Posted on 03/18/2008 5:00:37 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
AMMAN, Jordan - Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, mistakenly said Tuesday that Iran was allowing al-Qaida fighters into the country to be trained and returned to Iraq.
McCain, expressing concern about Iran's rising sway in the Mideast, said, "Al-Qaida is going back into Iran and is receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran." He made the comments Tuesday at a news conference in Jordan; he made similar comments earlier to radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt.
Iran is a predominantly Shiite Muslim country and has been at pains to close its borders to al-Qaida fighters of the rival Sunni sect.
Iran has been accused by the United States of funding, training and arming Iraqi Shiite militants in their uprising against the United States. But there have been no allegations by Washington and no evidence that al-Qaida has benefited from Iranian assistance.
After Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who was traveling with McCain, stepped forward to whisper in the candidate's ear, McCain said: "I'm sorry; the Iranians are training the extremists, not al-Qaida. Not al-Qaida. I'm sorry."
McCain, who has linked his political future to U.S. success in Iraq, had just completed his eighth visit to Iraq. He was in the wartorn country on Monday for meetings with Iraqi and U.S. diplomatic and military officials.
McCain's gaffe immediately drew criticism from the Democratic National Committee, which insisted he must not understand the challenges facing Iraq.
"Not only is Senator McCain wrong on Iraq once again, but he showed he either doesn't understand the challenges facing Iraq and the region or is willing to ignore the facts on the ground," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney.
McCain also voiced similar concern that Tehran is bringing militants over the border into Iran for training before sending them back to fight U.S. troops in Iraq, and he blamed Syria for allegedly continuing to expedite a flow of foreign fighters.
"We continue to be concerned about Iranian influence and assistance to Hezbollah as well as Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons," McCain said.
He added that, if elected president, he would coordinate better with Europe to impose a "broad range of sanctions and punishments" on Tehran, to "convince them that their activities, particularly development of nuclear weapons, is not a beneficial goal to seek."
McCain declined to comment on whether he could back an eventual decision to strike Iran if Tehran doesn't cease its nuclear activities.
In response to a question about possible U.S. strikes against Tehran, McCain only said: "At the end of the day, we cannot afford having a nuclear-armed Iran."
In addition, McCain noted U.S. military officials recently discovered a cache of armor-piercing bombs in Iraq, and he hinted the explosives had been provided by Iran. U.S. officials have long been saying that Iran provides explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs to, Shiite militias in Iraq, although the Iranian government denies any role.
The U.S. military reported two such finds during the past week.
McCain warned that any hasty pullout from Iraq would be a mistake that would favor Iran and al-Qaida.
"We continue to be very concerned about the Iranian influence in Iraq and in the region," McCain said.
McCain ran into trouble last year when he joked about bombing Iran, giving a campaign audience in South Carolina a rendition of the opening lyrics of the Beach Boys rock classic "Barbara Ann," calling the tune "Bomb Iran" and changing the words to "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, anyway, ah ..."
Later Tuesday, McCain received a celebrity welcome in Jerusalem, beginning a two-day visit to Israel with a stop at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. As his motorcade pulled up dozens of tourists greeted him and chanted "Mac is back," as he shook their hands and posed for photographs.
During his 90-minute visit at the memorial and museum, McCain was visibly moved, his eyes welling with tears as he viewed photographs from Nazi death camps.
Wearing a skullcap placed on his head by Lieberman, McCain laid a wreath in memory of the 6 million Jewish Holocaust victims and lit a memorial flame. Signing the Yad Vashem visitors' book he wrote: "I am deeply moved. Never again. John McCain."
His visit to Iraq was the Arizona senator's first since emerging as the presumed Republican nominee. He was accompanied by Lieberman and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., two of his top supporters in the race for president.
He promised that, if elected president, he would uphold a long-term military commitment in Iraq as long as al-Qaida in Iraq is not defeated.
McCain is a supporter of the 2003 invasion and President Bush's troop increase last year.
It’s a proven fact that Iran was playing both Shiite and Suni against each other.
Then why is Saad bin Laden (Osama's oldest son) living comfortably there along with his buddies, supposedly under house arrest?
I guess they are working overtime to get the Rev Wright off the front page.
Just because Alfred de Montesquiou sticks his fingers in his ears, closes his eyes and yells LALALALAL LA LA I CAN’T HEAR YOU!!! doesn’t mean it isn’t so.
I never have trusted anyone who’s name ends in three vowels.
“...the Iranians are training the extremists, not al-Qaida...”
And you can tell the difference how?
No AQ ID card tucked in their shorts?
FU YOU LYING SCUM MEDIA.
You tell it to people who are blown up into little pieces if it made a difference to them whether they were just ‘extremist’ or ‘Al Qaida extremist’.
When the going gets tough, the tough blame Grandma
If I was the editor of any newspaper or wire service, and any one of my reporters turned in a lead like this on what is supposed to be a hard news story, I would fire him on the spot.
Ye GADS, what are they teaching in journalism schools these days when such blatant editorializing is allowed to hit the wires?
Is this reporter fully cogent on everything that the Iranian government is doing in all areas? I bloody well don't think so! Is it possible that McCain is getting better intelligence on what the Iranians are doing (or not doing) than this idiot? I think that's a pretty fair assumption.
Regardless of the reporter's opinions, or what he believes to be the facts, he interjecting himself into what is supposed to be a news story and putting the credibility of his entire organization on the line. Absolutely unacceptable.
Dimbulb politicians are using the dimbulbs in the media to anesthetize the dimbulbs out there in Oprahland.
Iran is giving refuge to Bin Ladin’s inner circle. This includes sons, wives, some of his close advisors. Most of us remember one of his sons leaving Iran to fight with Hezbollah in Lebanon. I didn’t see any report saying that Bin Ladin’s intimates had converted to Shia Islam. Somehow they get past it.
Syria is providing material aid to sunni fighters entering Iraq from the west. Syria is Iran’s primary ally. Is Syria Shia? No, yet somehow they manage to overcome their ancient enmities to cooperate on important matters like launching two-pronged attacks on Americans and Israelis.
And Iran is providing direct help in Iraq, both to Iraqi militia and sending its own spooks and military to organize attacks.
So, its a multi-pronged attack, involving ex-Baath Iraqis and “foreign fighters” supported from Syria, Shia militia supported from Iran, and direct Iranian military operations.
Thats a little complicated, I realize, for the kind of folks who inhabit our newsrooms.
Ye GADS, what are they teaching in journalism schools these days when such blatant editorializing is allowed to hit the wires?
The NYT has been editorialing their “news” for decades. Where have you been?
McCain corrected his comment on al qaeda. Never trust a dem spokesperson...EVER. I guess Karen Finney thinks Obama and Hillary are more qualified in dealing with Iraq?
“Not only is Senator McCain wrong on Iraq once again, but he showed he either doesn’t understand the challenges facing Iraq and the region or is willing to ignore the facts on the ground,” said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. “
Granted, the MSM always tries to meet its quota of disgraceful, depicable stories. But this one is especially disgraceful and despicable.
If Mr. Reporter has classified intelligence to the effect that no Al Qaeda fighters reach Iraq from Iran, please, let us know. But to make a categorical statement from 6000 miles away is either very stupid or, um, electioneering on the part of the AP.
McCain makes a minor gaffe and the MSM runs it front page.
Obmama is exposed as a Nation of Islam true believer and the MSM makes excuses.
I never have trusted anyone who’s name ends in three vowels.
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That probably hurts dustin Pedroia’s feelings......
It’s a proven fact that Iran was playing both Shiite and Suni against each other.
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Yeah, but McCan’t corrected himself, and apologized to boot.
He’s no Gerald Ford.
I don’t know if this will make the front pages of news rags,, I put this in front page, just a taste of what is to come, imo..
it really doesn’t matter who the GOP candidate is at this point , the fix is in.
even the media has to follow orders..
Yes, they have agendas to be maintained.
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