Posted on 01/15/2006 2:13:56 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
SENIOR US senator John McCain has lamented the loss of innocent life during a US bombing raid in Pakistan, but said such casualties were unavoidable as Washington robustly pursued its "war on terror".
"It's terrible when innocent people are killed, he said. " We regret that. But we have to do what we think is necessary to take out Al-Qaeda, particularly the top operatives."
"We regret it. We understand the anger that people feel, but the United States' priorities are to get rid of al-Qaeda, and this was an effort to do so," the Republican lawmaker said.
"We apologize, but I can't tell you that we wouldn't do the same thing again."
He made his remarks after thousands of protestors took to Pakistan's streets to condemn the US air strike that officials said targeted al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, but instead killed 18 villagers near the Afghan border.
"This war on terror has no boundaries," Senator McCain, a Vietnam War veteran and leading congressional voice on defense matters, said.
"We have to go where these people are, and we have to take them out. And the fact that maybe we didn't take them out years ago when we should have is a cautionary tale."
Why apologize and then say the US has done nothing wrong?
He's only apologizing for the life of
innocent lives. He condones the assault,
adding that in wartime, innocent people die.
IOW, expect more losses of innocent lives
in the future.
So, is it verified that the casualities were actually innocent "villagers"? If they were partying with Zawahiri [sp?] then how innocent could they be?
What a piece of work McCain is. Why would anyone think he could be president? If you think so, we deserve everything we get. BOOM!
Remember the "Keating 5" He was one the 5
I won't vote for him whatever he ends up running for.
Go Steelers!
He is NOT presidential material. Far from it.
He was one of the Keating five, but the MSM has given him a pass on it. The Big networks like McCain, he goes on all their shows and thumbs Bush in the eye, so they love him.
The GOP had better understand if they nominate this guy millions of conservatives will stay home or vote Libertarian.
That's true, unless he gets (which I don't think will ever happen) the party nomination. After that, the long knives come out.
Who believes for a minute that innocents were killed? Anyone hanging around al quida operatives is guilty by association. Boom!!!
My John McCain (up close and personal) story, from the 2000 South Carolina Primary.
Greenville SC - the 2000 Presidential primary - John McCain had just beaten ‘W’ in the NH primary and the “Straight Talk Express” rolled into South Carolina.
I was a McCain supporter - positive that he was the real deal.
I drove to a McCain speech and public appearance. It was a day I will never forget as long as I live.
That day I witnessed John McCain behave unlike any appearance I had ever seen on TV - the man was unhinged.
After a 15 minute canned speech - he decided to address his competition in the primary - George W. Bush. He did so by beginning with, “I am Luke Skywalker, and my opponents are members of the Empire. Together we will form the rebellion and defeat Darth Vadar”. He yelled this - first pumping - his voice full of anger - his face - beet red - and his eyes - well - they were scary.
The crowd instantly went from supportive - to bewildered.
He obviously didn’t pick up on the mood change - because he went on for another 5 minutes - ranting and raving about how everyone was lying about his record - his views - and he, “wasn’t going to take it any more” (remember the movie Network).
It was surreal.
When he finished - and with the prodding of an aid - he left the stage, while we in the crowd just stood there - stunned - and honestly - completely confused.
I asked a woman next to me: “what the hell just happened?” She answered: “that man is freaking nuts!”
I came home - walked in the house - sat on the couch and just looked at the wall. I suddenly realized - the man pushed on television - was not the man at all.
I have told this story many times - to many people - and I have heard the same story told back to me by others who have seen similar John McCain episodes.
I am not given to criticize anyone lightly ladies and gentlemen.
I am sure John McCain is a good man - but listen to me - and please believe me.
JOHN MCCAIN is NOT FIT TO LEAD THIS NATION.
John McCain is unstable. John McCain is freaking nuts!
Wow, who gets to decide whether they are innocent or not? Who judged them? When a murder is executed, do we execute his children with him? I cannot imagine how anyone could feel proud of this naked act of war on another country. It reminds me of those Arab kids dancing in the streets on 9/11. Do we not stand for justice?
McCain is just trying to play both side of the fence. It will not win him the nomination.
I initially thought McCain was the ONE in 2000. Thank God I was wrong!
So what you're saying is that you support terrorist attacks in other countries but then get upset if they happen to America? I remember when Clinton bombed Sudan in some misguided belief that he was hitting a chemical weapons plant. Six people were killed and the consequences were far reaching. Don't you think that makes our fight rather hollow? Does it not undermine the very values that we hope to win? If we stoop to breaking laws do we not become criminals? If we bomb and kill people in a country against which we are not at war, does that not make us terrorists?
First, these people, especially the intended target attacked us first. The President said that we would go anywhere to find them and bring them to justice. We did that and it shows them we meant business. I believe you signed up a few days ago to spout this liberal line of BS and I have no intention of playing your game. But I believe that we have to show these people and the world that you cannot attack us with impunity as they have done for nearly 40 years.
It was an innocent little dinner with some of our close Al-Queda buddies!
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