[Senator]McCain's Remarks on Iraq and Afghanistan

Real Clear Politics ^ | July 15, 2008 | Senator John McCain

[2ndDivisionVet]

I'm here today to discuss with you several issues that worry you and most Americans, our slumping economy, job loss, rising_gas and food_prices, and what we need to do to get our economy growing again, create jobs and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. But there is another urgent issue I want to address before I take your questions, which I know concerns you because brave Americans are risking their lives right now to deal with it.

Over the last year, Senator Obama and I were part of a great debate about the war in Iraq. Both of us agreed the Bush_administration had pursued a failed strategy there and that we had to change course. Where Senator Obama and I disagreed, fundamentally, was what course we should take. I called for a comprehensive new strategy--a surge of troops and counterinsurgency to win the war. Senator Obama disagreed. He opposed the surge, predicted_it_would increase sectarian violence, and called for our troops to retreat as quickly as possible.

Today we know Senator Obama was wrong. The surge has succeeded. And because of its success, the next President will inherit a situation in Iraq in which America's enemies are on the run, and our soldiers are beginning to come home. Senator Obama is departing soon on a trip abroad that will include a fact-finding mission to Iraq and Afghanistan. And I note that he is speaking today about his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan before he has even left, before he has talked to General Petraeus, before he has seen the progress in Iraq, and before he has set foot in Afghanistan for the first time. In my experience, fact-finding missions usually work best the other way around: first you assess the facts on the ground, then you present a new strategy.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I'm sure the media will cover this just like they did Senator Obama's speech...

[kellynla]

I’m no big fan of McCain but I thought it was a good speech.

I would have liked to have heard the Q&A.
If anyone has that transcript, please post it.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

PS Sorry that McCain addressed La Raza...
It just gives the racist organization credibility.
Dumb move...