McCain advisor goes nuclear on Obama over Iraq criticism
posted at 4:25 pm on March 19, 2008 by Allahpundit
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As close to a Pretty Vicious Rant and Important Action Alert as a campaign is apt to get, and it’s only March. He’s responding to Obama goofing on McCain this morning for his Al Qaeda/Mahdi Army screw-up yesterday, which isn’t much of a screw-up per Ed’s post this morning and my own posts in the past but which will be spun that way, for various reasons. Among them: The fact that McCain seemed to think it was a screw-up too, per his correcting himself after Lieberman whispered in his ear, which tends to take the sting out of Salter’s insinuation here that Obama doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Read it, though, as the rest of it’s golden, if sadly lacking in a demand to know why the great omnibus withdrawal that’s going to bring peace and reconciliation to Iraq wouldn’t do the same vis-a-vis NATO, Karzai, and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
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Well, maybe. He corrected himself to say “extremists” which he could now argue and maybe even meant included both Shia and Sunni, so he was just amplifying his statement.
But man, that was fun to read.
Typhoon on March 19, 2008 at 4:32 PM
“Those ‘tactics,’ are advancing our ’strategy.’
I love it! Talk to him like he’s five! “This is a taaaank, it goes ‘vroom vroom – bang bang!’”
Deprive General Petraeus of the resources and manpower to employ those tactics, or worse, leave Iraq altogether, and our strategy will collapse.
They should use the famous Norman Schwatzkoft speech where he says “He’s neither a tactician, nor a strategist, nor a general, nor a soldier, besides that he’s a great military man!”
That is national security 101.
Exactly. Go back to school azzwipe.
Tony737 on March 19, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Good ol’ Joe Lieberman.
normsrevenge on March 19, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Well done, Salter. Woo Hoo!
And if you want to get a really good idea of what the symptoms of White Guiltitis look like, read this comment which follows the ABC story:
Buy Danish on March 19, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Much gets forgiven if he keeps this up.
Cuffy Meigs on March 19, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Oof
LimeyGeek on March 19, 2008 at 4:42 PM
There you go … “Why don’t we just ask osama bin laden, osama obama … uh … obama.”
wise_man on March 19, 2008 at 4:44 PM
In other election related news, Obama has (literally) been endorsed by the Black Panthers. Team Obama has still, two days later, refused to remove the endorsement from its website.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Holy crap…. I just read some of the comments… starting with comment 1.
darkpixel on March 19, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Hannity reporting he has some new video tonight about yet another pastor Obama prays with or something…
TheBigOldDog on March 19, 2008 at 4:47 PM
It’s clear that John McCain’s criticisms of Obama on this issue are rooted in racism.
Sincerely,
Andrew Sullivan
thirteen28 on March 19, 2008 at 4:48 PM
It’s nice and all that McCain wrote an angry letter.. but I want to see and hear it from his mouth.
I’m so sick of these politer-than-thou Republicans. Been sick of it since Bush I.
VinceP1974 on March 19, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Interesting criticism from Obama, considering that just a few months ago, he referred to Canada’s Prime Minister as the President of Canada. Oops!
Syd B. on March 19, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I agree with you, and have found Bush to be far too constrained with the media. However, there is/will be a concerted effort by the media to portray McCain as a loose cannon just ready to pop. So I can wait until he’s Pres. before he mouths off too much. Remember though, he’s just as likely to mouth off at the Republicans.
JiangxiDad on March 19, 2008 at 4:57 PM
At least Kerry knew he was for it, before he was against it.
McCain doesn’t even seem to know where he is at anymore.
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 5:00 PM
One time my sister as a joke left a note for me that read “Do not underestimate the power of what you are now reading…” That’s all it said. It sums up Obama for me. Hes an empty void.
aengus on March 19, 2008 at 5:04 PM
I don’t get why the Republicans can’t just read up on the subject just a little bit. You can invite an expert and ask them to give a closed lecture on the basics.
freevillage on March 19, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Obama is an uninformed dolt and his ridiculous mutterings have little or no impact on anyone outside of his cloistered cult of followers. Nevertheless, a cold chill runs through my bones just imagining his winning the White House. The poor Republic is facing serious dangers.
rplat on March 19, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Is McCain’s campaign racist or something? I don’t get the criticism.
lorien1973 on March 19, 2008 at 5:08 PM
On Iran training Al Qaeda? McCain was right.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:09 PM
It’s great when the prophet screws up or supports a racist loon (shades of Jesse Helms/Trent Lott), but if McCain refers to the wrong enemy of a few Islamics to pick from during a conference the war against terror is proven false by Liberals.
Nice try. Let us now get back to
HusseinObama, and Hill clawing at each other.Hening on March 19, 2008 at 5:09 PM
:))
freevillage on March 19, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Although there has probably been some Iranian support, on a tactical case-by-case for Al Q, most of Iran’s support has been to fellow Shiites in Iraq.
Sunni Saudi Arabia has almost certainly done more to support Al Q than has Iran.
Maybe McCain should go after Saudi Arabia.
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Since the Clinton Administration Iran has been involved in training Al Qaeda, with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wanting to get closer to Osama’s bunch. Iran’s own governmental units have been directly training AQ terrorists outside of Tehran, then sending them back to Iraq and Afghanistan.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:21 PM
:)))))
Clinton left the White House in 2000.
Ahmadinejad became President in 2005.
freevillage on March 19, 2008 at 5:29 PM
“why the great omnibus withdrawal that’s going to bring peace and reconciliation to Iraq wouldn’t do the same vis-a-vis NATO, Karzai, and the Taliban in Afghanistan.”
Or the former republics of Yugoslavia for that matter.
crosspatch on March 19, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Oh, my. That’s going to leave a scar. They just can’t do enough of that sort of thing, especially the ridicule quote marks.
Jaibones on March 19, 2008 at 5:31 PM
I’m well aware of that. I’m saying that we’ve known since the Clinton Administration that Iran is training Al Qaeda, with Mahmoud now wanting to get closer to Osama’s thugs.
Here’s the Clinton Admin-era indictment linking Iran to Al Qaeda, and here’s the NY Sun article on Mahmoud wanting to get closer and allowing them to train inside Iran itself:
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:37 PM
That’s good stuff….
Seven Percent Solution on March 19, 2008 at 5:38 PM
And here’s the 9/11 Commission on the ties:
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:38 PM
OK. :))))))))))))))))
Nice.
freevillage on March 19, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I didn’t phrase the sentence to your liking. Apologies.
How about the evidence that Iran is actually training Al Qaeda in Iran, we’ve known they’ve been helping since the Clinton Admin, and Mahmoud is now allowing them to train in Iran itself?
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Yes I hear that a lot from certain quarters lately, without much evidence of very much of Sunni Al Q’s support coming from Shiite Iran though. Apparently Joe and now John agree with me, that Shiite Iran’s main support is to Shiites in Iraq and not to Sunni Al Q (Whose main support comes from elsewhere, like Saudi Arabia.)
You might be interested in this “tidbit”.
Members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fought alongside and advised the Afghan rebels who helped U.S. forces topple Afghanistan’s Taliban regime (which included their good buddies Al Q) in the months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the guards’ former leader says.
Even before U.S. forces entered Afghanistan, Iran backed the Northern Alliance (anti Al Q and Taliban), a loose coalition of warlords and militias from the Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara minorities. The alliance fought the ruling Taliban (and their good buddies Al Q), a regime dominated by majority Pashtuns that imposed a harsh Sunni Islamic government.
Current and former U.S. troops and officials confirm Iranians were present with the Northern Alliance as U.S. forces organized the rebels in 2001. They say U.S. forces had no interaction with the Iranians. [Although] they deny the Iranians made meaningful contributions on the battlefield.
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Don’t worry, Obama won’t get it. Lefties believe their own country is the source of the problem and everyone in the whole world is essentially the same and all you have to do is talk to them. Armies are for for defense should someone show up on your border or cross it. That is all.
Sounder on March 19, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Are actual reporters allowed to approach BO so that he can answer any questions?
d1carter on March 19, 2008 at 5:42 PM
How about the fact that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are themselves training Al Qaeda? If you see the 9/11 Commission report, you’ll note that it concludes the divisions between the two are apparently not enough to get in the way of terror.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:43 PM
In other words, and as I have said before, they might do a little of it, on a tactical case-by-case, which no one is denying.
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Obama is done.
no way he will get elected, not even as dog catcher.
Chakra Hammer on March 19, 2008 at 5:47 PM
That was 2001. Mahmoud took office in 2005, wants to get closer to Osama, and the Revolutionary Guard itself is training Al Qaeda fighters who get sent back to Iraq and Afghanistan.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Yes I saw that you posted that quote.
That hardly means that Sunni Al Q’s main supporter is Shiite Iran, as opposed to say Sunni Saudi Arabi, nor that Shiite Iran supports mostly Sunnis rather than Shiites in Iran.
Joe, and now apparently John, for whatever that is worth, agree with me.
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Obama didn’t read read the 9/11 Commission report
Chakra Hammer on March 19, 2008 at 5:53 PM
No, I am in no position to criticize other people’s use of the English language. It’s not about that. It’s about not knowing what’s going on in the Middle East geopolitically and by implication still not having a plan for Iraq. This is what concerns me.
There’s no question that small groups of rebels could enter Iran and get their hand on some equipment etc. To imply that it means Iran is in any way aligned with Al Quaeda is insane. Joe Liberman knows that, so I think I’ll remain optimistic since he and not you is a senior person on McCain’s campaign.
freevillage on March 19, 2008 at 5:55 PM
BTW, IMHO I don’t give a D@MN if they are “al-Qaida” or “extremeists” they want to kill people and deny us and the Iraqi’s victory in our mission.
What is the difference? LOL
Chakra Hammer on March 19, 2008 at 5:56 PM
That is what you have advisers and generals for.
Chakra Hammer on March 19, 2008 at 5:57 PM
I’m not saying Iran is Al Qaeda’s main supporter. But Iran’s own R.G. is training fighters inside of Iran, then sending them back to Iraq and Afghanistan. No matter how that’s twisted, that’s support. The baseline argument for Obama and the media was that the two wouldn’t work together because they’re different sects.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:57 PM
We do NOT need someone that was raised in a Madrasah
Chakra Hammer on March 19, 2008 at 5:57 PM
You keep saying that and I don’t see much evidence for much of it. I don’t exclude some of it on a case-by-case tactical basis, but Saudi Arabians are Al Q’s big supporters. Iran mainly supports the Shiites in Iraq.
And you have to ask yourself this – If Iran is Al Q’s big supporter why is Bush diddling around then? I can see why he doesn’t go after Saudi Arabia, but not go after Iran if he believes that?
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Oh, right. Insane.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 5:59 PM
I don’t know why Bush is diddling around. Even McCain sings, “Bomb bomb bomb Iran”. Bush hasn’t exactly been a genius.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Yeah, Juan Hernandez is a senior person on McCain’s campaign, too.
amerpundit on March 19, 2008 at 6:04 PM
OMG, let’s just bomb every bloody country over there!!!!! Pakistan has lots of extremist groups, let’s go after them. Saudi Arabia sponsors terrorism, let’s nuke ‘em. Kuwait has sharia law and helps to glorify terrorists who ruthlessly murder Israelis, them too.
I don’t know where you learned diplomacy, but sometimes you have to make allies with some pretty despicable people to defeat a larger evil. Yes, Saudi Arabia is a disgusting place, but is the leader of SA willing to “play ball”? Then you take them. Just like WW2 and the ally of the Soviet Union even though we all know what a loverly dude Stalin was (and they knew it too).
Diplomacy is a dirty dirty game.
mjk on March 19, 2008 at 6:32 PM
That’s because all White people refused to let blacks learn to read in the South. You racist! You should know that!
SouthernGent on March 19, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Hussein Obama knows EXACTLY who Iran is supporting and knows all about what the jihadist groups are planning.
He gets all the most top secret al qaeda plans directly from his cousin Raila Odinga(who’s in direct communication with al qaeda BTW).
Poor Juan Mccain….if only he had direct ties to al qaeda and Hezzbollah like Hussein O, he might be able to win the presidency.
SaintOlaf on March 19, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Now dress me down like a Drill Sergeant; if I’m wrong…?
It would appear to me President Bush only allows being made foolish once…?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKgPY1adc0A
From the posts on this board Senator McCain appears to have been accorded multiple “do-over’s”, by this board?
I believe President Clinton used to call them “Mulligan’s”…?
Question now is; how do we define Senator McCain’s foreign policy faux pas…?
Any suggestions…?
J_Gocht on March 19, 2008 at 7:15 PM
A NYT Reporter has come out with a book called “The Commission” about the 9/11 Commission.
CSPAN had a show about on Book TV.
The author says the National Security Agency was BEGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGING the Commission to come read their intellegece data on Iran – Al Qaeda links but the Commissioners and the Staff showed no interest in going to the NSA offices to look at it.. until one staffer , very late in the Comission’s term, decided to check it out.
S/He was in total shock about the quality of connections between Iran and AQ and that the Commision , with the very little time it had left, tried to do its best to write into the report as much as it could about those connections.
So in other words.. what was published in the final report is the tip of the iceburg.
I haven’t read the book… this is what the author said in his interview.
Here’s some info that I got from here… I think the writer is a little to conspiracy-prone, but his comments jive with what I saw on CSPAN:
http://www.911blogger.com/node/13710
“Also revealed in Shenon’s book is the fact that the Commission’s staff never ventured to the National Security Agency (NSA), the chief collector of intelligence information, in order to review their “voluminous treasure trove of documents”. At NSA Headquarters, 27 miles from the Commission’s offices, there was a “gold mine” of information detailing terrorist’s threats and connections, including those of al Qaeda. General Michael Hayden, who headed the NSA at the time, was eager to cooperate and share what his organization had with the 9/11 Commission, but Executive Director Zelikow was not interested.
A lone staffer, who understood the importance of these archives, had the information moved to a reading room within walking distance of the Commission’s offices. Even then, she was the only member of the Commission to take the time to read these documents. By her own admission, this insightful staffer had concerns as to how much she, on her own, would be able to glean from these jargon filled documents. Why didn’t Phil Zelikow make reviewing these vital NSA documents a Commission priority? It seems clear that not every fact and lead was followed in this investigation compromising the validity of the Commission’s final report and its findings.”
VinceP1974 on March 19, 2008 at 8:04 PM
The Lieberman whisper could have been “that’s classified” re: AQI getting trips inside Iran….
funky chicken on March 19, 2008 at 9:12 PM
nice
funky chicken on March 19, 2008 at 9:16 PM
OMG, I think that you got a little carried away there.
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 9:27 PM
He is lulling all his opponents into a false sense of security by feigning senility. Then when they least expect it, he will pounce.
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 9:31 PM
If Obama does this, the break will be anything but clean, which will leave us to live with the guilt of abandoning Iraq at this juncture and the new threats from Iran and probably Iraq too after it’s taken over by Al-queda or “extremists” or whoever. This will be what we focus on in the 21st century as we watch our new president hand us over to these thugs.
4shoes on March 19, 2008 at 11:32 PM
They’re looking into a Rev. Meeks here in Chicago who is bigger, more powerful, has a larger following and is screaming and yelling just like Wright did. He’s supposed to have some ties to Obama also. Obama is a left wing, Socialist, Black Nationalist, and once this is all out in the open he’ll be nothing but a nasty memory. Has anyone seen or heard the little woman lately? She’s way more fun to watch.
UnEasyRider on March 19, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Obama’s spokesperson says:
That’s my favorite Obama conceit of them all. He will not “end the war.” He will just cease our participation in it. The undefeated New England Patriots could have ended the Super Bowl before the Giants ultimately won by walking off the field before the end of regulation, but it wouldn’t have meant the game was over, just that they stopped participating.
“Ending the war” the way Obama wants will make the airlift off the embassy roof in Saigon (of which my wife was a participant) look like piling the family into the car for a Sunday drive.
Captain Scarlet on March 20, 2008 at 3:32 AM
funky chicken on March 19, 2008 at 9:12 PM
MB4 on March 19, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Question[s] then still remain, folks…
Which faux pas should concern us more, stating and implausible relationship three times after being reminded he was inaccurate or revealing classified information he should have kept under his hat?
MB4, I tend to lean toward your explanation.
J_Gocht on March 20, 2008 at 7:33 AM
I also think Lieberman may have reminded McCain that that info is really classified still.
ikez78 on March 20, 2008 at 8:57 PM
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