McCain calls for 10,000 extra troops for Iraq

Financial Times ^ | November 10 2005 | Caroline Daniel and Guy Dinmor

[jmc1969]

Senator John McCain on Thursday called for an immediate increase of 10,000 troops in Iraq, and said the “stakes are higher than they were in Vietnam” for US foreign policy.

Conceding that there was an “undeniable sense that things are slipping” in Iraq, Mr McCain said “we need a renewed effort to win the home front. Without it we will lose this war as soundly as if we had lost on the battlefield...We must get Iraq right, as American stakes in the conflict are enormous”.

Senator John Kerry has laid out an alternative strategy that would enable the US to bring home 20,000 troops.

But Mr McCain called that plan “a major step on the road to disaster. If we leave now the most likely result would be full-scale civil war. No American leader would want our nation to suffer that moral stain. Instability in Iraq would invite further Syrian and Iranian influence.”

Instead, he called for a military counter-insurgency strategy to create permanent safe areas in the country, rather than focus on short-term seasonal offences across different parts of the country. “Sweeping and leaving is not working. We need to clear and stay.”

The rival policies come amid a stream of visits from Iraqi officials in the run-up to elections on December 15. Adil Abdul Mahdi, the deputy president, on Thursday met administration officials who see him as a contender for prime minister.

A leading figure in the ruling Shia alliance, Abdul Mahdi said the alliance sought consensus politics and would not impose an Islamist vision on Iraq. Sale of alcohol would not be banned, for example, he said. He stressed that the new constitution was a “marriage” of Islamic and secular and democratic ideas.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

We weathered 8 years from a crook (Clinton) because of compromises made by read my lips (no new taxes).

[Godebert]

"well I don't take that bait....I see a maverick as going against the grain...or the mainstream...whatever....but that back handed attempt to label me is just a poor strategy...."

Not a strategy. Would you like me to search your posts to prove my point. My hunch is that you're about as conservative as that other "maverick".......Susan Collins.

[Soul Seeker]

No recrimination from my corner. The only vote I am happily anticipating is the vote against this loser.

[nmh]

"I wish John McCain would just go away."

Me too ... permanently.

When is his term up?

[NorCalRepub]

definition of maverick: a person who thinks and acts in an independent way, often behaving differently from the expected or usual way

and you may search my posts if you'd like....I don't deride people here at all...and go to http://www.acuratings.org/ to check out ratings for McCain vs Collins vs Spector etc. I'm not throwing out my opinion like you are doing about me since you don't know me, I"m just using info I have at hand...don't know why some here get so upset if someone just states facts

[SuziQ]

When was McCain made Theater Commander? If he's not, why is he assuming he knows more, or better, than the man who IS.

[Southack]

"Conceding that there was an “undeniable sense that things are slipping” in Iraq"

If you're a terrorist, anyway.

Bombings are down in Iraq; insurgents are wholly unable to target either Iraqi or U.S. coalition troops.

Kidnappings are down in Iraq.

More Iraqis are registered to vote.

60% of registered voters voted in January's elections, now up to 63% in the election last month in Iraq.

There's no civil war. Kurds aren't fighting Shia and Shia aren't fighting Sunnis.

Major terror leaders keep getting killed and city after city is stable.

Heck, there are more firebombings in Paris every night than in Baghdad.

So McCain is right that if you are a terrorist that things are looking bad for you in Iraq today.

[NorCalRepub]

yup.....and an immoral crook at that.... and yes GHW Bush did blow his promise....all I'm doing is stating some facts and some opinion...I"m not a McCainite, but I"m not gonna roll over and let the Dems win either

[Para-Ord.45]

SONGBIRD at it again ! ?

[federal]

Well I was really talking about foreign policy but I didn't make myself clear on it, but The issues I agree with McCain on aren't enough to win my vote.

I will never support McCain for a large number of reasons. I don't believe him and I don't trust him...

[onyx]

It's so obvious that he's posturing for a run at the nomination. Lord have mercy.

[Continental Soldier]

McCain and Kerry... it gets harder and harder to tell them apart.

[NeoCaveman]

It's so obvious that he's posturing for a run at the nomination. Lord have mercy.

I ain't voting for McHagar and I don't see how he thinks he can get through the primaries.

[Axhandle]

McCain has seen no more of Iraq than any other pampered diplomat - the green zone of Baghdad and the airport.

I'll take THIS GUY'S word over McCain's.

[Stellar Dendrite]

"Do you think this will make up for leaking the secret prison story?"

Hmmm...do you have information on that? I haven't heard, but I had a hunch that he did it based on some other things I heard today....(Lott says it was talked about at a repub. meeting, McCain trots out and says it wasnt-- even though I dont like Lott much I am more inclined to believe him over John "Benedict" McAsshat). McCains reaction makes me think that he was the one who did it (coupled with his recent efforts to push the anti "torture" bill)

[onyx]

You're not?

I am SHOCKED!

[NeoCaveman]

If were to get the nomination, I'd have to do a third party protest vote. I wonder if Pat Buchanan has plans for 2008? (/only half joking)

[Stellar Dendrite]

john mccain will never win the nomination.
however, mccain is enough of an egomaniac to pull a "perot"

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

I can't express how much I detest this man, so I won't bother trying.

If he gets the GOP nomination, I'm done with the party forever.