(April 22, 2004)Seems pretty clear, right?
(Peter G. Peterson, chairman, Council on Foreign Relations): Let me give you a hypothetical, senator. What would or should we do if, in the post-June 30th period, a so-called sovereign Iraqi government asks us to leave, even if we are unhappy about the security situation there? I understand it's a hypothetical, but it's at least possible.
(Sen. John) McCAIN: Well, if that scenario evolves, then I think it's obvious that we would have to leave because— if it was an elected government of Iraq— and we've been asked to leave other places in the world. If it were an extremist government, then I think we would have other challenges, but I don't see how we could stay when our whole emphasis and policy has been based on turning the Iraqi government over to the Iraqi people.
OK, so let's scoot forward to last year.
(December 28, 2010)(Technically, that's actually a "Status of Forces Agreement," but it's not like English is his first language, right?)
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki: "The withdrawal of forces agreement expires on Dec. 31, 2011. The last American soldier will leave Iraq."
So, obviously, McCain knows what should happen next, right?
(Oct 21, 2011)Funny how that works, isn't it?
"Today marks a harmful and sad setback for the United States in the world," McCain said in a statement Friday afternoon. "I respectfully disagree with the President: this decision will be viewed as a strategic victory for our enemies in the Middle East, especially the Iranian regime, which has worked relentlessly to ensure a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq."
McCain said the decision is "a consequential failure of both the Obama Administration - which has been more focused on withdrawing from Iraq than succeeding in Iraq since it came into office - as well as the Iraqi government."
Because ... IOKIYAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIs it my imagination? I thought the Status of Forces Agreement was negotiated by and during the Bush administration. And hasn't it always been tradition since the founding of the republic for succeeding administrations to honor the treaty obligations signed by former presidents? Nope, never happened! Must be my imagination.
ReplyDeleteLet me share a little secret about Sittin'-on-the-John-McGrumpy. Years ago, McGrumpy was touring Iraq, as many congress critters do, and my now son-in-law was his protocol officer. According to my now son-in-law, McGrumpy never flushed the toilet (I leave the worst up to your imagination). Furthermore, McGrumpy was inattentive, absent-minded, lost in space, totally resistant to protocol handlers, and always tardy in getting his act together. At one point, the situation was so dire, my son-in-law had to intervene and say: "Sir, we have to go NOW as in RIGHT NOW, sir. Lives are at risk, SIR!"
To think McGrumpy aspired to be president and appointed Petite Sirah as his running inmate. Is there any expletive permissible in the Swash Zone that I can use to describe this hotdog?
@Octopus - thanks for the anecdote, which literally and graphically shows McCain's attitude toward the 99%: we should clean up his mess.
ReplyDelete----
If getting Iraq to the point at which it feels it can stand on its own two feet is a "defeat", then what is "victory"? An Iraq that is permanently dependent?
Iraq's newfound friendship with Iran was completely predictable result of the invasion; McCain and company were too excited over the prospects of a war that would rescue the sagging fortunes of war profiteers to worry about the damage to America's strategic position. Or maybe ... on the evidence, more likely ... they just didn't care.
Or, to put it in Republicanspeak, McCain was for exiting Iraq on the request of Iraq's government before he was against exiting Iraq on the request of Iraq's government.
ReplyDeleteMy, my. This brings to mind how in '04 McCain joined the rest of the GOP in piling on Sen. John Kerry for a position change prompted by a change of circumstance.
Rewinn,
ReplyDeleteThe next time McGrumpy gets the runs for office, his campaign slogan should read: Support bacteria - it's the only culture you ever get.
Well it's obvious what has changed. Obama is president. Now really, do you expect McCain to favorably comment on any action that Obama's administration takes?
ReplyDeleteWhat can we expect from Uncle Walnuts, you know, the guy who said he never referred to himself as a maverick. Except he used that term in the title of a book he wrote about himself.
ReplyDeleteI think the country tolerates him the way a family tolerates the presence of a incoherent, babbling uncle at the Thanksgiving dinner table.