« Previous | Main | Next »

McCain Suggests Obama Will Shift Iraq Position After Petraeus Meeting

Share

July 09, 2008 5:35 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Parker Reports: Sen. John McCain Wednesday suggested Sen. Barack Obama may alter his promise to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months after meeting with US. General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq.

"I'm glad that he [Obama] is, for the first time, asking for a sit down briefing with Gen. Petraeus and I'll be very interested in what his position on Iraq is when he returns," McCain said during a satellite interview with ABC News' Charlie Gibson Wednesday from Pittsburgh.

Watch part of Sen. McCain's interview with Charles Gibson on ABC's World News tonight at 6:30pmET.

"On the issue of Iraq, I am glad he's going for the first time in 900 days," McCain told Gibson, chiding Obama for visiting Iraq once since the war started compared to his eight visits.

In what some see as a politically risky move, Obama has announced plans to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this summer, but angered his anti-war political base last Thursday when he said he would "refine" his Iraq policy after speaking to generals on the ground. He later clarified his comments, repeating his promise to withdraw troops from Iraq at a pace of one to two brigades per month over 16 months if elected president.

"I have been as crystal clear now as I was a year ago, as I was six months ago that we will get out of Iraq carefully, deliberately, at a pace that is safe for our troops," Obama told ABC's Diane Sawyer Wednesday on "Good Morning America."

While Obama has long said he would consult with US generals in Iraq, he emphasized Wednesday his view that the role of US generals in Iraq is to "execute" the president's strategy.

"My position has not changed at all and what I have repeatedly said is that as Commander-in-Chief, obviously I'd be listening to recommendations of generals on the ground," Obama said, "but it is my job as Commander-in-Chief to set up a strategy, it's their job to execute tactics."

Petraeus told ABC News' Jonathan Karl Tuesday that if Obama visits Iraq later this month, commanders there will outline for him, in detail, the dangers of withdrawing too quickly. Petraeus said top commanders remain concerned that the gains are reversible and that withdrawing troops too quickly would be a mistake.

Taking a page from the 2004 GOP playbook against Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the Republican Party has attempted to portray Obama as a flip flopper on issues, sending an email Wednesday accusing Obama of a "shift" in his position on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA.

Chiming in today, McCain accused Obama of shifting his position on key issues.

"The fact is he's changed his opinion on FISA, on public financing, on his agreement that he said he'd go anyplace anytime to sit down for a town hall meeting with me," McCain said, referring to the collapse of negotiations between the rivaling campaigns over town-hall style debates.

McCain challenged Obama to a series of ten town hall meetings this summer but talks fell apart when Obama counter-offered two town-hall meetings this summer in addition to three network debates in the Fall.

"We were before the same organization yesterday, we could have just stood there together and answered their questions," McCain told Gibson. "He said that he would take public financing for the general election if I did as well and said that he agreed to it but those things will be judged by the American people buy I won't hesitate to point them out," McCain said, laughing.

July 9, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (112)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

I'm telling you, WE better wake up!

Posted by: vinnie | Jul 9, 2008 5:47:35 PM

The Iraqis said they want a time-table on withdrawal but Mccain and Bush are saying no time-table. Please, what do we stand to gain in Iraq when the people dont want us any longer?

Posted by: vuzous | Jul 9, 2008 5:48:06 PM

Well McCain has himself in a BOX, in the words of Lindsy. The Iraqi Government is calling for a troop pullout, Colin Powel says we can not continue the current commitment to Iraq.

Lets just hold the line John, you have been doing that for 26 years and nothing has been accomplished. The Republican, Bush policies have been a great success, I can't think of any reason to change it.

Posted by: Thinking | Jul 9, 2008 5:51:05 PM

McFlipFlop ic confusing his own strategery with Obama's.
Just now, he is calling for diplomacy on IRAN. So, forget about "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Iran" or sending them killing cigarettes.
This guy is just a disgrace.

Posted by: Mark Webb | Jul 9, 2008 5:53:29 PM

perhaps you can ask mccain if he now agrees with barack and the iraq government that the US needs to ahve a time table for withdrawl or leave immediatly

lol

wth

hope someone asks mccain to clarify his point on iraq

seems like hes going to have to be lock in step with obamas plan now instead of the 100 years he wanted to be there


but but the oil!!!


lol sorry buddy

Posted by: bhrandon | Jul 9, 2008 6:00:16 PM

McCain apparently has become clairvoyant, he KNOWS what Maliki means instead of what he says, he KNOWS what Obama means instead of what he says. I wish he KNEW what he means instead of what he says. What day is it, McCains opinions depend more on that than anything else. Ole John'll tell em what they want to hear.

Posted by: JR | Jul 9, 2008 6:01:24 PM

Maybe John was telling a joke, no can't be that, he wasn't talking about killing people.

Posted by: JR | Jul 9, 2008 6:04:10 PM

Dear American Citizens and the Press

As a concerned citizen, I consider it is my duty to bring following message to you all.

"We the citizens of the United States of America have the ultimate responsibility to elect the " Right Candidate" to lead our nation, out of our huge present and future internal and external challenges as well as opportunities. This is to prevent depression and isolation in-spite of being the only superpower in the world morally, democratically, economically, and militarily.

We need to consider the "critical qualities and characteristics" of our presumptive presidential nominees at the time we vote.

In my personal and professional opinion the critical considerations are as under:


1. Calm, cool, and collected " temper " [ Presidential Temperament ].
2. Sound and sustained "Judgment and Caliber".
3. "Thought-fullness and togetherness" of purpose and positions.
4. Minimum "ex-poser and exploitation" around "Washington and Washington insiders".
5. Renewed " Vigor and Vision " for our Greatgrand Nation.
6. Foreign policy based on " American Values, Virtuous, Vastness".

Stay informed, stay involved, and stay engaged. Do not allow some partisan media, pundits, pollsters, and perpetual political opinion makers effect your vote in the wrong direction.

Don't be effected and duped by "Psychological Terrorism" that is afflicted upon you all the time.

Long live U.S.A and its diverse but democratic people.

Col. A.M. Khajawall [Ret] MD., ABFM., ABDA.
Chief Consultant: World Wide Porfessional Consultants[WWPC]
Colonel, USAR/MC Combat Stress Control[Ret], Disabled American Veteran and Freedom team.
Consultant Psychiatrist: CA State, Medical Board of California, and Los Angeles Mental Health Department
Address: 7642 Eaglehelm Court Las Vegas NV 89123

Posted by: COL.[retd]A.M.Khajawall | Jul 9, 2008 6:04:16 PM

What is McCain saying? That Obama might change his mind based on new information? That he might actually listen to a 4 Star General's expert opinion relating to conditions on the ground, process that information using his brain and his ability to reason, and come up with a better course of action? Horrors! Why can't Obama just be more like McCain, and adopt Bush's failed policies, put blinders on, ignore recent developments, and stay the course for the next 100 years? Wow, McCain is an absolute joke.

Posted by: Bob Scofield | Jul 9, 2008 6:10:06 PM

So now the King of Flip Flop, John McCain, is a fortune teller. My, my, so many talents this man has. He doesn't know how to use a computer, can't email, but he's able to tell us what Obama will be doing in the future. McCain has flip flopped on so many issues that I doubt the McCain of 2000 would even vote for the McCain of 2008. Completely and totally different positions on the same issues.

Posted by: Drew Hoffman | Jul 9, 2008 6:15:23 PM

Posted by: Jim | Jul 9, 2008 6:19:48 PM

What the Iraqi people have also said, if you care to read more about this subject, was possibly a timeline of three to five years. McCain has already mentioned a possible withdrawal by 2013. It certainly won't be Obama's firm stance of "16 months-max". If you look at the current trouble with Iran testing missiles that could reach Israel, out troops, out ships, or our shipping in the region, think a little deeper. There is a bigger picture that McCain is fully experienced to understand and be able to make sensible decisions. Obama is so inexperienced. This is no time for a learning curve. Obama is the "change" artist. He doesn't know enough to make solid decisions. That is why he is always changing his mind.

Posted by: georgia | Jul 9, 2008 6:21:40 PM

McCain apparently is now clairvoyant, he KNOWS what Maliki means instead of what he says, he KNOWS what Obama means instead of what he says. I wish he KNEW what McCain means instead of what he says.

Wait I think I'm becoming clairvoyant, I predict that McCain will be saying the opposite by tommorrow.

Then again, maybe John was telling a joke, but that can't be it, he wasn't laughing about killing people.


Posted by: JR | Jul 9, 2008 6:23:47 PM

Of course he'll change his position. Thats what he does. Change that can make your head spin.

Posted by: Mack | Jul 9, 2008 6:24:25 PM

The trouble with McCain and the Republicans is that they can't find any reason to get out of Iraq. They are painting it as a catch 22. See the Surge is working, so now we have to stay there at elevated troop levels, because if we don't the surge won't work. I thought the surge was to stabilize the country so we could get out, and a surge denoted a short term increased level of personel.

So what is it? 4 years of war then a surge or 4 years of war and ????? years of surge.

If this surge worked why can't we get out?

The fact remains that we are cought in a Civil War in Iraq, and we can't possibly support the right side. Didn't we back bin Laden, and the shaw of Iran, at one point?

Posted by: Thinking | Jul 9, 2008 6:35:42 PM

Wake up people, we are so narrow to 5000 years of reality...stand fast, win in Iraq and send these terrroist thugs back 20 years. The only reason this is even an issue is because the liberal WEAK left is placating to the terrorists. Destroy the evil base and let the sensible moderate muslim community take hold, they will do fine if given the chance!!

Posted by: TNT | Jul 9, 2008 6:38:43 PM

I agree TNT, destroy the evil republican base, send them packing back under the rocks from which they came. Stop the destruction of the US, take the political power from their traitorous hands.

Posted by: JR | Jul 9, 2008 6:51:02 PM

My husband is currently in Iraq...most people commenting on this issue have no idea what is going on over there...so shut it. The Iraqi people are so grateful for us being there and they don't want us out...they cannot say it publicly or there families will suffer at the hands of extremists. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. So while you are sitting around drinking your Starbucks, taking long hot showers, sleeping in a comfy bed...my husband is risking his life for democracy. What have you done worthwhile today? What have you done today that will change the world for someone? If you haven't had the courage to do anything...you shouldn't have the audacity to speak. Stay silent. Democracy is not a pill...it is a process. We are part of that process. Accept it and grow up.

Posted by: AFWife | Jul 9, 2008 7:04:22 PM

I marvel at the stupidity of the O'bama supporters.

You all will have egg on your face come Wed. Nov. 5th.

The America people in large are much too smart to fall for the rhetoric of this empty suit fraud.

Posted by: Tami | Jul 9, 2008 7:12:13 PM

Let's vote

PUMA

People under mental arrest.

or

Poor upset mini-americans

or

Playing up my a... no too easy

or

PUMA is that like acougar...?

or PUMA...

isn't that the name of that adult Swedish film star...it is.

Posted by: dl | Jul 9, 2008 7:17:10 PM

Post a comment