McCain: Bring In the B-52s

NewsMax.com | 10-25-01 | Sen. John McCain

[Godfollow]

Congress' most prominent war hero, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., warned Friday that carpet-bombing raids by America's mightiest warplanes will be necessary to defeat Osama bin Laden and the Taliban government, adding that the U.S. can't worry about killing innocent civilians in the process.

"We must ... get on with the business of killing our enemies as quickly as we can and as ruthlessly as we must," McCain advised, in an op-ed piece in Friday's Wall Street Journal.

The Vietnam War hero suggested military planners have been too sparing in the amount of ordnance the U.S. has dropped on the Taliban thus far.

"We have not yet deployed B-2's and B-52's, the most destructive weapons in our airborne arsenal, against them," he noted. "We shouldn't fight this war in increments. ... They'll need to experience a more impressive display of American firepower before they contemplate surrender."

What about recent displays of public hand-wringing over the prospect of killing innocent Afghans as bin Laden's forces hide in civilian homes and even mosques?

"We cannot allow the Taliban safe refuge among the civilian population," McCain warned. "We must destroy them wherever they hide. That will surely increase the terrible danger facing noncombatants ... but it will also shorten the number of days they must suffer war's cruel reality."

The Taliban will take anything less than an all-out effort as a sign of weakness, the Arizona Republican said.

"Our enemies harbor doubts that America will use force with a firm determination to achieve our ends, that we will use all the force necessary to achieve unconditional victory. We need to persuade them otherwise immediately."

[A. Pole]

I infer a < / sarcasm > tag in your post ...

You do not agree that McCain is ferocious?

[Blueflag]

Thanks. BTW, I enjoy the full use of a complete Y chromosome, as does my wife of 23 years. ;-)

The Blueflag moniker comes from a personal history in sports car racing.

[Blueflag]

OK, taking the time to look it up, I'll agree that JM can be ferocious. Trouble is, I believe it connotes a positive tone. JM's ferocity is not wise.

fe·ro·cious (f-rshs) adj.

Extremely savage; fierce. See Synonyms at cruel. Marked by unrelenting intensity; extreme: ferocious heat.

-------------------------------------

[From Latin ferx, ferc-, fierce. See ghwer- in Indo-European Roots.]

-------------------------------------------- fe·rocious·ly adv. fe·rocious·ness n.

[Kermit]

A stopped watch is right twice a day, not saying that McCain is right that often, but he is right now. We need victory, the faster the better. Stop pissing on the forest fire.

[isthisnickcool]

I dunno, maybe McCain is just getting antsy while seeing time running out on his prediction (on Sunday's MtP) that for Halloween this year, OBL was going to be dead.

Hmmm. When was the last time you saw OBL on the tube? Or being interviewed? Or anywhere alive? The "brave" OBL seems to be MIA.

[A. Pole]

Extremely savage; fierce. See Synonyms at cruel. Marked by unrelenting intensity; extreme: ferocious heat.

Hmm, I do not know, my English is so so. Anyway he is very warlike and has a big mouth, I mean very outspoken for the cause.

[Blueflag]

"... very outspoken for the cause."

The "cause" I fear, is power and influence for JM.

[My Favorite Headache]

McCain has grown a brain. Seeing some light now. I agree with what he has said. Amazed. Now go to the picnic at Camp David and spread the word.

[The KG9 Kid]

"... Didn't we use B-2's and B-52's once over there?"

I saw video of a lone B-52 flying over a NA position, as captured by an MSBNC news team on the ground.

Just *one* B-52.

[A. Pole]

McCain has grown a brain.

Are you suggesting that he did not have it before?!

[My Favorite Headache]

#35...Deadbeat Club....

[garyhope]

That thunking sound you hear is the "liberals" hitting the floor as they faint. Barbara Lee just peed her panties (actually, she's probably wearing Boxers, get it Boxers? Pun intended. Oh ha ha.) I think McCain just lost the Berkeley and Hollowood vote.

[Born to Conserve]

McCain needs to understand that he is not President. He needs to understand that he is not the DOD Spokesman. He needs to understand that he is not in the military. He needs to understand that he is in the legislative branch of government, not the EXECUTIVE branch. He needs to understand that he should shut up.

(But carpet bombing would be cool.)

[merry10]

I think your comments are disgusting. Were you a prisoner of war in Vietnam? Have you read Admiral James Stockdale's book, In Love and War? No matter what you think of McCain's politics, the fact is - his plane was downed and he suffered tremendously. GWB is the man who should be in the White House, but McCain knows tons more about fighting a war than any of us.

[katze]

What is going on? Is Bush going to fumble this in the first 4 weeks?

20 posted on 10/26/01 7:17 PM Pacific by observer5

No.

Your prior comment about the wrong man in the WH? Wrong there, too. Most here are happy with the current occupant.

[Blueflag]

It was a press ride. You'd be surprised how many reporters you can fit in the two bomb bays of a B-52H.

[rintense]

Hehehehe.

[freeasinbeer]

Oh, I tend to agree with you on this point, I was just clarifying what McCain stated. You are correct, carpet bombing would not do a whole hell of alot here, it is just frustrating to see us 'losing' the war at this point.

I don't agree that we are losing, but the utter fact that we recieve warnings everyday from the FBI/Bush about more terror attacks here, yet we appear to be tip-toing around Afganistan is very frustrating.

[katze]

I wish Schwartzkopf was back and running this campaign. I would feel much better,,,

24 posted on 10/26/01 7:20 PM Pacific by observer5

I can agree with you in part, but would like to see him as Sec'y of State.

[Blueflag]

Merry10--

Be judicious in your praise that JM knows more about fighting a war than any of us. Say that to FReepers like Travis McGee, Snopercod, and many many more. Also, John M was in the Vietnam war as a combatant for only a short time. He never commanded. He participated. He never set strategy. He obeyed orders. No slam, just fact.