McCain: Bin Laden Tape Proves U.S. Success In Iraq
PELHAM, N.H.- Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Monday that a new message from al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in which he scolds his followers in Iraq proves that U.S. efforts there are succeeding.
“Basically he encouraged the extreme elements—al-Qaida in Iraq particularly in the Sunni areas—to join together and be more effective in bringing terrorism and murder and suicide bombings to Iraq and to Anbar province,” McCain said. “It’s a clear sign that we are succeeding in Iraq because people got very tired of al-Qaida taking their young women, killing their young women, killing their people, and acting in the most brutal fashion that they are.”
In the audiotape played Monday on Al-Jazeera television, bin Laden chastises some of his followers for lagging behind and making mistakes in Iraq, and for putting their personal allegiances ahead of their opposition to American forces.
Stopping to meet and greet voters at a country store, McCain commented in response to an undecided voter’s question about his strategy for Iraq—whether he would follow President Bush’s path and stay in the war, or reduce the number of U.S. troops there.
McCain said he is the only Republican who criticized the conduct of the war under former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, and that he believes the troop escalation over the past year has been effective.
“I believe if we set a date for a withdrawal we will be back,” he said.
McCain also spoke to Denise Gionet of Pelham, whose son, Army Sgt. Daniel Gionet, was killed in Iraq in June 2006. Gionet told McCain that some in the military community are appalled that missing soldiers are being designated “duty stations whereabouts unknown.”
“The category should be MIA. POW/MIA,” replied McCain, himself a former Vietnam POW. “I do not understand and we have written letters and we are in communication. That needs to be fixed.”
McCain began a three-day campaign bus trip across New Hampshire on Monday. He was expected to file candidacy papers for the New Hampshire presidential primary on Tuesday in Concord.
(AP)
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I can’t say that I support every decision McCain has made over the last few years but this man knows Washington well. I would love to see him run as VP with Fred on the top of the ticket …. just my 2 cents.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:08 pm“In the audiotape played Monday on Al-Jazeera television, bin Laden chastises some of his followers for lagging behind and making mistakes in Iraq, and for putting their personal allegiances ahead of their opposition to American forces.”
So he’s called on his AQ plants in the Iraqi leadership to complain to the UN
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 pmMcCain has made his mistakes a few times in the past but i think that he is the most correct on the most important issues. We are at war. Right now, that is what has to take priority.
Churchill wasn’t that great domestically but i dont think that anyone would have traded him for all the tea in china.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 pmI don’t always agree with McCain, but I respect him as a veteran who calls it as he sees it.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:51 amMcCain is the ONLY person who has the experience to run our country at this period in History. I respect him and when it comes down too it. He is the only person I TRUST. Even though I don’t agree with everthing McCain stands for. He is a straight shooter who will look in the eye and tell you the TRUTH.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:31 amSpeaking of trust and being fit to run this country, check out this anti-American scum who is “RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!”
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2007/10/20/obama-no-hand-heart-pledge-either-will-msm-notice
UNFREAKINGBELIEVABLE!!!
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:18 am