DNC McCain Myth Buster: John McCain and American Security

April 10, 2008

Today's McCain Myth: John McCain understands the threats America faces in the Middle East and Asia .

WASHINGTON , April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- John McCain says he "understands national security and the threats facing our nation." Yet at the same time, he has said he would keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years, despite the fact that key military and political experts believe our engagement in Iraq has not made America safer and has diverted critical resources from the real war on terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan . In fact, the same day Ambassador Ryan Crocker said that the most dangerous branch of al Qaeda is along the Afghanistan - Pakistan border, not in Iraq ; General Petraeus said that history will decide if the war in Iraq has made us safer. Other military leaders have made similar comments. [johnmccain.com, accessed 4/9/08; Politico.com, The Crypt blog, 4/8/08; ABCnews.com, 4/8/08]

With military and political experts repeatedly contradicting him, why does John McCain continue to insist he understands the real threats to America?

2008: McCain Would Spend 'a Hundred Years' or a 'Million Years' in Iraq . McCain interrupted a voter during a townhall meeting in New Hampshire telling him we could spend "maybe a hundred" years in Iraq and "that would be fine with me." After the townhall meeting, he told a reporter "that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 'a thousand years' or 'a million years,' as far as he was concerned." [McCain Derry, NH townhall meeting, 1/3/08; motherjones.com , 1/3/08]

Amb. Crocker: Al Qaeda in Afghanistan / Pakistan bigger threat than al Qaeda in Iraq . "Following a recital by Petraeus and Crocker of the same statements they gave to the Armed Services Committee this morning, Sen. Joe Biden asked Crocker if 'God came down into this room' and said Crocker could take out al Qaeda in Iraq or al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan , which would he choose, Crocker said, 'I'd pick al qaeda in the Afghanistan / Pakistan region.' An interesting admission from the top U.S. diplomat in Iraq ." [Politico.com, The Crypt blog, 4/8/08: http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0408/Crocker_Al_Qaeda_in_AfghanistanPakistan_bigger_threat_than_al_Qaeda_in_Iraq.html]

General Petraeus Says History Will Judge If America Is Safer After War In Iraq . When asked by Senator John Warner , a Republican, if the war in Iraq was "bringing about a more secure America," General Petraeus said, "though I continue to think it's a question perhaps best answered by folks with a broader view and ultimately will have to be answered by history, I obviously have thoughts on it and on the importance of achieving our objectives in Iraq ." [ABCnews.com, 4/8/08]

Centcom Chief Admiral Fallon Resigns , Reportedly Argued Iraq Troop Levels "Hurting Operations" in Afghanistan . "It was often reported that he and Gen. David Petraeus butted heads about troop levels in Iraq , which the two denied, but was an ongoing dispute that simmered below the surface within the Pentagon. Fallon is responsible for not only Iraq and Afghanistan . The article noted that the troop numbers were so taxed in Iraq that it was hurting operations in Afghanistan ." [Foxnews.com, 3/11/08]

General McCaffrey Said that the Problem is "Multiple Deployments In Iraq ." "And the problem is multiple deployments to Iraq where their dad and mom are saying don't you go in, even for the college money they'll hold you hostage given stop-loss for the next 8 years. Your Army is starting to unravel." [General McCaffrey, Hearing of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 4/2/08]

After casting himself as a "Maverick" in 2000, the new John McCain is walking in lockstep with President Bush, pandering to the right wing of the Republican Party, and embracing the ideology he once denounced. On the campaign trail McCain has callously abandoned many of his previously held positions, even contradicted himself, in a blatant attempt to remake himself into a candidate Republicans can accept in 2008. So just who is the real John McCain ? The Democratic National Committee will present a daily fact aimed at exposing the man behind the myth.

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org.

This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

SOURCE Democratic National Committee

Copyright © 2008 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved.