McCain Calls Iraq War 'Great Tragedy'
By JIM DAVENPORT
AP
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 26) - Republican presidential contender John McCain called the Iraq war "a great tragedy" on Thursday, yet still decried a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal as the Senate voted to begin pulling out troops by Oct. 1.
"I'm aware of the patience of the American people. I read the polls. I'm not embarrassed to say that. I understand the frustration and sorrow that American people feel about this war. It's a great tragedy," said McCain, who was campaigning in this early voting state and missed the Senate vote on the bill containing the withdrawal timetable.
Earlier in the day, he predicted that the consequences of U.S. withdrawal would be severe.
"If we leave Iraq, there will be chaos, there will be genocide, and they will follow us home," the Arizona senator said, calling the war against al-Qaida "a struggle between good and evil."
On Thursday, the Senate followed the House's lead, brushing aside a veto threat and passing legislation that would order President Bush to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq by Oct. 1.
2007-04-27
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