap shut about it’s politics. November 25th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Tundra, how come you’re not here telling McGrampy to keep his trap shut?!??!
November 25th, 2009 at 4:51 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
#44 lm945 says:
McCain wants us to succeed in Afghanistan? How?
The British couldn’t do it. Neither could the Russians.
McCain and the GOP should try reading history, instead of making it.
and after 8 years we, US has not done it.
Mark my words: The GNOP will use the quagmire in Afghanistan as a top political tool…. twist it all around via media putting Obama in a bad light.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:13 pmmr. puke,
what’s the matter? you no longer “support the troops” now that the wars are in the budget and not off the books?
you’re a typical cancervative whiner deadbeat who doesn’t pay his bills.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:19 pmTomorrow, when asked what you are grateful for–
November 25th, 2009 at 5:22 pmI am grateful that John McCain and the Sarah Palin are not my president and vice-president. Amen or not.
OT:
Poetry night tonight on kgoradio.com with Ray Taliaferro @ 1am to 5am pacific.
you can email or call in a favorite poem or one that you have written.
Personally, I am not a poetry person, but find his poetry night entertaining. Some great poems with a liberal bent.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:27 pmMcCain needs to stop playing politics with the military. I cannot believe he is as stupid as the people who sent him to Vietnam that we could “win” the war in Afghanistan. He, of all people, should understand the issue of becoming bogged down in a country that no foreign ruler has been able to control.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:37 pmGramps: Get outta my sky sylphs!
November 25th, 2009 at 5:37 pmDoes anyone really care what this old bag thinks.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:43 pmIf Obama pulls out of Afghanistan, won’t he lose BIG campaign $$$ from defense corp.?
November 25th, 2009 at 5:51 pmMcCain needs an exit strategy off this earth already.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:27 pmThere are SO many first-hand AFGHAN experiences among McSame and Cistern that the facts must be overwhelming in their conversations…How would one keep up with that exchange of FACTS??
Comic books or a comedic roll of TP…..STOOPID…..
November 26th, 2009 at 11:42 amJohn has been so consistent with his Ideals that have hurt this Nation.
1) Build Troops to fight in Afghanistan is what the Soviet Union did. Lindon Johnson did the same. Iraq, At the same time there a 1/3 of Iraq’s that had left for safety and ended in refugee’s camps in other country’s.
This was the measure used when he said “The Surge Worked”.. 1/3 Of Iraq’s that had left now want part in their country’s Elections. This is the hold up now as they try to get a Bill through to let these Refugee’s participate. This is splitting and causing Sectarian tensions. This may not work.
“Iraq is a Success” 32 Other nations can do business in Iraq. American are not welcome, Only a few Security firms that have been advised that they will be leaving soon.
John Had scared me when running for President and anyone who had their ear to the ground when hearing “The fundamentals of the Economy are sound”. Then using cosmetics as a VP choice was like this is a critical crisis this nation if facing and the GOP felt it was an advantage.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:59 pmJohn never gained from his experience with “Saving and Loan” crisis.
To criticize Palin when he unleashed a “Pit Bull”?
This nation came close to a disaster if they got in.
I give thanks on this Thanksgiving day that John McCain did not get elected.
November 26th, 2009 at 3:28 pmWho in bloody hell needs “a strategy” to leave somewhere? Do you need “an exit strategy” to leave the theater when the movie or the play is over? Just more corporate BS…
Dear President Obama:
Just get out of Afghanistan now. No “exit strategy” needed, just leave.
If that isn’t easy enough, try
99 ways out of Afghanistan:
Just do or say:
Abandon ship, About-face, retreat, Aloha, Apologize for overstaying one’s welcome, and just leave, Auf weiderzahn, Au voir, Back out, Bail out, Beg off, Be Gone with the Wind, Blow it off, Blow the scene, Bow out, Break it off, Bring the troops home, Bug out, Butt out, Call a halt, Call it quits, Cancel plans, Cave in, Chalk it up to experience, Change the course, Chao, baby, Check out, Chicken out, Choke up, Clear out, Close up shop, Cop out, Creep away, Cut and run, Declare victory and come home, Depart, Desert the desert, Disentangle, Draw back, Drop out, Eat crow, Eat humble pie, Eat one’s words, End this fool’s errand, End this tomfoolery, Evacuate, Exit, stage right, Fail, Fall back, Flake out, Flee, Fly away, Fly the coop, Forsake, Get back, Get cold feet, Get out by sundown, Give up, Go away, Go fly a kite, Go jump in the lake, Good widdance to bad wubbish – (Elmer Fudd cartoon), Got to get away, Hasta la vista, baby, Head for the hills, Hit the road, Homeward bound, Hurry home, It’s all over but the shouting, It’s all over now, baby blue, Just say no, Just walk away,
Leave, Let’s call the whole thing off, Pack it in, Pick up your marbles and go home, Quit, Relinquish control, Renounce imperialism, Retreat, Return home, Reverse the course, Sail away, Say good bye, Shut it down, So long, its been fun, Split, Stop, Stop rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic: abandon ship!, Surrender, Take a powder, Terminate the visit, Throw in the towel, Turn tail, Turn the lights out, Wilt under pressure, Wimp out, Wind down, Withdraw with honor, Yankee, come home.
November 26th, 2009 at 4:49 pmI’m so thankful that guy isn’t President.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:16 pm