Timothy is right – While an immediate and I stress immediate withdrawal would be bad, we can't stay the course – as a US Army veteran, I would like to know – What is our REAL mission? We have the best military in the world. You lay out a mission and believe me, it will be accomplished. McCain states nothing less than victory – Can someone please explain, what is victory defined in this context? Al Qaidia and the insurgents all dead?? not going to happen. We are fighting an idealogy with military might. Can't be done militarily. When you have people willing to blow themselves up for their cause (however wrong it might be), there will always be someone willing to die in the name of religion. They see it as an honor. As long as we are viewed as an "occupier", they will always have recruits. More pressure has to be on the Iraqi government to do their part. I don't see it as of yet.

World War Three is waiting for thee John. A good man ? Yes, I truly think so. A war hero? No doubt. The next President? Oh Hell No!

Those that call McCain too old are as biased as any idiot who calls Obama too black. You may dislike his politics, you may dislike him, but ageism and racism are both tasteless and meaningless to the political process. We are faced with miserable leadership on both sides, and not one of them seem to have the pulse of the American people. If you look at McCain and see a war monger, you must look at the voting record and declare Clinton a socialist and Obama a communist. Communism is dead. Socialism kill free societies and War Mongering kills economies. So who do you vote for?

The only failure of leadership is JOHN MCCAIN !

The Iraq War is THE reason why Obama will be the next President of our United States of America. The unbelievable stupidity of the Axis of Idiots of Bush, Chenney and Rumsfeld is the cause of most of Americas current problems. If McCain is also this foolish then he most certainly must not be elected President. The brilliant General Petrais has already said that the military will never be the answer to the situation in Iraq. Our superb military heroes have defeated Saddam, have secured an election in Iraq, and have rebuilt the Iraq military. The American people have sacrificed our economy and have gone deep in debt. NOW is the time to bring our heroes home and let Iraq be Iraq.

i love how they baried barrack saying he would leave 80,000 troops in iraq.

We need to get other nations to share the burden. If extracting US troops would cause a disaster that affects the whole world, then the rest of the world needs to step up to the plate and help out. I'm tired of paying for the welfare of the rest of the world like the republicans plan to do.

I guess Canada is still an option?

Yipppppeeeeee!!!!!

The kind that realizes when a mistake has been made, and so gets to work fixing it.

i'm sorry but, isn't it failed leadership that lied to every american's face before this invasion? isn't it failed leadership that refused to properly outfit our troops with body armor and humvees with armor? isn't it failed leadership that spends billions of $ on this war every week and has not been held accountable for it's accounting?

so please tell me how it's failed leadership to get out of this mess?

I think both sides are in some sense correct. First and foremost, attacking Iraq in the first place was just plain stupid. The U.S. has a long history of doing immoral things and then not being able to live with the consequences. Had we not gone to Iraq, we wouldn't have this mess. But now we have created instability in that region, and now are stuck having to clean it up. Clinton and Obama are right in that we need to send Iraq a message that it will have to stand on its own and start making plans because we can not afford to stay. Our economy is failing and this war is a large part of the reason, though not the only reason. We need the money that is being spent there to be spent at home now; desperately. I think we have to be very careful getting out. setting goals are one thing, but implementing them will likely take longer than people want.

Paying for a war in Iraq is a failure in leadership! Time they started paying us to defend them from themselves.

Roy-ID

We have had a complete failure of leadership at the hands of his beloved GOP since 2000, so he should know all about failure. The Democrats are not the problem, it is war-hungry Republicans who are too proud to admit they were hoodwinked into this abomination.

Anyone but McCain in 2008.

Fundamentally correct? You mean fundamentally flawed. McCain and his ilk cannot even give a valid reason to continue this mistake except, "Withdrawal would be disaster". Baloney. He can't even keep the players straight.

What is already a disaster is our domestic situation. At this point we couldn't defend our country from a foreign attack. We are fighting the current war with 50% contractors and 50% soldiers on their 3rd or 4th Tour. Oh, and you can probably guess who is being paid more.

It is currently the politics of the Democrats to point fingers.

What is their solution for Iraq? Show you who's to blame. That's how you win elections.

Why don't we figure out the best way to move forward that is strategically smart for us given the current situation as it is now, not as we would want it to be. It seems that Democrats want to get out and pretend we never went there.

Well, folks, it just isn't that simple.

We have one day where it is all McCain and no Obama/Clinton and he seems to self destruct.

What is the deal with this guy?

The only failure of leadership occurred when Bush advocated the war against Iraq and McCain and Hillary both voted to support it! Schultz had it right: McCain is a warmonger. I think McCain is a complete failure in leadership.

John McCain shivers me timbers! NO MORE WAR MONGERS! NO MORE WARS!

Memo to Senator McCain:

A real leader would not continue to follow George Bush's meandering footsteps in the sands of Iraq.

The true failure of leadership is keeping our boys in a war zone they cannot win. I really hope folks aren't naive enough to believe that staying the course isn't bad leadership. Staying the course is not the desire of the American people. Our leaders are supposed to create policy according to the will of the people. BRING THE BOYS BACK HOME!

Those that supported and voted for the Iraq invasion were the ones with the failed leadership. Notice how McCain is silent about that?

What about America??? What about the war on drugs or gangs or poverty or this recession? For those of you who support this war, prolonged or otherwise, how about YOU boot up and go over and fight until your hearts are content because those of us who are sane have had enough.

this guy scares the daylights out of me!! WAR! WAR! WAR! WAR!

they dont even care that THEY are ones who have strengthened the terrorists and insurgents (yes, folks, those are two SEPERATE groups). we cannot have this old, war-loving creature as our president! THAT would be a failure of leadership!

mccain, the folks at shady acres called, they want to know if you have any special dietary needs!

Leadership should be refelected in the strategy, not in what withdraw tactics are. Only fixing tactics of last leaders' strategic mistakes is a follower, not leader. Strategic mistake if there is should be faced by a true leader, not professional politician's attitude ( who can only follow and do justifying jobs).

There were no WMD in Iraq. Invading Iraq was a backdoor means of Dubya revenging his daddy.

If Lil McBush use Iraq as his main argument to become president he's gonna get slapped in the face with a dose of reality.

Obama 08

Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Libertarians and visiting clever voters from planet Venus….

PLEASE tell me you're not buying any of this drivel?!

We prolonged this crap once before, in 2004. You bought into the Bush "fear is better than logic or ideas" strategy AGAIN…even though evidence at the time pointed to this entire conflict as a monumental mistake!

The situation demands drastic CHANGE, not drastic adherence to the same failed policy!

McCain, pulling our troops out of Iraq is an indication of great leadership, someone who has heart & a brain. why keep on losing troops for a cause that was made-up your buddy Bush.

McCain is a draftsmen and looks like Uncle Sam. McCain will he perhaps choose and take an individual or individuals from a group for some special purpose for compulsory military service. Will McCain announce a draft board? Will McCain commandeer the Oath of Office for Bush endorsement on security issues?

The biggest problem I have with this war is its cost and how its being paid for. We have currently borrowed $500 billion primarily from China, which causes quite a few problems on its own.

1. It has devalued the US dollar which has in turn increased the cost of imports.
2. With China cover so much of our debt, it makes it difficult to effect any changes in respect to human rights in China. If we put too much pressure on them, they can stop lending us money.

Its irresponsible to just leave. But its also irresponsible to continue the status quo. We need to work quickly to a goal of withdrawing troops, and doing so will require us to involve countries that we don't entirely get along with, such as Iran.

Otherwise we will have to keep troops involved for decades, at a cost of trillions. That will significantly slow the US economy for quite a long time.

And there is the general problem with the GOP — they forget that they are elected by the people, to serve the people. If the people want to be out of Iraq, then it is there challenge to figure out how to get us out. We are all about sick and tired of being railroaded and led down this path and that path that lead us only further into the abyss.

For all you Dems who say that you won't vote for your nominee of choice and will vote McCain, than you're really doing yourself and this country a disservice! To sustain a military for an unforeseeable ending can only mean… Re-institution of a Draft!

Yep, our sons & daughters! So please thing about that before you cast your vote Republican!

Does anyone feel safer because of the Iraq war? That is the real question John. I have not experienced loss by this war but I know people that have and I have family members that are fighting. Our troops have done everything they have been asked to do. They have done it on multiple tours of duty. They have fought valiently, but we need them safe at home and protecting us where it counts. We can't fight two wars at once. We need to consolidate our efforts in Afganistan to stop the real people responsible for 911.

It's no surprise that John McCain would say this in support of the war, it's his one and only platform, war. Take him away from the war subject he ain't got nothing left. McCain may declare himself a "hero" he's one of many American living heros that have served and still serving their country and those that died. What really is the making of a hero?

We can all save our breath and our typing fingers because McCain is just a continuation of Bush and his corruption and lies. McCain is just another Republican warmonger and will not listen to the voice of American citizens. Obviously, he has his own agenda! The best way for American citizens to reach McCain is by NOT voting for him come November. By not voting for McCain, hopefully the next President will put a stop to this oil war and bring our soldiers home. Of course there will be a calamity if we withdraw from Iraq, we all know there will be a civil war in that country…but we all know it is happening now anyway and has been happening. There is no stopping it regardless if we stay or go. The people of Iraq will not even stand and fight for their own country…they run away and join the other side. Stop the madness now and bring our soldiers home.

Senator, it was a HUGE failure of leadership to even begin the war. The bad feeling you get about pulling out is not a stab at your leadership, but a stab at your hubris. How can you talk about good leadership amongst the overwhelming evidence showing that this war was started 100% upon false pretenses? This is pride, Senator. Pure pride, and it goeth before a fall.

Someone please explain to me how McCain plans to win this war and, what's the rule of measure for a win? I want substance and no empty speeches about continuing the course.

When will he get it. With his stubborn support for Iraq, I believe that following the money by relocating to Iraq is a good alternative to a McCain presidency.

Voters need to watch out. High gas prices, forclosures, inflation, recession. You haven't seen anything yet. McCain will open a war all over the middle, east and that will be the end of U.S. The guy is old anyway. You think he cares about the future. Well, I'll just take my money and go live somewhere else.

Having been a VietNam veteran, does McCain consider the eventual withdrawl from VietNam to be a "failure of leadership"? If so, had he the opportunity to lead the nation then, how much longer would he had us stay there?

No, John,
Calls for Iraq invasion was failure of leadership and that is what we are looking to restore!

Hell, it was "failure of leadership" that got us in Iraq.

Of course one of McRelic's greatest failures of leadership was in his authorizing the WAR in the first place. This pathetic old fool is simply out of touch with reality … he doesn't seem to see a problem in the world that the US military can't fix! Former (OLD) military leaders are NOT the most qualified people to run the country since they only see the world from a war-mongering perspective!

Electing you would be a failure of foresight!!!!!

OBAMA 08

Hey McCain, in your last check-up did they test your hearing?
WE ARE NOT STAYING IN IRAQ! Try reading "The Federalist Papers".
I forget whether it was Jefferson or Paine who said (or words to the effect): When a government no longer serves its constituents, revolution is justified!
If WE Americans choose NOT to pay for your moronic war, you are commanding nothing! The WILL of the People has had just about enough of this crap. Within the next few years, there is going to be a reckoning where the American People take back their government and get rid of all you military-industrial-complex morons. We have a country to rebuild in the image our Founding Fathers intended and YOU are standing in the way! Retire…write your memoirs…have a Budweiser on Cindy and SHUT UP!

Warmonger!

McCain is right. You liberals need to listen up and support the next President.

What does victory in Iraq looks like? It is a fallacy to think that there can be a legitimate government in Iraq while the country is under foreign occupation. C'mon McCain the public deserves the truth. Tell us in no uncertain terms what are the real objectives in Iraq.

A warmonger? More than one. The whole bunch of them!!!!!!!!!
When the book is written about the legacy of Bush and his cronies.
Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Rice, McCain, the American people will
never believe that our trusted officials stood by and did or said nothing. We will
be asking "why, was this man not impeached".??? Why was Cheney
allowed to make millions and millions off of this war? How many crooks did Bush protect? Why does China own us? Why couldn't
Mattel talk back to China about the lead on toys?Was the bail out
of the Bear Stearns bank funded by China? How many of our banks
does China own.?Is China going to be able to buy our forclosures?
Could we even stop them?
Democrats, the Republicans laugh at us. Be careful what you wish
for.
Obama 2008 for Change We Can Believe In. 2008
Retired Professional White Woman for Obama from Day 1

McCain again is wrong:

A early withdrawl of America troops may not be wise but how many more men and women should die for a unsuccessful cause. Why does America think it can bring democracy to a region that has being fighting before B.C. and A.D., If our so called politicans were students of the bible and not america history; they will read and see there will be no peace in the middle east until the true Prince of Peace returns.

There will always be wars in that region. America will not be the broker; however, it will be broke economically if we don't stop and gradually withdraw. Are we going to be occupiers in an unstable region as McCain suggested 100 years and are we going to continue to finance a war with money we don't have. Someone needs to do something other than sending more troops and money. Q: Do you not find it strange our government could not find money to care for it's people inregards to education, medical care, helping the poor or any domestic problem here at home but it was able to find, borrow or make new money to finance over 300 billion in america dollars and rising to defend a nation which is not soverign. May God have mercy on our nation according to II Chron. 7:14 we are indeed going to need it.

And you deny being a warmonger………..Good one John, good one!

Headline should read…

Liberal road kill found under the straight talk express, again..

according to the def. in my dict. mccains awar monger i wonder if
one of his reltives or his wife had to go to iraq. if he would still be
for war

He is fundamentality correct–we would be inviting disaster. But he needs to display more defining tactics (carrots/sticks) he intends to use and also, a little more urgency to get our troops out of there.

We have indeed got a failure of leadership–neither party has a credible leader, with a credible agenda, that will really help Americans–without de-evolving into a social welfare state, or sustaining a very worn out status qou. We need change.

We need a third party that realizes that government is OUR servant–and one that recognizes MAJORITY rules (even if split between party lines), and takes serious action to get government out of our daily lives and wallets.

Can it be possible to have a President that is even more disliked than Bush?

Guess we might find out if this man becomes President. Seems he is up to the challenge

If he thinks it will be failure of Leadership to withdraw but if was this Failed Leadership that got us in this WAR. McCain need to have his head checked because he is STUCK in Time. It's one thing to be Old & WISE but it's another to be OLD & STUPID.

IF AMERICAWITHDRAWS PREMATURELY, I THINK MANY, IF NOT MOST, OF OUR TRAINED AND READY MILITARY WILL NOT REENLIST SO THAT THEY WON'T JUST HAVE TO GO BACK TO RE-DO WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE.

Yet again the republicans try to sell this war in Iraq as needed and the violence there as something NOT caused by our occupation of Iraq. the simple truth behind the matter is that the violence is, in part, due to the fact we neither established a coherant peace nor did we leave after Saddam was overthrown, the continued violence is a direct result of those errors (not to mention the first one of invading in the beginning). Troops can keep the peace, that is easy when you have the firepower and is what we are seeing now, but they cannot bring stability all they can do is keep the violence down and respond when it overwhelms, troops are a reactive force by their very nature. The cause for the violence will nto go away until we do, staying is dishonoring our country much more than leaving ever could. Look at Vietnam we dishonored our country while we were there (mei Lai etc) we ahd a moment of shame when we left but now we look good in the eyes of the average Vietnameese BECAUSE we left, you see a strong country can take a bit of shame for the good of the world, a prideful country cannot.. so are we strong or prideful?

War…. the only thing Republicans now bring to the table.

Of course he would because he is a war junkie. If you like beer then you don't tell people to not drink beer, you encourage them. McDumb will keep this war going and gas prices will continue to soar, he will bring more deaths to our soldiers, and people will love him for it.

He reminds me of Commodus the ruler of the Roman Empire, rule people with fear and death and they will love you.

Does anybody really she that he is wayyyyyyy tooooooo old to be President, another puppet for the Republicans.

And being led INTO Iraq is what?