McCain Mocks Obama for Comment on Al Qaeda in Iraq at Debate
John McCain tried to capitalize Wednesday on what he sees as a weakness for his potential Democratic opponent, Barack Obama — his positions on Iraq.
McCain ridiculed the Illinois senator for a comment he made in a debate with Hillary Clinton on Tuesday night. Obama was asked if he would send soldiers back to Iraq to quell an insurrection or civil war if Al Qaeda in Iraq re-surges there. He responded that as president, he would take action “if Al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq.”
McCain, who has staked much of his political fortunes to political and military successes in Iraq and his own national security credentials, suggested his anti-war colleague’s response was either naive or uninformed.
“When you examine that statement, it’s pretty remarkable,” McCain told a crowd in Tyler, Texas.
“I have some news. Al Qaeda is in Iraq. It’s called ‘Al Qaeda in Iraq,”‘ McCain said, drawing laughter at Obama’s expense.
The dig triggered a back-and-forth that continued long-distance through much of the day.
Obama quickly answered back, telling a crowd at Ohio State University in Columbus, “I do know that Al Qaeda is in Iraq.”
“McCain thought that he could make a clever point by saying ‘Well let me give you some news Barack, Al Qaeda is in Iraq,’ like I wasn’t reading the papers,” he said. “But I have some news for John McCain, and that is that there was no such thing as Al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq.”
While an Illinois state senator in 2002, Obama gave an anti-war speech that the Iraq conflict would strengthen Al Qaeda’s ability to recruit.
Noting that McCain likes to tell audiences that he’d follow Usama bin Laden to the “gates of Hell” to catch him, Obama said Wednesday: “All he (McCain) has done is to follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq.”
McCain said he had not watched the Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday night but was told of Obama’s response to the Iraq question.
Obama did not say whether he’d send troops in the event of an insurrection but responded: “As commander in chief, I will always reserve the right to make sure that we are looking out for American interests. And if Al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq, then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad.”
The exchange previewed the likely flash-points for the candidates if they do in fact face off during the general election.
The latest head-to-head Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, taken Feb. 21-25, showed McCain besting both Democratic candidates in a hypothetical general election — but a race with Obama looks more competitive.
The poll showed McCain with a 46-to-40 percent advantage over Hillary Clinton, but with a slim 44-to-42 percent lead over Obama. Most recent head-to-head polls show Obama beating McCain by a hair and McCain edging out Clinton in a general election. The poll’s margin of error was 3 points.
In an effort to highlight his own security credentials, McCain has throughout the primary season repeatedly attacked both Obama and Clinton for saying they would withdraw troops from Iraq.
“And my friends, if we left, they (Al Qaeda) wouldn’t be establishing a base,” McCain said Wednesday. “They’d be taking a country, and I’m not going to allow that to happen, my friends. I will not surrender. I will not surrender to Al Qaeda.”
He said that withdrawing troops would be “waving the white flag.”
In the debate, Clinton did not answer the question about re-invasion of Iraq on grounds it contained “lots of different hypothetical assessments.”
For years, McCain has urged sending more troops into Iraq, even before President Bush adopted such a strategy about a year ago.
“I knew enough from talking to the men and women who are serving that this new strategy was what we needed, and I’m telling you, it is succeeding,” McCain said. “So what needs to happen, we need to continue this strategy. It should be General Petraeus’ recommendation, not that of a politician running for higher office, as to when and how we withdraw.”
He was referring to Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq.
As he began a swing through Bush’s home state of Texas, which holds a presidential primary election on Tuesday, McCain made sure to play up a line he always uses.
“I also think it might be nice for President Bush to get a little credit that there’s not been another attack on the United States of America,” he said to applause.
FOX News Molly Henneberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The GOP will blow Obama out of the water when they start in on Obama about his ‘Global Poverty Act’ and Americans find out Obama doesnt just want to save poor Americans, he wants to save the poor around the world with American tax dollars. $845 BILLION to the corrupt United Nations all coming from your paychecks, what a country. You democrats praised Bill Clinton when he penned into law the largest income tax increase in the history of the United States and now Obama wants to take that money and give it to the UN to hand out to corrupt dictators worldwide. Amazing.
Obama would NOT fight Al Qadea! If he would, he would not be talking about cutting and running in Iraq. The Democrats are invested in defeat in Iraq so there is no way they will fight. By the way, We are Winning in Iraq…
I think that the U.S. should rethink its total foreign policy. Both Republicans and Democrats should ponder this: How much less blood would have been shed, how much less treasure would have been spent, and how much greater the standing of the U.S. in the world would be if a fraction of the treasure expended on the war was spent instead on diplomacy. Remember that the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq was justified by bad second-hand intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. The one demand the Commander in Chief should have made is “Show me the WMD!” The decision to invade Iraw broke two military cardinal rules, and they are “Don’t believe anything you hear and half of what you see” and “Act only on information that you believe is true”. Since we did not see the WMD first hand, then nobody should have believed that the intelligence was true. What is my proof? Well then, my answer is “Show me the WMD!” I am quite certain that nobody will be able to do that, not in my lifetime.
In response to Barak’s “no such thing as Al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush.” That is correct, they were in New York, Washington DC, California etc. I like them in Iraq a whole lot better than I do here in the US. Let’s keep it that way. To suggest that Al Qaeda would just disappear if we weren’t in iraq is naive and juvenile. Let’s keep them over there in Iraq and out of the US. Given the chance, they will come and they won’t be nice.
First off, Obama dodged the point that McCain made by changing the subject. He could have responded in the debate that Al Qaeda is already in Iraq, but why didn’t he?
Secondly, isn’t Al Qaeda in Iraq because we had them chased out of Afghanistan?
If Obama wins his V.P. selection will be a woman. Diane Feinstein, possibily?..Barbra Boxer?
If Hillary wins her V.P. selection will be Bill; possibly Vince Foster!..Oh no I guess not “ole” Vince
If Mc Cain wins I hope he can talk Colin Powell into the V.P.’s position.
I have been reading these stupid comments from the anti obama brain surgeons for three days. You claim to be smart.
OK, first who taught you to spell? It’s MUSLIM not muslin(that is a fabric) or muslem.
2nd, what paranoid racist backa** part of this country do you live in. I wonder why they worry about Obama being killed. I am guessing some of you einsteins are sitting there with your thirty pack of Buddyweiser and your ak47 (in case some muslin guy takes over) and praying everyday to the oh great Rushbo or that upstanding wacko Cunningham.
Dr. Phil may be able to help you people (he did wonders for Brittany)
Does Obama’s middle name scare me? Not as much as you nutbal right wing geniouses.
Crawl back into your Joe Mccarthy era anti communist era freakin bomb shelters and drink some more Jim Jones left over Kool AID (Sorry to use refrences like ohh……20 miles over your head.)
Go Obama!!!!!!!!!!!
AS WE ALL KNOW THERE WAS NO AL QAEDA IN IRAG UNTIL GEORGE BUSH TURNED UP.INFACT SADDAM NEVER LIKED THESE TWATS,BUT AS CONSERVATIVE BRIT IN ENGLAND ,I MAKE NO BONES IN MY DELIGHT IN GETTING RID OF SADDAM,BUT I THINK WE LOST THE CHANCE OF KILLING BIN LADEN AND HIS MEN WHICH WAS THE MAIN GOAL.
The claim that Al Qaeda is in Iraq is being used to exploit a loophole in the authorization for this war and to draw an imaginary link between Iraq and 9-11. Congress didn’t authorize an occupation per se, but they were foolish enough to authorize “what is consistent with fighting terrorism” in Iraq. It doesn’t seem they were wise enough to see where that would lead.
Just how far the fear mongering has gotten out of hand is clearly evident when a person’s middle name is such an issue. Joe McCarthy would be proud. Many of the claims against Senator Obama are reminiscent of the investigations conducted under the banner of exposing communists. Hitler used essentially the same tactics. Fear and hate trumps reason every time. All you need is an enemy and you have a source of unlimited power.
9-11 was a horrific tragedy that is a source of pain to all Americans. It’s time to get past the emotion and restore reason. Failure to do so is a force multiplier for Al Qaeda.
I am an army infantry soldier currently serving in Baghdad. I assure you AQI is alive and well in Iraq. Any inference otherwise is beyond naive, it’s wreckless. sps
I do not think we have an accurate perception of the condition of Al Qaeda in Iraq, yet it has been proven that our presence in Iraq is not going to create peace just destruction. I agree with the notion that Democrats have brought fourth that we need an Iraqi solution, not a American military solution. I support Obama because he reminds me of Sadat. Sadat brought lasting peace between Israel and Egypt at the cost of his life, I think that Obama has similar diplomatic skills. McCain seems to be trying very hard to get into office and I have seen his views change on this war a lot. I do not think the war is going to be his strong point for the general election because America is tired of the war. Not to say that it is not a real threat, but everyone can agree that the best interest for America to limit it’s involvement in the middle east in the next decade. The method of getting there is determined by these candidates. This is not a question of the Clintons, Obama’s name or religion/ race, McCain’s war record it is a question of representation. Who can negotiate on a world stage with the greatest conviction, strength, and trust and I believe that Obama has showed America these qualities.