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.
I M PROUD TO BE AMERICAN,PLAIN AND SIMPLE,,,,,,,,NOT LIKE MRS OBAMA,,,,,BLACK AMERICA WILL WAKE UP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
If we withdraw the troops from Iraq pre-maturely, Al Qaeda in Iraq will become Al Qaeda in America. The war in Iraq is a war on terrorism, we did not start that war, it’s a good thing we have a President who has the guts to defend us.
“If Al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq,” Obama would re-engage to “act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad.” But says current war is “a misguided war in Iraq”? Does he have a clue as to what our mission is in Iraq? What our servicemen & women are fighting and dying for? Billary is just as bad, she just won’t make statements that will haunt her later on.
I wish the media would focus more attention on what the US & Allied Military Forces are doing to help Iraq and Afganistan and stop Al Qaeda in their tracks.
These are my reasons why Im voting for Ron Paul
1) He is a Constitutionalist. This means the man has a desire to run our country the way our forefathers envisioned.
2) He doesnt believe in going to war, without a congressional declaration of war. Which is clearly stated in our Constitution. The conflicts of Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, all started without congressional declaration of war, and how odd that they have all turned into financial, and emotional nightmares. Think our forefathers had a reason for making it so hard to go to war or not?
3) He wants to bring all our troops back asap. Contrary to popular opinion, there was no global vote to elect the USA the worlds police force. We are NOT an empire, and we are NOT rome. We have no business keeping 30 thousand soldiers in korea, or 50 thousand troops in japan. I dont think Godzilla is gonna be stirring up any trouble any time soon, so why do we have almost 100 thousand troops over there? Why do we have 130 military bases in foreign countries?
4) He understands what causes terrorism. McCain, Obama, Hillary know they want to fight it, but, why fight it, when you can the cause for its existance? Ask yourselves, if China built a military base in Florida, how would you respond? Do you think Americans would be terrorizing China? Now, couple that with the fact, that we have 130 military bases in the world, and most of them are in the middle east. Doesnt take rocket science now does it Close the bases, end our troop occupations, the BS would stop.
5) He understands economics. The man has two degrees in the subject. He understands the need for a sound monetary policy. One that DOESNT entail paying trillions in interest to a private bank (federal reserve). He also understands that we need to tie our currency to something of value. Currently, our currency is backed by nothing, hence why your dollar is equally…worth nothing.
6) He understands that the personal income tax is illegal. The states never fully ratified this. Strange how our teenagers are learning how to use condoms in jr high school, but, not learning that the Federal Reserve is NOT part of our government, the Federal income tax is illegal, and why did our congress who according to our constitution is the only entity allowed to coin currency, sign those rights over to a private bank in 1913.
7) He understands that for a country to survive, it cant spend more than it makes. This is the exact opposite of what our country is currently doing. We have to borrow billions from foreign countries every month, just to stay afloat. How can we continue to exist?
Do any of you, honestly now, think any other candidate has even talked about these issues, has any understanding of these issues, and can actually do anything about these issues?
Well, if you do, then why is Ron the ONLY one talking about them?
In closing. In my opinion, if you want a glorified socialist country, Hillary is the way to go. If you want a war veteran, who running as a republican, is really a democrat, then vote for McCain. If you want a exciting, energetic speech giver, who doesnt have a clue, then vote for Obama. If you want someone who actually understands this countries NEEDS, then vote Ron Paul.
Remember, this isnt a high school poplularity contest. Its not about who excites you the most.
I think there is no problem using the middle name of people. Especially if you are a political candidate. I think the people have the right to know well who the candidates are. Why do you have problem when you mention Hussien for Obama? That is his middle name. I believe he is proud of his father, and most of us is also proud of where we came from. That is why we have this genealogy to trace our heritage. And I like that.
I think Prsident Bush will be remembered in history as a great US president. His long term goals for peace will benefit all of us in the long run. Iraq will win, it will take time, Al Qaeda will run. Iraq will have its soverienty, and will be prosperous. It will take time. History proves that earning freedom for the people takes time and a very difficult process. Let us look back at our American history. But now, we all enjoy the freedom that our forefathers had sacrificed.
I think so many of us don’t understand the purpose of defeating the Al Qaeda. Or shall we let them run our lives. So we don’t fight?
Thank you.
does his name scare me??? are u 12 years old?? wow!! this is getting just plain funny..
For the record, Saddam Hussein and Al Queda were bitter enemies. In fact, the radical muslim community (of which Al Queda was a leader) had a fatwa, or mandate, on Saddam’s head. To suggest Al Queda was in Iraq prior to the war is plain ignorance and the result of years of brainwashing and propoganda by the current adminstration.
Fellow Americans. Wake up and smell the coffee. The facts are Al Queda has been at war with Saddam for decads. There was NO Iraqi support for Al Queda - their interests were bipolar. Al Queda today is in Iraq - and is a powerful force there.
So, its difficult to say with certainty that the war brought Al Queda to Iraq (although I believe so). But lets stop lying to eachother… Al Queda was not in Iraq during Saddam. Plain and simple.
The Dems are a bunch of idiots…the only reason Bill and Osama are getting the pub is due to the fact that one would be the first woman pres and one would be the first African-American Pres….other than that, they would be left in the dust by McCain.
Obama’s answer was right.
He was not asked whether al Qaeda is in Iraq,
but rather, IF-after the US leaves Iraq and al Qaeda starts to form a base in Iraq.
You pro-war McCain supporters always intentionally twist issues to justify a 100-year war you want in Iraq.
I wonder if you will call Bush naive, for bombing al Qaeda in Pakistan a few days ago, without the permission of pakistan?
Obama said he will do just that a few months ago, and all the Republican and even some democrats said that shows how inexperienced he is.
Will any of you now insult Bush, for bombing Pakistan, our allies?
All of you all are crazy OBAMA 2008!!!!!