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Why McCain's Iraq Attacks May Hurt More Than They Help
Newsweek ^ | Posted Monday, July 28, 2008 12:57 PM | Andrew Romano (Ray's brother)

Posted on 07/28/2008 12:19:51 PM PDT by DBCJR

...For months, the Democratic nominee has advocated a rough 16-month timetable for withdrawal, and for months, his Republican rival has said such a schedule would amount to "surrender." That was a fertile ground for debate. But last week ...Bush and Maliki agreed on the idea of a "time horizon" for withdrawing American troops, and Maliki said that U.S. troops should leave "as soon as possible, as far as we're concerned." "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about sixteen months," he said. "That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes." All of which forced McCain to admit... that 16 months is a pretty good timetable." ...

...consensus may be good for the country. But unfortunately it's bad for McCain's campaign.... McCain has chosen to indulge in recent days in a series of meaningless attacks meant create the illusion of contrast where none actually exists. First is the issue of contingency...to affix an "[as long as] it's based on conditions on the ground" disclaimer to his approval of a 16-month timeline--the implication being that only he (and not Obama) will factor those conditions into his withdrawal calculus. Obama said the size of his residual force--which would stay in Iraq after combat troops withdraw to assist with intelligence, counterterrorism and training--would be "entirely conditions-based," McCain acted as if his rival had experienced some sort of epiphany.... Obama has always been open to adjustments when it comes to residual forces--even if McCain thinks it convenient to claim otherwise. Hanover, N.H. on Sept. 26, 2007, for example, ..."I think it's hard to project four years from now, and I think it would be irresponsible," Obama said. "We don't know what contingency will be out there...

(Excerpt) Read more at blog.newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: 2008mediabias; denialaintariver; dnctalkingpoints; foreignpolicy; iraq; mccain; newsweak; obama; propagandawingofdnc
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1 posted on 07/28/2008 12:19:51 PM PDT by DBCJR
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To: DBCJR
Why McCain's Iraq Attacks May ...

Or they may not. More stirring 'journalism' from Newsweak.

2 posted on 07/28/2008 12:23:05 PM PDT by dirtboy
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To: dirtboy

It must be hurting McCain...otherwise, how do you explain the +4 jump in today’s Gallup Poll of likely voters??

(sarcasm)


3 posted on 07/28/2008 12:28:52 PM PDT by johnnycap
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To: DBCJR
McCain has made his point on Iraq. He needs to start right now on Drill - Here, Drill - Now and any other sources of energy that the U.S. is not exploiting. Take it to the Dems now.

I heard he did address the energy issues today but I have not seen any reporting on it.

4 posted on 07/28/2008 12:29:15 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Red_Devil 232

Absolutely! Following an aggressive return with an offensive while Obama is still on his heels. Obama is WIDE open and vulnerable on energy!


5 posted on 07/28/2008 12:33:25 PM PDT by DBCJR (What would you expect?)
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To: Red_Devil 232

Of course you didn’t see any reporting on McCain’s news conference. The media was probably covering what kind of underwear the Obamessiah wears...boxers, bikinis, or breifs?


6 posted on 07/28/2008 12:34:22 PM PDT by woweeitsme
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To: DBCJR

You left out the “Barf Alert”! This is a Newsweak article! :)


7 posted on 07/28/2008 12:37:30 PM PDT by ETL (Plenty of REAL smoking-gun evidence on the demonRats at: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
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To: DBCJR
The only problem? There wasn't any shift. Truth be told, Obama has always been open to adjustments when it comes to residual forces--even if McCain thinks it convenient to claim otherwise.

Nonsense, Obama shifted to all positions: immediate withdrawal; 16 month withdrawal; no preconditions; with preconditions; residual forces only with the Marines in the Embassy; 50,000 residual forces....

Obama takes as many positions as a druggie takes pills.

8 posted on 07/28/2008 12:40:36 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: DBCJR

How come Newsweak isn’t as soft as toilet paper?


9 posted on 07/28/2008 12:42:18 PM PDT by max americana
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To: DBCJR

Considering the source (Newsweak), it sounds like they are doing just what we want them to do!


10 posted on 07/28/2008 12:42:34 PM PDT by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
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To: DBCJR

So without my clicking to go there, what does Newsweak make of Obama’s claim that the surge changed nothing?


11 posted on 07/28/2008 12:46:27 PM PDT by weegee (Obama loves America like Bill loves Hillary.)
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To: max americana
How come Newsweak isn’t as soft as toilet paper?

Because it's not meant for wiping with, it's designed to be utilized as a bird cage liner.

12 posted on 07/28/2008 12:47:23 PM PDT by tx_eggman (Privatizing profits and socializing losses is no way to run an economy)
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To: max americana

You have to keep crumpling it up until it gets soft before you use it, so you don’t cut yourself, and the ink stains your butt.


13 posted on 07/28/2008 12:50:48 PM PDT by Pistolshot (We need a powerful remedy for NO B.O.)
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To: dirtboy
These kinds of stories always remind me of MAD Magazines 'scenes we'd like to see' features.

Your wishing doesn't necessarily make it so, Newsweak.

14 posted on 07/28/2008 12:54:59 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: DBCJR
Newsweek attempts to create the illusion of 'caring about America'
and being impartial when neither actually exists.


15 posted on 07/28/2008 1:01:56 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: DBCJR
"Obama has always been open to adjustments when it comes to residual forces"

Of course he has, Sweetie!


16 posted on 07/28/2008 1:04:26 PM PDT by avacado
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To: DBCJR
It's true that in Germany last week Obama went to the gym and nixed a trip to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. But any resemblance to reality ends there. Late last week, the Pentagon informed Obama that it would regard the foreign policy adviser accompanying him to Landstuhl, Maj Gen. Scott Gration (Ret.), as a campaign staffer. Worried that the visit would be seen as a photo-op, his team called it off. "The last thing that I want to do is have injured soldiers and the staff at these wonderful institutions having to sort through whether this is political or not or get caught in the crossfire between campaigns," the candidate told reporters last week. In other words, he was afraid that the political spotlight would shine too brightly on the event--not, as McCain alleges

Hmmmmmmm? That's not the way it was reported. Obama and his entourage landed at Ramstein Air Base which is located only 3 miles away from Landstuhl Hospital. Retired Gen. Grafton knew full well of the Pentagon rules but thought he could usurp his way through any "silly rules" since he has stars on his shoulders. When Grafton was brought to reality he had a conniption.

17 posted on 07/28/2008 1:07:05 PM PDT by Red Steel (having to sort through whether this is political or not or get caught in the crossfire between campa)
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To: weegee

Coincident with the surge the Sunnis and Shia just decided to be good - just a coincidence.


18 posted on 07/28/2008 1:09:28 PM PDT by DBCJR (What would you expect?)
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To: DBCJR

They were compelled to be good by force.


19 posted on 07/28/2008 1:12:56 PM PDT by Red Steel (having to sort through whether this is political or not or get caught in the crossfire between campa)
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To: DBCJR

I’m always suspicious when the MSM worries about a Republican candidate’s actions.


20 posted on 07/28/2008 1:36:06 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.)
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