McCain: American lives have been "wasted" in Iraq

[Rose Siding]

Discussing the war with Letterman, McCain repeated his assertion that U.S. troops must remain in Iraq rather than withdrawing early even though the war has been mismanaged.

"Americans are very frustrated, and they have every right to be," McCain said. "We've wasted a lot of our most precious treasure, which is American lives."

In February, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama described the lives of troops in Iraq as having been "wasted" but then apologized a day later for making what he called "a slip of the tongue" that he said was not meant to diminish their sacrifice.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070301/D8NJCKM80.html

[marmar]

1. Will he catch the same flak that Barack Obama did?

Something tells me not.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. no, because Obama is in the Democrat Party.

McCain is GOP, so the same rules don't apply to him.

Remember when Dick Durbin talked about Abu Ghraib?
Now, when McConnell (the new head of the intel agencies) says pretty much the same thing ie the impact of Abu Grhaib, he is congradulated for his refreshing honesty. Durbin was almost ridden out of town on a rail.

[Supersedeas]

19. Not peep from the FOX/GOP news outlet -- or any other cable GOP Media outlet

[underpants]

2. Oh NO isn't that what Obama dared to say?

GASP the media will be all over him for daring to say that...

In other news

"incompetent, foolish, dubious,"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070301/pl_afp/usiraqpolitics_070301003657
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US policy in Iraq following the 2003 invasion was "incompetent, foolish, dubious," the new US coordinator for Iraq's economic development said Wednesday.

Ambassador Timothy Carney told NPR radio that the US policy to exclude Iraqis from governing the country in the two years following the invasion was "an enormous foolishness" which contributed to the deterioration of security and lengthened the conflict in the country.

"We don't need to go into detail on that, but I think words such as incompetent, foolish, dubious in all of its aspects are the most charitable way to look at that period," he said.

The major failing of policy and operations in 2003 was the failure to invite Iraqis into our councils. We actually thought we could govern this country," he told NPR.

"It was enormously costly in terms of time, and consequently in terms of our and Iraqi blood and the blood of many of our allies."

[EVDebs]

25. Which is why McCain wants troops to stay "ten, twenty years, that's not so bad..."

""When asked this week on CNN how long the U.S. military is likely to remain in Iraq, Senator John McCain replied "probably" 10 or 20 years. "That's not so bad...""

http://spectrumz.com/z/fair_use/2004/09_04.html

McCain and * need their heads examined, and the sand cleaned out !

[Sherman A1]

3. A little late to the party

Why wasn't our Esteemed Senator turned Presidential Candidate doing that Congressional Oversight thing while the Republicans were in control of the Senate? Hmmmm.....

[havocmom]

5. McCain just lost the winger & fundie 26% who like their delusions

They only want to hear about how the fallen have protected freedom and liberty here at home. They don't wanna hear that troops have been squandered. Makes them feel all vulnerable inside, and the 26% doesn't like to feel anything but invincible.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Whoa

This is big, that he dares to admit this--he, the uber-hawk, the one who wanted the surge to be "surgier". Is he trying to be honest, or does he just keep forgetting to stick to the talking points? And why would he want his sons (in the military) to be a part of this godawful waste of lives? Obama need not have apologized for anything, he was spot-on.

[swag]

7. Via atrios, Malkin's rant on Obama using the same phrasing:

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006858.htm

[Virginia Dare]

8. Yes, and you have blood on your hands Senator...

for failing to stop it. Slip of the tongue already? Will he be pilloried 24/7 by the media now? I doubt it, he's got too much "integrity" "honor" and "dignity".

[LibDemAlways]

9. Don't expect to see that little gem touted by the

mainstream whores. They're too busy dishing over the details of Anna Nicole's funeral to bother with it anyway.

[swag]

10. KnR

[wisteria]

11. Sen. Kerry comes to mind for the "joke" which wasn't even about the soldiers

that he however was accused of insulting.
Then Obama for his comment about wasted lives.

I suppose there is another standard for Repubs.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. I don't see the whacko RW outrage here, do you?

Hypocrites.

[Gato Moteado]

13. why did obama apologize?

those lives were wasted. we're not defending our freedom in iraq....we're fighting for halliburton's profits. that's clear to anyone paying attention. why would obama apologize for pointing out the obvious?

[mtnsnake]

14. Trailing Giuliani & being in NYC wouldnt have much to do w/his comment, would it

[swag]

15. Just some of what freepers were saying when Obama used the same phrasing:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1784779/posts

[Apollo11]

16. Maybe Obama apologized too fast?

Support the Troops: Bring Them Home
By MICHAEL KINSLEY

TIME Magazine, Feb. 19, 2007

Sen. Barack Obama has apologized several times over for what would seem to anyone unfamiliar with the rituals and requirements of American politics to be a fairly touching tribute to "over three thousand lives of the bravest young Americans wasted" in Iraq. Unlike many, Obama has opposed this war since the beginning.

"Wasted" is a strong word, but not an inaccurate one if you believe the war was wrong. (In fact, the verb "to waste" became a synonym for killing during Vietnam.) But Obama, like every other politician, has to watch his words, and must temper any sincere expression of horror and dismay, or he will be accused of not "supporting the troops."

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1591571,00.html

[zulchzulu]

17. Excellent point!

I'm passing this along to the Obama folks. Talk about a good retort to a future Repig "gotcha" question...from, say...Tim Russert...

[GeorgeGist]

18. Big Deal...

Obama was a fool to apologize for telling the truth.

[The Wizard]

21. You are correct

Never apologize for being honest. The Republicans and their media echo chamber need to apologize to the world for the all the Treasury looting and physical damage they've enabled and caused.
Kerry apologized because he forgot a pronoun in the punchline of a joke. He appeared weak and had to drop out of the race.
If we allow reich wing media temper tantrums to dictate what we can and can't say, we abdicate our rights as Americans and thus disqualify ourselves for elected office.
Never back down, and most especially when telling the truth.

[SlowDownFast]

20. K&R

Doubtful McCain will take any flak for repeating what Obama said and got blasted for.

[swag]

22. Freepers are curiously silent on this.

Here's some more vitriol they spewed Obama's way when he said pretty much the same thing:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1783880/posts

By the way, somebody else needs to recommend this thread.

[stevedeshazer]

23. Git yer popcorn - somebody over there finally started a thread on McCain's comment

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793324/posts

[swag]

26. Pretty sweet, Steve.

Now they can pledge allegiance to anti-gun, pro-choice Rudy Giuliani.

[EVDebs]

27. Read McCain's quote in post #25

CNN has selective memories I assume.

[stevedeshazer]

29. Or Mitt Romney

Most of them are for Duncan Hunter.

[The Backlash Cometh]

24. Well, he got something right.

Though this finishes him as a right-wing presidential contender.

[babylonsister]

28. McCain, that 'waste' is on your shoulders; you have blood dripping

out of your pores.:thumbsdown:

[Vidar]

30. Slips up & tells the truth.

[Clarkie1]

31. Well, this neutralizes the Obama comment.

Although I think Obama pretty much neutralized it on his own.

[Blue_Tires]

32. oh i'm certain the outrage police will be all over THIS one!

:sarcasm: