His position on the war is to give illegal combatants constitutional rights. And, even if it would save Chicago, he will not waterboard a terrorist. Now that is a military leader...?
Yes, I briefly considered voting McCain on a single issue: the war. But the two things you mentioned, plus his stance on the border, plus the fact that he's in favor of joining the International Criminal Court, makes him a non-starter for me even on national security.
I've been in bunker mode since the South Carolina returns came in, and am looking toward 2012. In the meantime, I will be voting for every conservative congress critter I can find -- we're going to need them.