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 15:48:49 · 21 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Yes the terrorists that aren't already here now.
2007-04-27 15:59:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Politically, I am a mutt, but liberal leaning.
So far, it looks like I will be voting for John McCain. I don't agree with him a lot the time, that is for sure. But I DO trust him all the time. He has more personal integrity, complexity, and true humility than the all the others and has never jumped on a bandwagon in his life.
They are both true: the Iraqi war IS a tragedy; The consequences of withdrawal at this point WILL be severe, exactly as he describes. Unlike him, I never supported the war on the damn the torpedoes basis we started it.
There are 3 alternatives: escalate, withdraw or continue as is. Which one is right? They all suck, but it is what it is.
2007-04-29 19:22:55 · answer #2 · answered by and_y_knot 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is an absolute certainty.
The terrorists are going to come here, they will seek to detonate a nuclear device here, this is the prediction of Forecasting International founder and president Marvin Cetron. Cetron prepared a report for clinton in 1994 that showed clearly that 9/11 would take place and the majority of the other predictions have proven true as well. Pretty good batting average to ignore.
To get the nuke the terrorists are not going to buy one, they are going to take over a state, such as Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq and the predominantly Muslim nations of the former Soviet Union and from their purchase or develop a device that could fit inside a briefcase and there is no way to prevent this except to stop them before it happens.
To ignore this warning is tantamount to complicity and those in congress who are pushing for an immediate pullout are complicitors of the terrorists, it is just that simple.
2007-05-01 04:27:35 · answer #3 · answered by rmagedon 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
McCain is completely wrong on this one. If we don't leave, then they are sure to "follow us home." When you read a statement like this, it makes you wonder, because McCain is not a complete idiot like some people we are familiar with. The fact that he's smart though strategically deceitful makes him all that much more dangerous.
We need to clear out the troops AND the military contractors and the civilian contractors ASAP. Follow the money. Who will profit by an extended war in Iraq?
2007-04-28 04:26:36 · answer #4 · answered by Zelda Hunter 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have to agree with Senator McCain. In the 80's we helped the Mujahadeen in Afganistan. After the Soviets withdrew from their, Afganistan became a none issue to us. In helping the Mujahadeen we also helped a little known person named Bin Lauden. During the time after the Soviet withdraw and eventual colapes, Afganistan underwent a long civil war. The end result was the rise of the Talaban and training camps for Al Quida. We decried the Taliban for all their harshness in regards to human rights and destroying the ancient Buddas of Afganistan. Other than the occassional cries of human rights abuses, they went largely ignored to do as they pleased. This continued until Sept 11,2001. On that day, the world paid attention. If we withdraw from Iraq, much the same thing will happen again. Iraq will fall deeper into chaos until a strongman puts the whole of Iraq under his thumb. Likely, this strongman will be an Islamic Radical as the Taliban are. Likely this will lead to more humanitarian abuses and a safe haven for Al Qida and other unsavory organizations. Is this what we want ? It may be easier in the short term to pull out and proclaim success. In the long term it will be an abismal failure to do so. This is what is trying to be avioded by keeping our troops their. This is what our Democrats are pushing us towards. I hope to GOD they fail and we remain in Iraq for the forseeable future. The alternative is not what I want for my children.
2007-04-27 16:14:46 · answer #5 · answered by daddyspanksalot 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
McCain is a war hero that can't stand the idea of defeat under any circumstances. I am a dem but I have to agree with McCain when he said we didn't go in with enough force to start with. It should have been like 100,000 more troops to take all that on and keep control.
Yea if they were going to come over here they would be doing so already. Our borders are very vulnerable.
2007-04-27 16:05:36 · answer #6 · answered by Enigma 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The great tragedy is global. The educated not being able to excell and be productive. People of all races not able to compete intellectually and globally. These are reasons for nations to go chaotic. If people of foreign nations are force to live inadequate, to be deprive of their basic needs(Maslow Heirchy) world caos will arise. Because in 2007 the media
network is global, it is seen, it is heard and it is felt. If one country has all the resources to live appropriately then why not the whole world? Like I said in the beginning, This is a gobal problem. All of the world powers must come together and allow nations to manage their own affairs and help negotiate for peace and prosperity for all.
2007-04-27 18:30:30 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If we let all the murderers, rapists, and child molesters out of prison and quit treating them so mean, they'll never hurt anyone ever again, right?
Right now terrorists in the Middle East are busily blowing themselves and everybody else up in Iraq and vicinity. It's close to home for them, easy access and they're getting lots of financial support for neighboring countries and encouragement form the American media. They're busy.
Once the Allied Forces leave Iraq, that area still has all these weapons, suicidal maniacs and money. What do you think they're going to do? Stay home and play checkers? Not on your life. And it could cost your life and that of another 3000 or so civilian Americans too.
Anyone who thinks these people are going to happily settle down into nice, peaceful, friendly, kind natured, happy home owners if allied forces pull out of the middle east live in some sort of void. They know nothing of human or animal nature.
2007-04-27 16:09:52 · answer #8 · answered by SLA 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Ask yourself why terrorist incidents outside of the middle east have drastically fallen off. Could it be that we are making some headway in the war against them? Perhaps killing or arresting their leaders and seizing facilities and money has caused some hardships in the management of terrorist groups? Just maybe?
It will take them some time to grow a new infrastructure, we've beaten theirs up pretty badly. That's one of the reasons they haven't been trying to hit us at home. Give it 2-3 years of liberal apologists and you can be sure we'll start seeing it again.
2007-04-27 15:59:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Let them follow!
If they try another World Trade Center type attack, it will be because Bush's empty 'homeland security' plans failed.
And what makes you believe they won't come anyway if we remain in Iraq as Bush wants us to?
Our borders are as wide open as ever. We're finding new border tunnels every month. And we don't even have the money to fill them back in once they're found.
I'm tired of cold war newspeak. This domino isn't going to fall unless the people of Iraq want it to.
2007-04-27 15:58:57 · answer #10 · answered by Max H 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
John McCain, like all politicians, has his own agenda. Right now that is becoming president. It's stupid to say "...they will follow us home." They are all ready here! That was proved on 9/11. They will continue to come up with excuses as to why our soldiers (and others) must continue to be placed in harms way because many of us do not posess the wits to see through this crap and get the real picture. It's time to end the war! If they were so afraid why would they allow so many foreigners to remain and keep coming into our country? Think about it. Our borders are not even protected sufficiently.
2007-04-27 15:58:35 · answer #11 · answered by worldwise1 4 · 3⤊ 5⤋