July 15, 2008
Posted: July 15th, 2008 12:15 PM ET
CNN

Watch Obama calls Iraq war a distraction.

(CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday called the war in Iraq a "dangerous distraction," and said more emphasis must be placed on the battle in Afghanistan.

"As should have been apparent to President Bush and Sen. [John] McCain - the central front in the war on terror is not Iraq, and it never was," Obama said in what his campaign called a major policy address on Iraq, Afghanistan and national security.

Watch: Obama: We will lead again

Obama said part of his new strategy will be "taking the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Full story

Filed under: Barack Obama • John McCain • Popular Posts


WORST PERSON!!!!   July 15th, 2008 4:04 pm ET

Texas Trail Dog–They can afford to wait until the cowards of America folds up and go to sleep again on their porches waiting for another wine cooler or malt liquor beer watching for the mailman for their welfare checks that are going to be much larger if OBAMA GETS INTO OFFICE..
****************************************************************************
SAY DOG..... I don't Drink nothing but Kool AID now... Got my GED TOO........Mr Obama gave me HOPE I can be anything I wanna be
KEEP HOPE Alive got that from my boy Jessie.....and Trail dog put all that anger under your feet and walk on by in other words Chill!!!

Javid Radfar   July 15th, 2008 4:02 pm ET

It seems senator Obama fails to comprehend the situation in Middle East. The whole world, including the United States, is involved in a war against terrorism. There is a conception that if United States withdraws its troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, eventually the Americans will be immune from terrorist attacks. This, by far, is the most incorrect conception one could have. Premature Withdrawal will only help the extremists to settle fanatic regimes in those countries. Subsequently, those regimes will provide safe heavens for terrorist organizations and the results will be more attacks on US soil.
Westerners must learn; there is no geographical barrier for terrorist activities. If the terrorists are not eliminated, sooner or later they end up on your backyard; just like 9-11. Senator Obama does not have the ability to lead Americans against the terrorism.

RON democrat turned independent   July 15th, 2008 3:56 pm ET

give obama time and he'll tell us how the surge was his idea from the start. did you hear him say he would have all of iran's neighbors join him in putting pressure on Iran to curb their nuclear power. as this man no shame when, Clinton proposed that same tactic he made fun of it. he is one sick puppy, all he can do is spend spend spend. he is so hooked on it, his venues are getting larger and larger. he is constantly having press conferences and making speeches to tell us how much he will give give give . hello, we are almost broke as it is so who who who is going to pay for it. taking troops out of Iraq to send to Afghanistan will not be free. just because you stop fighting in Iraq doesn't mean you stop paying your troops,. and filling our obligations elsewhere . who who who is going to pay for that. what a joke

GB   July 15th, 2008 3:49 pm ET

Freida.. what planet are you on? He's said the same thing from the beginning. Get a freakin clue.

Herman in LA   July 15th, 2008 3:44 pm ET

Just brilliant, just darn brilliant

I can say anymore

Obama

Independent in Iowa   July 15th, 2008 3:41 pm ET

Just so everyone knows, I'm supporting BO because he is the lesser evil of the two. That doesn't mean I like candy and will be riding on the "Hope" bus. Obama is going to get picked on, YES – get over it.

He's quick to point out other's flaws and he's not immune to the same treatment.

Brian from Knoxville   July 15th, 2008 3:41 pm ET

Let's take down the Taliban first then take down whoever attacks us. Who cares about the Iraqis, not anyone in my newspaper delivery route.

karen-phoenix   July 15th, 2008 3:39 pm ET

Read Obama's website!!! He has been saying this from the very beginning!!!! I watched his whole speech this AM and it was right on!!!!
I DO NOT WANT OLD EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON ANYMORE!!!!
Go Obama!!! AND I'm 64–I want youth to take care of me now–not anyone any older than I am!! I even forget things at my age.

wycliffe, NJ   July 15th, 2008 3:37 pm ET

So McCain should read an Economic Book Before making his economic plans.

obama 08

Daniel Wagle   July 15th, 2008 3:31 pm ET

I wish people would stop bashing Hillary. Hillary meant only to authorize enforced weapons inspections and from the beginning said that war in Iraq should only be a last resort. You can always find some vote which you can use against any Senator. Also, Hillary opposed the war LONG before this election, in fact in 2005. Obama falsely claimed that she only opposed it in time for the election. If you want us to vote for Obama, leave Hillary alone. Also, European powers have unsuccessfully in history tried to control Iraq AND Afghanistan. Therefore, I truly don't think EITHER war has that much chance of success, so I don't think Obama really shows that great judgment in only selectively opposing wars. I oppose ALL wars.

Lorna, NY   July 15th, 2008 3:30 pm ET

After reading some of the comments, I realize that the reason we have these idiots in office is because we are a country of idiots. The few independent thinkers know that Obama has been saying this for years. He was the first one to say this, not McCain, not Clinton. Wow, I can't beleive how many idiots are in this country who have the right to vote. There should be an intelligence test required before voting.

Jesse - San Antonio TX   July 15th, 2008 3:21 pm ET

Didn't he chair a committe that held oversight over Afghanistan but was too busy running for a job he isn't qualified for (he's better qualified to be a motivational speaker)?

Also in response to Tjaye in LA, it was the Saudi Arabians who attacked America, not Afganistans.

David in Illinois   July 15th, 2008 3:16 pm ET

Once again Obama has it right 100%. Iraq was a distraction, a horrific, bloody, treasury-draining mistake. Blame Bush. Blame Cheney. But most of all, blame McCain, because he thinks it has been such a wonderful success.
We're not going to stay in Iraq for 100 more years McCain. Hopefully we don't stay much more than 100 days. And you can't have my son, Mr. McBush.

Texas Trail Dog   July 15th, 2008 3:16 pm ET

This is not the jungle where one tribe goes to another and simply kills all the men then takes that tribe over. WE ARE PLAYING IN A FIELD OF GIANTS WITH MODERN DAY WEAPONS THAT CAN KILL THOUSANDS IF NOT MILLIONS AT ONE TIME. Thinking of Afghanistan is fine, but in the meantime we cannot and should not just withdraw from Iraq. THIS WILL GIVE THE AL QUIDA AND TALIBAN RENEWED HOPE. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS WITHDRAW BACK INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND TUNNELS WHERE WE CAN'T FIND THEM THEN WAIT. THEY KNOW THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE NO STOMACH FOR STAYING THE COURSE. We have flat out quit too many times now. So they will wait. Bin Laden and his followers are patient people. They can afford to wait until the cowards of America folds up and go to sleep again on their porches waiting for another wine cooler or malt liquor beer watching for the mailman for their welfare checks that are going to be much larger if OBAMA GETS INTO OFFICE..

Freida, NYC   July 15th, 2008 3:16 pm ET

Here he goes again, flip flop, flip flop, flip, flop............ Gosh! Obama, please get a grip!

joyce   July 15th, 2008 3:12 pm ET

Neither of them know for sure what will get us out of Iraq or do they know for sure what will happen in Afganistan.
They both know what they want to happend but neither of them know how to make it happen

rick-philly   July 15th, 2008 3:12 pm ET

Dan, don't you mean Iran is bordered on the west by Iraq and on the east by afghanistan?

Dimslie   July 15th, 2008 3:12 pm ET

The guy reminds me of Carter in full flight. Right before the 1980 election, the mini-series Shogun was the talk of the nation. As the election drew near, there was an editorial cartoon showing a caricature of Carter wearing the Samurai dress (sloppily) and awkwardly waving around a Samurai sword. The caption was: "Sho-Nuff, the story of a Georgia boy who, in the last weeks before the election, tried to master the martial arts". That same week, Sam Donaldson (of all people), gave a report on Carter foreign policy and ended by saying: "More and more, Jimmy Carter's foreign policy sounds like the advisor he spoke to last." Obama is the second coming of Jimmy Carter. And, the Dims are locked into this clown.

Ian   July 15th, 2008 3:11 pm ET

I thought the terrorists from 9-11 were from Saudi Arabia?

dr.no   July 15th, 2008 3:11 pm ET

he has called for more attention on afghanistan for years!dumb republicans are too concerned with stealing iraq's oil to do anything about it!

Ian   July 15th, 2008 3:10 pm ET

What's the point? Bhutto already said, matter of factly, that Bin Laden is dead.

LA   July 15th, 2008 3:09 pm ET

Obama has been making good calls on the war. Bush is just starting to do what Obama was calling for over a year ago.

Jon   July 15th, 2008 3:09 pm ET

Obama always eats the last piece of pizza, and he never gives his friends any gas money, even though he lives out of the way from the movie theater!!! Don't vote for him!

NotFallingInLine.org   July 15th, 2008 3:08 pm ET

Maybe the 2008 Obama should tell the 2007 Obama to pay more attention to Afghanistan.

Why didn't he use his power in the U.S. Senate as chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs, which has jurisdiction over NATO, to do something about Afghanistan? The failed leaders of the undemocratic Democratic Party who have been in control of the Senate for the past 18 months appointed him the chair of that committee in January 2007!

Barack Obama: Empty Promises, Easily Broken.

NFIL

Timothy   July 15th, 2008 3:07 pm ET

Obama, is a very intelligence man and can lead this country.People need to get over Obama's color and recongnize this man's brilliance.Period. FULL STOP

richard   July 15th, 2008 3:07 pm ET

McFlipFlop's foregin policies are an orgasm of intellecutal anarchy and growss deficiencies in judgement. As much as I dislike Bush, he at least appears to know who he thinks he is. McFlipFlop doesn't seem know himself at all. The campaign is a extended job interview. Those sort of errors would not be tolerated by most businesses. Imagine applying for a job that requires you to know the difference between Iraq and Iran and you show otherwise. Imagine applying for a job that requires you understand who the world powers are and you forget that the Soviet Empire was divested. If Obama made such STUPID mistakes the McCain camp and the Fox (fixed) network would be jumping all over those mistake. Enough is enough. It is time to call McFlipFlop either uninformed, ignorant, or both when it comes to foreign policy. Obama needs to pounce on that during the debates.

Ryan Indianapolis   July 15th, 2008 3:05 pm ET

I love it when Obama speaks out of both sides of his mouth.....If it was up to Obama we would have retreated last year before the Surge was put into place and would have been defeated and Iraq would have been run by Terrorist and IRAN....Obama is running on sound judgement and that is Laughable.

Southern view   July 15th, 2008 3:02 pm ET

Did he tell Pakistan that we are taking the fight to Pakistan? Pakistan has hundreds of millions of people and an army trained and supplied by - guess who. Pakistan is also a nuclear power, with our support, I believe.

Taking the fight to Pakistan is not a possibility. The best we can hope for is that Pakistan will end its support and harboring of Al-Qaeda and take a stronger position vis a vis Pakistani Taliban. But that hope is very dim right now. Maybe Obama should be traveling to Pakistan.

Pam, WI   July 15th, 2008 2:59 pm ET

McCain says he knows how to win wars? When he actually wins a war he can say that, until then he only knows how to get shot down!

E. POWELL I MD, E POWELL MD II & ER. POWELL MD   July 15th, 2008 2:58 pm ET

LEADERSHIP BY EXPERIENCE HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS POINT IN
WORLD BEHAVIOR TOWARD US AS A PEOPLE.. THIS IS MAN DOES SHOW PROMISE. IF THE WORLD SEES SOMETHING IN HIM THAT THEY DON'T SEE IN MCCAIN. IF WE AS A PEOPLE IN A COUNTRY
THAT SUPPOSE TO BE LEADERS OF THE WORLD CAN'T SEE THE SAME – "WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET".

A. Boston, MA   July 15th, 2008 2:55 pm ET

How come McCain never speaks on how bogus WMD and the Iraq war is? He has no position b/c he can't bump heads with Bush. He speaks of winning the war. It was a win win situation from the beginning. They want us out and McCain wants to stay to fulfill the GOP agenda.

Obama 08

EMJ   July 15th, 2008 2:54 pm ET

Scrolling down the posts I was surprised to see someone say Obama is not the nominee and then threw out a 'Hillary 08' slogan. Well if that is the case McCain isn't the official nominee either so why doesn't everything stop so we can gauge what Hillary thinks about all this. Good grief already, give it a rest. Seeing the continued hate spewing posts by Clinton supporters against Obama at this stage is beyond pathetic. If you really need an example of ignorant people who actually believe all the false rumors about the Obama's parodied on the New Yorker cover, that would be not only a whole bunch of backwards minded Republicans but evidently a few thousand Hillary supporters as well.

Change I Can Believe In   July 15th, 2008 2:53 pm ET

Obama's sign reads "Judgment To Lead" so that must mean that he has judgment to lead. Who needs to think for themselves?

Really   July 15th, 2008 2:52 pm ET

Why shouldn't we have invaded Iraq? Everyone keeps saying that. I hear we invaded Iraq for oil. Really? You must be driving your solar powered car otherwise you would know that oil prices have gone up. Then there is the arguement that it has costs us too much. So what is the price for freedom? Is there a magic number? Next war we should set limits. 1,000 lives and $500 billion. If we can't liberate a country or destroy terrorists that want our ultimate destruction under that price, we should not get into it. Next time someone attackes us, we will tell them to stop it because defending it would be over our threshold.

Brandon Hillary PUMA for Mc Cain-Pa   July 15th, 2008 2:52 pm ET

Judgement to Lead-What a "fairytale" no actually he's a nightmare...

New Yorker Cover-Rocks !!

Doug, New Jersey   July 15th, 2008 2:51 pm ET

Obama could call out a plan to invade the moon and the Moore-on.org kool aide drinkers here would be all for it talking about how brilliant the plan is.

Keep in mind that these are the people who were quick to come out and stick up for Rev. Wright when the truth about him and Obama broke, claiming that he was just telling the truth. So keep in mind that these Liberal-Democrats think this government created the aids virus to kill black people.

BTW, read Michelle's thesis from Princeton, I wish Obama stayed a Muslim rather than having Michelle and Jeremiah turn him into a sick, hateful black liberation theologist. A lot of Muslims are good peaceful people, unlike the Obama's and Rev. Wright's of this world.

Frank   July 15th, 2008 2:50 pm ET

Hey Obama....the Taliban is in Afganistan....just thought you should know.

Bayou Joe   July 15th, 2008 2:49 pm ET

The truth is neither Obama nor McCain has the answer to the War against the Islamic Jihadist. The reason they don't have the answer is because they either don't understand the enemy or do understand the enemy but are afraid to tell the American Public who the enemy is and what their goals are:

This War is over 2000 years old. It is a religious/ideological war. Islam and Christianity are incompatible and the goal of Islam is to eliminate all non-believers in Allah. So no matter how many Islamic
Jidahist you eliminate, their will always be another one to take his or her place. Second the enemy takes it's war seriously and will do anything to win, including self-sacrifice. We on the other hand want to do it in a civilized manner. So we handicap our soldiers and give them guidelines. Unfortunately the other side doesn't understand or give a crap about guidelines. Their objective is to kill as many of the infidels they can. They don't care if the infidels are in a Church, Moslem temple or Synagogue. They don't care if they are non-combatants, women and children. Their goal is clearly defined.
We on the other hand do not have clear goals. The only country that ever fared well against Islam was Spain. The year was 1492, the same year that Columbus discovered America. After 800 years of
Muslim occupation, the Spanish drove them out of Spain. How did they do it ? By force until the otherside noticed that unless they stopped all of them would meet Allah. Now even Spain does not have the Cojones to meet the enemy and destroy it.

Ted   July 15th, 2008 2:44 pm ET

Obama changes the signs on the front of his podium as much as he changes his mind... on policies and friends.

Peter (CA)   July 15th, 2008 2:44 pm ET

Who should have gotten Bin Laden?

Remember August 2001...Bush had worked so hard for 6 months, he took the whole month off? Didn't read his briefings...including one titled "Bin Laden determined to attack within the US".

Those of you who say Obama has no positions....well, here is one. Go to his website to discover the others.

McCain may have experience but as another poster rightly pointed out...experience does not guarantee wisdom. Bush has lots of experience now and he continues to make the same dumb mistakes.

8 years of the country going downhill is plenty. And, seriously, stop with the Obama-will-turn-us-into-Muslims stuff. That shows a new level of ignorance.

Ilona from Alberta   July 15th, 2008 2:44 pm ET

Hey, pretty much everyone has not been to Afganistan but it doesn't take a trip to a war zone to figure out that it is Afganistan that is rebounding and needs dire attention.
The war on terror began and ends there.
Iraq had and does not have anthing to do with 911 and everybody and their dog knows it. Where's Osama? who cares right? – You got Saddam though (and only to the tune of trilions)......whooopee!

Osama is a forward thinker....not McCain

Obama 08   July 15th, 2008 2:44 pm ET

I like McCain's new foriegn policy dig on Obama. He says that Obama couldn't possibily know anything about Iraq or Afganistan because he has never been there.

Dear Mr. McCain,

Am I wrong for thinking that I would rather go to heaven than hell?
I have never been to either place.

Obama 08!

lane   July 15th, 2008 2:43 pm ET

Are you kidding

For someone who has chaired the committee that coordinated NATO particpation in Afganistan and never held a meeting in two years to be a critic shows how irresposible and quick to blame others for short comings. sound more like rev wright and blame whites for all his communities ailments. easier to blame and not take resposibilty on his inactions. no integrity, no vision (all scripted) arrogant idiot

Relevance Recognized   July 15th, 2008 2:43 pm ET

Yes, Obama is right. It's in America's own interest to proactively vote for a leader to change the mess Bush got us into. McSame will make it worse

Wisconsin   July 15th, 2008 2:43 pm ET

Sounds like a mixed message to me and completely opposite of what he was saying just a few months ago.

Nice try LIER.

Obama has always been against Iraq and in favor of fighting the actual terrorist in Afghanistan.

BROOKLYN=Lier

Obama has said the same thing all along, this is not something new.

Nice trie but you are LIERS

This has been Obama's stance from the start. I know all the Republicans will stop at nothing to rip him down and support McWar, Bush, and Big Oil.

You are showing us all one thing,

Republicans NEED to LIE to win!

Republicans NEED to LIE to win!

Republicans NEED to LIE to win!

Republicans NEED to LIE to win!

Republicans NEED to LIE to win!

Republicans NEED to LIE to win!

Bill From Florida   July 15th, 2008 2:42 pm ET

I am sick of you Obama supporters saying Obama didn't voe for the
war. You stupid ninny's , he couldn't vote and how do you know how he really would have voted, he Flip Flops everyday. This is the "Yes We Can" speech again, I was against the war from the beginning..
What a bunch of BULL.

Anonymous   July 15th, 2008 2:42 pm ET

Obama continues to make policy decisions without knowledge of the facts. The usual Democratic message of "Don't bother me with the facts when I know I'm right".

And I guess his promise about bringing the troops home includes a little "R&R" stop in Afghanistan.

Dave   July 15th, 2008 2:39 pm ET

why can't we get 38 of the states together to dissolve the federal goverment!

that would be nifty

Jim - Tucson   July 15th, 2008 2:37 pm ET

They're posting this same blog on FOX. We need more Obama supporters to go there and post. Then come back to CNN, of course.

not important   July 15th, 2008 2:36 pm ET

Obama is right. History should not repeat itself. Everybody should remember the Soviet Afghan war.

FLIP-FLOP MC BUSH   July 15th, 2008 2:35 pm ET

Mc Bush has NO IDEA ! of what he's talking about. Barack was right way back in January. All of the news stations are reporting that Brack had it right. Now Mc War keeps attacking. Does he know anything else to do other than attack Barack? GUESS NOT! What a MC FOOL. I was a Republican but I switched and will cast my vote for Barack, I feel safer.

ILUVOBAMA   July 15th, 2008 2:35 pm ET

lol... I meant to say thanks "to people say No to McCain" for putting Robert in his place.

Ken   July 15th, 2008 2:31 pm ET

The insurgents in that region are traveling back and forth from Iraq to Afghanistan, So called freedom fighters from all over the mid-east region are contributing and recruiting to fight the west. However Taliban and Al-Queda are HQ'd in Afghan, If we focus to much in Afghan they'll move to Iraq and vice versa, What a mess the Republicans created, almost like it's done on purpose to keep power in the executive branch

Joe   July 15th, 2008 2:31 pm ET

That's the way Oama, make plans because you of all people know how to win a war, blooming idiot, you will never get elected and all the people on here that constantly complain are so nieve to the actual facts. Sad but completely true. You should all get jobs with the media!

Cindy   July 15th, 2008 2:30 pm ET

Obama's focus has always been Afganistan. He was against the war in Iraq, not Afganistan. he was ridiculed in one of the debates for suggesting we bomb the Pakistan/Afganistan boarder. Now Bush/McCain want to bomb Iran. Again, the focus shifts away from Afganistan. The job in Afganistan is not done, and the reason for that is because we keep shifting our focus elsewhere.

Bin Laden must really hate Obama... he can't shake the guy's focus off him. Either that, or he maybe he loves Obama, since Bush has been neglecting him. I can't imagine the terrorist who orchestrated 9/11 enjoys being neglected.

Sean   July 15th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

What a great outline of what Obama would do as President, and how he'd do it. It amazes me that people still insist he's offered no clear outlines of his policies when, frankly, McCain has offered NOTHING even close to comparable to this piece from Obama.

Obama has shown once again that he has reasoned, intelligent, constructive, positive plans for the country should he win the Presidency. McCain would only offer business as usual....business that has already led us into financial dire straits, a nationwide mortgage crisis, a war that's nearing a decade in age, and the resulting deaths of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis.

The choice is clear this year for anyone who has endeavored to be objectively informed about their options in this election.

Obama '08!

Thomas. Illinois   July 15th, 2008 2:29 pm ET

Can't wait for the debates to start... Obama will rip mcCain apart...

ILUVOBAMA   July 15th, 2008 2:27 pm ET

people say No to McCain July 15th, 2008 1:00 pm ET

Robert July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

___________________________________________________

Geezzz...I couldn't have said it any better.... Thank you Robert

Mary   July 15th, 2008 2:25 pm ET

Oh, I heard McWar will try to “rip” one …….at his age……. I smell something bad!!!!

RB TX   July 15th, 2008 2:24 pm ET

Foreign Observer – Irak? Go back home you illeterate wanna be immigrant.

Go with experience- McCain

Obama has never been to Afghanistan but claims he is an expert on what is happening on the ground. He also want to pull troops from Iraq and increase troops in Afghanistan.
Sounds like a mixed message to me and completely opposite of what he was saying just a few months ago.

Go McCain

Jerry in Boston   July 15th, 2008 2:23 pm ET

Rick said – "Iran has been a constant source of trouble in that area ever since your past "great" leader Jimmy Carter let it become an Islamist country."

So by that logic, Ronald Reagan and his support of the Mujahideen against the Soviets, created the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban, thereby facilitating the 9/11 attacks?

Oh wait...that's actually true.

NotFallingInLine.org   July 15th, 2008 2:22 pm ET

Why hasn't Obama had the good judgment to use his power in the U.S. Senate as the chair of the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over NATO and our efforts against Osama and the Taliban in Afghanistan? He could have been doing so much to keep us secure and to stop those who would do us harm over the last 18 months, but he's done nothing.

Obama's style of deceptive flip-flop politics and his endless empty promises are not credible. They're disgraceful.

Knoxville NFIL

Tammy From Ohio   July 15th, 2008 2:20 pm ET

This is the first time I have ever put on a blog, but I do read them. I don't understand if your not an Obama supporter, the Obama people
call you names, say your crazy and out of touch. Since when as an American do people tell you what to believe, who to vote for and what you can say???
I am a Democrat and have been for 20 years, but will not vote in this election. I saw all the buzz on CNN about the cover of the New York magazine. To alot of people this is who Obama is. I have read and followed internet back and fourth and I cannot see one thing Obama
has done while in politics. He did not do the things he said in Chicago,
Most of the time he voted present in congress. This man is VERY untrustworthy. He is not the poor little kid from the getto as he wants you to believe, he was raised wanting for nothing, traveled the world
and had a very educated mother.

So Obama people vote for him, but quit trying to shove him down everyone's throat.

MCCAIN 08   July 15th, 2008 2:20 pm ET

All you Hillary supporters need to go home. We do not need you to win this election

McCain 08,12

Laidetea   July 15th, 2008 2:18 pm ET

This war has never been about 9/11 retaliation nor Osama Bin Laden. McAlzheimer admitted a coupled of months ago that this war was about oil and then he denied making that statement. Bush had to pull McCrime Shame to the side and tell him stop telling the Americans the truth.

America wake up.....the war is all about the oil. It not about keeping the peace with the other countries. This so call War is bringing United States to point of having another Great Depression. People, we need to keep McGramps out of the white house at all cost or elsa we will see an endless war, more homes abandon, more jobs lost, and higher fuel prices never seen before.

Obama 2008-2012

Jimmy P   July 15th, 2008 2:17 pm ET

This guy is such a fool!

Rave   July 15th, 2008 2:17 pm ET

Maybe IRAQ is the only thing that McPain could spell with his limited brain. Spelling Afghanistan would be too difficult for him.. so he doesn't care about that.
OBAMA (2008 -16)

Pam, WI   July 15th, 2008 2:15 pm ET

Obama had been saying this all along. Was it not McSame who agreed with osama bin ladin that the war front is in Iraq? yet McSame claims to have superior judgement. apparently his military experience has not taught him much.

Let talk about the truth!!   July 15th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Just How Many Lives Lost is enough. Fighting a battle where no one wins and American Taxpayer is footing the bill. Why can't the protect the Land, Air, Sea around the US and reduce our expenditures how can we continue to pay this bill and having nothing to show for it....

Over 4500 Death in a booming that kill less than 3000 who's not doing the math...

Nikki, Florida   July 15th, 2008 2:13 pm ET

Obama is saying what we should have been hearing for the past 7 years!!!!!!

Richard, FL   July 15th, 2008 2:12 pm ET

I guess, Joe, that it would be bad that spending money on fuel alternatives might have lead to less oil dependency or that we might have actually caught the man responsible for 911, rather than spend billions invading a nation that had NOTHING to do with 911.

When Bill Clinton tried to kill bin Laden, many Republicans criticized him for trying to divert attention from the Lewinsky scandal. Bush had every bit of intelligence data that Clinton had PLUS 8 months more and totally failed to prevent it. Bush was so unconcerned about our safety that he spent the month before 911 on vacation.

"I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about (bin Laden)"
- George Bush, president who read "The Pet Goat" while hundreds died in our streets.

Willy   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

I bet you could not find Afghanistan on the map bHo, shut up !

Donna   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

It seemed that our "leaders" forgot about the war in Afghanistan until Obama brought it back up..now McOld is trying to jump all over it...sadly we don't have enough troops to fight a was in EITHER country so regardless of the plan that Obama lays out, someone will LOOSE...it is inevitable and we shouldn't continue in a war just to "save face".....

This wasn't Obama's doing so it will be very hard for him to fix the MISTAKES by Bush and his posse!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PUMA-SF..he is already at the "TOP OF THE TICKET" or weren't you paying attention to the Primaries? go ahead and vote for McCain..who cares?

CB   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

OBAMA IS RIGHT ON! He is so forward thinking, it sickens me to think people actually support McCain.

kelly WI   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

We have a war on terror. Get used to it. The terrorists were driven out of Afghanistan into Iraq. We see the 2 wars on terror in those 2 countries. we do not see the covert actions being done all over the world.
Don't try to demonize OIL. Ours and the worlds economies run on oil. It fuels the economic engines. At this point in time we need all we can get. If you're mad about it yell at Pelozi and gang who are stopping us. Obama will be for drilling too.
There is NO immediate magic wand fix for this. If it was that simple it would have been done. Being jealous of rich people does you no good.
The combat troops will leave Iraq when the time is right. No matter who is president. And troops will still be in the region for stabiltiy.
Just like in all the other countries we have kept bases and troops for generations.
It boggles the mind how some people can be so simplistic.
I would suggest you read articles by people who know what they're talking about and skip the campaign speeches.
It's time Obama and his supporters grew up and faced reality.
McCain/Romney

Tyrone   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

What a Double Standard

Rev. Jackson made some comments, about Obama that was caught on camera .......And the white pundits, ran with it. They love to make it look like blacks, are against blacks . That is how they will spin it . Now just about two week ago Wesley Clark made comments about John McCain and it was treated . As a attack on a hero ! No one said that they would look into the allegation made by Clark . Rev. Jackson had criticize Obama for saying black men should be more responsible as fathers. The problem Jackson and I also had with Obama comments. Obama said black men and NOT some black men. I was offenden as a father of 4 with a grandfather that was marry to my grandmother for 55 year til her death. He also raise 4 children. Who are all marry now over 40 years. All to black men. I was marry and divorce and became a single father. I receive FATHER OF THE YEAR at my son school. I alway find it funny how the white pundits love to spin hate and divide in the black community. But said nothing about there white community. I have never heard white pundits mention white on white crime or child molesting in the white community both very high in numbers. High school drop out is high in the white community and getting higher each year. There is know mention by the white control media. The problem with this double standard is that whites get to listen to the news and walk away thinking that blacks are that bad bad people . And whites are the victim and the good people that have to put up with horrible non-whites!

Love for God   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

People please lighten up, life is too short, Get a life.

BROOKLYN   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

It sure did take a while... Guess this must be good for the political ratings...

What ever happened to "no more politics as usual"???????

Guess that did not happen either.

Karen   July 15th, 2008 2:11 pm ET

I want to vote for a president that doesn't think more troops, more killing, and more war are solutions. Now that the primaries are over and we're seeing the real Obama, the prospects of him as president are frightening. He needs to shut his mouth for the rest of the campaign and return to his mantra of inspirational rhetoric. When he's elected, the Democrats in Congress can try to fix the mess we're in.

Richard   July 15th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

Hillary Supporter for a true American- McCain!

Barack HUSSEIN Obama what do you know, you are ALL talk!

Nando, Florida   July 15th, 2008 2:10 pm ET

Mccain is a Idiot and should be Tar and Feathered !!!!!

paperclip   July 15th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

I may not be totally sold on Obama, but McCain scares the hell out of me. This man, McCain, supported building a road to nowhere in Florida so that the land out in that direction could be sold at a higher price and benefited only a few investors. Why??? He doesn't know who the enemy is in Iran. He mixes up their names all the time. Will we end up killing our allies by mistake and all McCain can say is – oh I forgot who our enemy was?. He is against abortions and voted against birth control being covered on insurance.. But voted for a bill that would allow Viagra to be covered on insurance. Where is his common sense???: I

Obama 08'   July 15th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

Did the surge work because we put more troops in out because the radical leaders called for a cease fire???????????

Jeff Long   July 15th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

Obama treats as a vindication a recent statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki calling for a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. forces. But Maliki, playing to his domestic politic audience, can't be taken at face value. Neither Maliki nor anyone around him talks of an unconditional 16-month timeline for withdrawal as being remotely plausible. His defense minister says Iraqis will be ready to handle internal security on their own in 2012 and external security by 2020. So there you have it.

Substance over Hype!!! McCain '08

Fishers, Indiana   July 15th, 2008 2:08 pm ET

Barack Hussein Obama would want more attention on a Muslim country – this does not surprise me!

Eric in Ca   July 15th, 2008 2:07 pm ET

Do you ignorant, ill-informed poster ever stop and realize the divisive bigoted statements. I guarantee Obama and any other high level congressman receives briefings that the MSM and the general public don't. I don't think you necessarily have to have traveled to iraq or Afghanistan to know the conditions on the group. Your beloved Bush doesn't even know the price of gas here at home!

We can't afford 4 more years of a disastrous Bush Admin. / McCain Policies!

Obama has my vote PERIOD. FULL STOP!

Richard Conn Henry   July 15th, 2008 2:06 pm ET

Once Obama is (I hope) elected, he should meet with the current leaders of dear Pakistan (all of them) and clean out the vipers, with them. Osama is a brainy rat. I pity him.

David from Ohio   July 15th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

Will you Hillnuts please go away? Like she had any foreign policy credentials. Oh I forgot about her heroism under fire in Bosnia.

Rachel   July 15th, 2008 2:05 pm ET

People need to get with it Obama did not cast a vote against the war he did not have a vote. If he was so concerned about Afganastan why did he not hold more than one hearing for his chairmanship of he Foreign Relations Subcommittee for European Affairs? The one with oversight over NATO, troops from which are entrenched in Afghanistan somebody answer me that.

Rick   July 15th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

To all you "talking-point" dems that constantly repeat the line that Iraq is such a huge mistake.....have you ever looked at a map? Iran sits right smack in between Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran has been a constant source of trouble in that area ever since your past "great" leader Jimmy Carter let it become an Islamist country. If we have a presence in both Afghanistan and Iraq then we put Iran in a pretty bad spot strategically. I'm not saying that Irag was a great idea but what I'm saying is that I don't know, you don't know and nobody will know for another 10 years whether it was a good idea or not so stop repeating like parrots everything that the dems and the media tell you to say.

Texans for Obama   July 15th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

I heard Obama's talk on foreign policy. He did an excellent job! There are people on this blog that need to stop hating on the man. This man is very intellegent and articulate. Obama does his research before he speaks and he knows what he is talking about unlike George Bush and John MCain. Hillary is out of the race now, so all of those still crying about her loss needs to move on with their lives and give it up now. I am sure people are tired of hearing about Hillary . I know I am tired of the whinning,

The economy is in shambles, banks are failing, there are 2 wars going on, food and gas prices are very high, and people are losing their jobs.There will be many more companies and banks going under before long. John McCain does not know anything about the economy,McCain is too old. If George Bush at 62 has a bad memory what about McCain's memory at 72? We need a big change in America. Obama is young, smart, and he will have people in his cabinet just as intelligent. I am praying this man becomes the president. I do not want my grandkids future in Iraq. God help America, this economy is going to get worse before it rebounds!

Obama 08'   July 15th, 2008 2:04 pm ET

If anyone watched the speeches to day by Bush and Then Mccain they were almost the same, It is amazing how McCain still has not grasps the idea that with today technology everything you say is recorded. In a previous democratic debate 0bama said that we never more troops in Pakistan and that the war we should be fighting, if there was a chance to take out Bin Laden even if it was not approved by the govenment that he waould take it,,, he was laugh at by all democratic nominees and this also turned into a question for the republican debate and John McCain said Obama was out of touch.. Pay attention people they are all folowing Obama lead.. And McCain is saying he cares about the troops and the burden this war is puting on them, Yet last month Pakistan was not his priority he was reeving up to fight Iran...Our economy is in the tank we are spending BBBBillions of dollars a day fighting this war, The Government is not stressing that the Irag government pay for their own war while their government is raking in millions of dollars in revenue... How is your bank account, How is your Pension,What is the value of your house..... This should be a no brainer,,, People wake up the hillary barack fight is over .. Den=mocrats unite and lets take our country back from these oil men who have broken our country and killed our children

David Orbach, New York, NY   July 15th, 2008 2:03 pm ET

Justin,

It isn't about how many insurgents were killed in the Afghan prison break, it's about how many were freed, that will cause us more difficulties down the line.

gluv   July 15th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

"know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda.

I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars."

-obama in oct. 2002

doc stone   July 15th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

he should have aleast one meeting with the senate committee on nato, not once i feel, no i know i'm being forced to choose obama, but he is not my choice, he likes the title but not the hands on, he had better get alot more involved in the job he wants because I am going tobe one of those that said " told u so "

Hillary for v.p. if not your a 1 termer like carter I'll be watching u buddy

Belle1   July 15th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Please ask Senator Obama to RESIGN from his subcommittee on the NATO oversight in the war in Afghanistan!

It has been over 2 years, and he STILL has NOT held one subcommittee meeting. He has Senators writing him letters begging him to hold a meeting....if he can't do that job, how on earth do you think he will do a good job as President?

If he is going to do nothing, let someone else be in charge!

Anonymous   July 15th, 2008 2:01 pm ET

Obama questioned the need to go to war while the rest of us waved the flag and supported. In restrospect, his judgment was correct and no amount of spin or fear-mongering from the GOP changes that. Since the lead general in Afghanistan recently stated that more troops were needed, Obama seems right on the money. The "frontline" of the war on terror is in Iraq because we're there and that's the 5th or 6th reason the GOP has given for why we're still in Iraq.

GIFTY   July 15th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

Obama judgment is poor.

Poor Obama

Janet   July 15th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

The Democrats rightly blame the Bush adminstration for BinLaden because they had the intelligence and didn't use it. Read the 911 commission report. You republicans will beleive anything that a white person tells you. That's why you idiots elected Bush twice and the country is in the toilet.
Don't Moderate this CNN

Jo   July 15th, 2008 2:00 pm ET

Obama may say that he will go after Afghanistan and Pakistan, but he is just not realistic. If you leave Irag, you just give them another home to go back to. At this point no one makes since. We need Hillary back!

E.C.Coleman   July 15th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

Obama is NOT brilliant in the least, and he doesn't have the ability to lead his way out of a brown paper bag. This guy's 'a nothing' who is running for President. Gee...maybe I will, too! I haven't done anything either and have not one bit of experience or any qualifications. Is this all it takes to be President? Dah! Obama is a JOKE as a leader.

Tony   July 15th, 2008 1:59 pm ET

If Obama's answer to the Iraq war is to pull the troops out of Iraq and send them to Afghanistan I only have one thing to say.

I WON'T BE VOTING FOR EITHER CANDIDATE COME NOVEMBER!!!!!!

gary   July 15th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

OBAMA DONT B.S. OUR COUNTRY. CONGRESS ISNT GOING TO LET YOU DO NO MORE THAN BUSH CAN DO. YOU ARE ALL CHEAP TALK. IAM REALY GETTING SICK OF THIS WHOLE ELECTION THING. OUR COUNTRY IS HEADED FOR A BIG FALL ,AND O.B. SURE THE HELL ISNT WHAT WE NEED TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY. THE BEST CANIDATE WAS SWIFTBOATED OUT OF THIS RACE. YOU O.B. FOLLOWERS DONT THINK IT WAS HER CAMPAGNING THAT LOST IT. O.B. PAID OFF THE DNC ETC. HRC WINS A STATE HE GETS ENDORSE, SUPER DELIGATES PUSH HIM OVER THE LINE ,WITHOUT LETTING THE PRIMARIES END. YOU LOST MINDED YOUNG FOOLS ONLY BELIEVE WHAT YOUR CON MAN O.B. TELLS YOU. WRITE THIS IN YOUR BOOK. WE ARE HEADED TOWARD THE BEGINING OF WORLD WAR 111. READ THE BIBLE.

simple thought   July 15th, 2008 1:58 pm ET

here will be a surprise in nov. obama will loose.
democrat for mccain

Joe Bloggs, Haiku, HI   July 15th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

I love it! You righties criticize Obama for his inexperience, not visiting Iraq or Afghanistan and not holding meetings..blah...blah!

AND YET.....he was RIGHT on both Iraq and Afghanistan!

1. We should NEVER have invaded Iraq; and
2. Obama has been saying for years that we whould be concentrating more troops in Afghanistan in going after the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
(and there are still some ignoramuses above who have been drinking the right-wing koolaid so much that they don't know that Obama has been saying this for years. He didn't need to wait until the Taliban started re-emerging and killing more U.S. troops to know that we should have finished the job there! That's JUDGMENT!)

McCain may be old, but his judgment is very suspect.

So today, we know that Obama exercised sound JUDGMENT about both Iraq and Afghanistan w/o waiting for someone else to tell him waht was obvious to him!

Who needs BS meetings when you have the ability to see and speak the truth?

It's going to be so refreshing having an intelligent and honest president for the first time in decades.

Janice   July 15th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

Sean Hannity has been to Afghanistan more than Obama.

Scott L   July 15th, 2008 1:56 pm ET

Why do Democrats blame Bush for Bin Laden? Bill Clinton should be the one to blame for not getting him when he could have. But Democrats don't believe in that kind of stuff....yet look what happened.

E.C.Coleman   July 15th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

Obama is clueless. He's now beginning to be really pitiful. Why is this man running for President? He's totally unqualified for the office and lacks total experience....so much so that he's scary. Obama can't handle it, and doesn't know what he's doing or saying about anything in this world. Does this guy think he's the very first person who knows about wars, Iraq and Afghanistan? Has Obama now declared himself an authority of everything? He's totally ignorant and just wants to hear himself speak..... what a jerk.

NObama   July 15th, 2008 1:55 pm ET

So Obama is willing to take on Pakistan. Does he realize that Pakistan is a nuclear power? Does he know the relationship between Pakistan and India and China?

His ignornace is dangerous.

Wisconsin   July 15th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Why is Obama saber rattling with Afghanistan?

Because the terrorist are based in and near Afghanistan, its the war that McSame doesn't care about.

Obama was against the war while McWar and Hillary were voting for it.

Lisa   July 15th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Let's load up the buses and take this thing to Denver. It's obvious little kids voted for Obama, what do they know, they're still learning their ABC's and 123's.

Chanda Cincinnati Ohio   July 15th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

Wow!!! Focus on the people who ACTUALLY DID attack us on 9/11. Why didn't I think of that! Or better yet, why didn't the voters of this country when they re-elected the terrorist of a president we have now!!!!

Obam '08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doris,Memphis,TN   July 15th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

Barack is fighting two wars in the United States.

1.)Hill+Bill +their supporters +crooks(Jesse Jackson)(David Remnick)

2.)Gramm + McCain + Cheney + Rove + Fox TV +Bush+ Racists

Barack you are the strongest man in the world.
You deserve the presidency and two dogs.

Blayze Kohime   July 15th, 2008 1:53 pm ET

@ Robert and all those who say Obama doesn't have the experience to lead. Do you realize that Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt both had less experience than Obama does now when they were elected? Other presidents with mounds of experience did terrible jobs comparatively, and it's hard to uphold the 'political experience counts' argument in the light of great presidents having had very little. A chart I saw on experience of all the Presidents we've had thus far showed no correlation at all between experience and quality of the President, because political experience is not the only experience. Do some research before you eat the propaganda.

Livonia, MI   July 15th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

Un Amigo Presidente! Viva Obama!

Jamaal Kansas   July 15th, 2008 1:52 pm ET

bring the troops home from Iraq so we can Concentrate on afghanistan which is the main reason this so called war on terror is being waged Obama is a brillant canidate he wanted the focus on afghanistan long before those troops were killed there that is a good decision maker right there on the other hand Mccain aka Mcbush he want to stay in iraq and waste billions of dollars when the Iraqis want us to get out as well unfortuantly Bush and his Older Brother Mcbush aka Mccain don't listen to reasoning America MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE THIS ELECTION NO MCBUSH

DMAC in ID   July 15th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

In reading some of these I am wondering if some of you know that we have been in Afghanistan and loosing people for to long with minimal troops. Bush and Chaney took their eye off the ball in going after bin Laden, I still think they should have gotten him by now with all the technology we have. If we can read a license plate from outer space they should be able to get some kind of fix on him.
We have a very big job over there with bin Laden and their poppy fields and getting the country on its feet and independent with a different way of life than depending on drugs for their income.
To bad the media is so enthralled with Obama and dropped the ball on the coverage of the Afgan War.

karen-phoenix   July 15th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Obama is brilliant!!! He's right on the money!!! Listen to him!!! Young, educated, excellent judgement and willing to listen to others. What more could we ask for!!!! NO MORE OLD EXPERIENCE in Washington!!!! Clean the town up Obama and maybe, just maybe the American people will have a chance!!!

bumble bee   July 15th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Wasn't Sen. Obama the head of the Afghanistan Committee in the senate? What exactly did he accomplish in that role?

PUMA-SF   July 15th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

As head of the freaking committee on Afghanistan he should have been having meetings all along. If you want to blame someone for the deterioration in the region you can blame him!! This guy is not qualified to be president and if he is on the top of the ticket my vote will go to McCain.

Puma Power

T-n-EP   July 15th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

Distraction????? What Barack Hussein Obama is doing, is setting the stage to switch military forces from Iraq to Afghanistant... and I mean entirely.

Know the facts   July 15th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Senator McCain talks frequently about his support for the surge, but if he had the judgment to oppose this misguided war from the start, there never would have been any need for a surge.

bridgette   July 15th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Everyone is interested in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are an American citizen you should be interested in it. You can fault him if he wasn't in the Senate at the time too sit in on those hearings. But did it really matter. Those two people at the head of this administration had this plan before they ever stepped foot into that office. They were going to have this war regardless of what anyone said.

Chris from NY   July 15th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Really,

As a citizen of this country you are entitled to run for the president of United States. It doesn't mean you will be lecetd. It doesn't mean people or any one for that matter will share your vision. If you don't know how to give a constructive criticism. Go get a life.

Joe in NJ   July 15th, 2008 1:49 pm ET

Oh, and one other thing. If that idiot Bill Clinton had gotten bin Laden when he had the chance, we would have avoided this whole mess.

Joe in NJ   July 15th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

Let's see. If we had done what Obama said we should have done, instead of invading Iraq we should have focused our efforts on Afghanistan and Pakistan and also spent billions on looking into alternative energy. Translation: we'd still be a trillion dollars in debt and nutcase Saddam Hussein would still be in power.

Now, Obama says if he is president he will focus our efforts on Afghanistan and Pakistan. I guess he'll achieve this by the money he'll raise by taxing the rich. We'll still have a trillion dollar debt though. And yes, he'll pull our troops from Iraq but just send them next door instead of bringing them home.

Mike, Syracuse NY   July 15th, 2008 1:47 pm ET

I'm sick of this 'judgment' argument. Obama made one speech in 2003 about the war, and now he claims superior judgment. Meanwhile he's flipped on everything under the sun. So was his judgment on FISA wrong before, or now? How about the Mexican fence he voted for before, and now speaks against? Or NAFTA? Obama's 'judgment' seems to be to take whatever position polls better. His argument as a 'leader' would be a lot more impressive if he'd ever led anything in his life. This guy is so totally, completely unqualified to be President that it's sickening he polls above single digits.

Deb, Allentown, PA   July 15th, 2008 1:44 pm ET

Jon, Pittsburgh, PA – You lose confidence in BO every day??

Funny, I gain more and more confidence and feel better about my choice every single day.

In fact, I'm going to call my local campaign office right after I post this and sign up to volunteer.

Michael Lorton, Virginia   July 15th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

One believes this, the other believe that, the strategy is; the answer is......makes a person want to vomit. What American is [solutions] that are effective and benefit [all] Americans. Reality is that the corporate giants govern this nation, and Congress is their to help support their needs........they always have and always will.....Now you may say that this statement is not ture; ask yourself a question, when was the last time a poor person offer you a job?

DJ, LA, CA   July 15th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

Worse than a distraction. It's a scam, perpetuated by lies.

Lisa   July 15th, 2008 1:43 pm ET

Let's load up the buses and take this thing to Denver. It's obvious little kids voted for Obama. What do they know they're still learning their ABC's and 123's.

Don Colony14Author, Mt Prospect, IL   July 15th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

First Obama wanted to end the war, now he only wants to move it. How about if we win it instead?

If Obama withdraws troops from Iraq simply to send them to Afghanistan, the terrorists will follow them there – and continue to be funded by Iran and Syria. Frankly, I think it's better to do our terrorist killing from existing Iraq troop bases, so we don't have to waste money moving them. (Or does Obama want to pay Halliburton more logistics fees?)

Our troops have probably killed more than 20,000 Al Qaeda members and terrorists in Iraq. Would it matter had that been done in Afghanistan or Pakistan instead? No, the democrats would simply have said we were wasting time focusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan when we should have been focusing it on Iraq.

I don't care where we kill the bad guys, as long as we keep them off American soil. Any one of the 20,000 terrorists that have been killed in Iraq had the potential to enter the United States and cause another September 11 attack. I'm glad they weren't given the opportunity.

Jeff Long   July 15th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

@Military Man

I agree with you completely.

VB Lincoln Park NJ   July 15th, 2008 1:41 pm ET

Kudos to Senator Obama for telling it like it really is!!

Shame on Senator McWrong.

Military Man   July 15th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

QUOTE:
"People, please do not let these gallup, newsweek and other polls sway you from voting for Barack Obama. The main stream news media is using this tactic to get McBush elected...."

The only thing I don't agree with is how you're suggesting that the media is showing Obama in an unfairly bad light. Quite frankly, it's the exact opposite, and CNN is one of the worst ones out there. Pretty much every media station has been overwhelmingly kind/bias to Obama. America will decide in November. As evident by the last two presidential elections, the only polls that count are the polls that open on election day.

Obama? No thank you.

Jeff Long   July 15th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

You Obama supporters are a trip! How about you tell your messiah to go to Afghanistan first and then decide how to implement his policies. He is going to do nothing but flip flop on you again. He is not fit to be the next president. Why would you start to season your food, before you even taste it first. Obama does not know what he is doing!

Really   July 15th, 2008 1:40 pm ET

I may decide to run for President. I have 5 points. I will change politics.
I will end poverty in the US. I will do this through change.
I will turn our country green. I will change everything.
I will change our dependence on oil through alternate energy sources.
We will lead in the World and all other countries will embrace us. Either your for change or your against it.
The rich and big bad corporate america will get what's coming to them. We will leave them with change in their pockets.

Vote for me. Did you know that I am all about change? All I need now is a good speech writer to put this altogether.

Larry, Hazleton, Pa   July 15th, 2008 1:39 pm ET

Finally, someone who is willing to go get Bin Ladin and his gang – no matter where they hide – it's about time. We wasted 6 years in Irag and for what – "NOTHING" Our troops are hero's but should have not been ordered to do what they are doing – Bush/Cheney should be brought to justice for what they have done. McCain just spews out the same ole B.S. He may in fact be worse than Bush because he should know better – given his history of military service.

Xavier, Saint Louis, MO   July 15th, 2008 1:38 pm ET

Obama is correct! We should have never invaded Iraq. Osama Bin Laden wasn't in Iraq. Oil was and is in Iraq. This Iraq war is about greed. It has nothing to do with "FREEING THE IRAQIS". If America was so concerned about freeing people, then why don't we free the people of China or Cuba? Please that's the LIE Bush told the American people, but I'm not buying it. I didn't buy it then and I'm not buying it now!

Arnie, NY   July 15th, 2008 1:37 pm ET

Does Obama do anything other than "call" for things? What has he done that can be measured?

David Goldman   July 15th, 2008 1:35 pm ET

OBAMA HAS BEEN ON THE MONEY ABOUT IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN.

AND GUARANTEED, WILL DO A BETTER JOB WITH BOTH,

BY BRINGING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HELP.

BUT THEN, UNLIKE BUSH & MCBUSH, HE DOES HAVE

A WELL EDUCATED MIND & LANGUAGE SKILLS. GO FIGURE?

Scott, Wichita   July 15th, 2008 1:35 pm ET

You havent been paying attention to either Afghanistan or Iraq for years, Barack

Why the change of heart?

Is it because the Iraq war is finally starting to wind down, and your key anti-Republican statement is vanishing with it?

Trying to keep eveyone's mind off the fact that maybe, just maybe, the surge WORKED?

YOU ARE THE REAL IDIOTS   July 15th, 2008 1:34 pm ET

Some on your that are still chanting Hillary Clinton are BONEHEADS! Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq war and then tried to be against that war when it was going badly. Obama has said from the beginning of the primaries that the U.S. needs to focus on Afghanistan since Al Qaeda attacked the U.S. Al Qaeda was based in Afghanistan and Pakistan and not IRAQ. If Bush had focused on Al Qaeda and getting BIN LADEN and not Iraq and kissed up to Pakistan, then BIN LADEN may have been captured by now. Only a REAL IDIOT would suggest that we focus on Iraq. I guess the BUSH-McCain policy shows us that they are the REAL IDIOTS are there SUPPORTERS TOO.

aware   July 15th, 2008 1:34 pm ET

Give it up Obama!

You only have judgement to follow. You grabbed Hillary's ideas, you grab McCain's ideas, and now, you even grab President Bush's plans. :(

Obama has been consistently wrong on Iraq and now that the surge has been a success and President Bush is announcing possible troop withdrawals with some reasignment to Afghanistan, Barack does the copy-cat again.

Al Qaeda? How about the Taliban drug lords in Afghanistan.

The presumptive nominee, Barack, is the great pretender, and he will lose!

McCain 08, the only wise choice! :)

Will, NJ   July 15th, 2008 1:33 pm ET

Which is what we should have been doing! Instead we've been following the Bush/McCain strategy of treating our military like an expendable pet.

Matt   July 15th, 2008 1:33 pm ET

Why is Obama saber rattling with Afghanistan?

Why is he such a warmonger?

Why doesn't he realize we can't stop these people from fighting, they've been doing it for centuries.

Obama = Bush

Tejano   July 15th, 2008 1:32 pm ET

Putting Obama in the Oval Office would be like my parents putting the Fox in the Chicken coop. All the Chickens will be gone in minutes.

The New Yorker may be Satire, but their is a reason that Obama and his wife are perceived by the American Public as pictured in the magazine. All you have to do is read his own book and the writings of his wife in College to discern this for yourselves. If that is not enough,
check out their friends... Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers, just the tip of the iceberg.

Nom Deplume   July 15th, 2008 1:32 pm ET

and LESS on my socialist economic agenda!!!

Wisconsin   July 15th, 2008 1:31 pm ET

Re-using the 2004 campaign slogans are we?

No Same problem, war in Iraq

Bush and McCain don't care about what Americans wants or needs.

Really   July 15th, 2008 1:31 pm ET

Its amazing. Now Obama wants to start fighting in Pakistan and he wants to increase the war in Afghanistan. We cant we just leave those people alone. No more Obamaush. No more Obama wars. We need a guy that knows what he is doing. I suppose that if we pull out of Iraq that will give the terrorists a new home once we hike around the mountains in Pakistan.

M.S. Indiana   July 15th, 2008 1:31 pm ET

McCain, if you turn your tv on you will get live news about Iraq, if you buy news papers and read them you will get news about Iraq to too. If you talk and listen to the Iraq government you will understand more... If you talk and listen to the American people you begin to get knowledge...

So McCain what is your excuse for your stance on Iraq ?? The people and the leaders of Iraq do not want us there, your people, the American people do not want us there, the rest of the world do not want us there...

The Iraq government says it need a time table for us Americans leaving their country, so they can secure it and stabilize the region. Us being there just makes life chaos... Gives the terrorist org. candidates to recruit, so they can fight of an evil empire...

What!!!   July 15th, 2008 1:31 pm ET

Now is this the advice of that committee he chairs? What is it again? I am not sure he knows.

Ex-Republican for Obama   July 15th, 2008 1:31 pm ET

It's enlightening to see how many of McCain's supporters are completely misinformed. It's a shame that we have so many uneducated idiots in this country.

Obama is staying the course on his original vote way back in 2002. To suggest he is somehow borrowing this, makes you look like an absolute misinformed fool. Much to Clinton's credit, SHE borrowed it from HIM. Much to McCain's discredit, he has not. He wishes to stay the course and continue to fight a war that has already failed.

Rejoicing about some insurgency working (which it is) is an abstract way of refusing to admit that the whole war is a failure. There are no WMD's in Iraq. We aren't wanted there by their government. So inform me, what is working again? Nothing is working when the war is not supposed to be happening to begin with!

Wake up and smell the coffee, we are in a war that was started for the wrong reasons and the war on terrorism, finding Bin Laden, failed miserably. Get out and admit you were wrong, or continue with a war that is being fought now for the WRONG reasons? I smell a bad stench and it's eminating from the republican party. Eradicate it!

interesting   July 15th, 2008 1:31 pm ET

Isn't the economy weakening, why is he talking about Iraq right now?

Chris from NY   July 15th, 2008 1:30 pm ET

EXPERIENCE IS NO WISDOM. HAVING BEEN TO IRAQ AND AROUND THE WORLD IS NOT A PREREQUISITE TO RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES.

King Solomon of the bible had no experience when it came to ruling his people. But he asked God for the wisdom to make a good judgement when ruling the people. God gave him wisdom and he became the wisest and prosperous man that ever lived. All you need to govern the people is knowledge and wisdom. And Obama's got both. Give credit where it's due. The guy is brilliant.

Morningstar   July 15th, 2008 1:30 pm ET

After almost eight years of republicans in the White house where is our country now?

When Bush stole the elections from Al Gore, the gas price was about $1.50, today it is getting closer to $4.5. This 300% increase. Now all of you who have a salary increase of 300% or more, please vote for McCain other wise drop the old man!

Our money is not even accepted in many places in Europe because the dollard has lost it value, our banking system is balking; the morgages are stinking, we are at war where we should not be. Why do we still want a republican in the White house? What will a 72 years old man who love war and think that we are in the 1950s bring to us?

There is no way I can vote McSame!

interesting   July 15th, 2008 1:29 pm ET

Confused again? Please talk to Petraeus and then talk about Iraq. What has it been 900 days since your last visit?

MurphyMorseJohnson   July 15th, 2008 1:29 pm ET

Obama and his advisors are correct.

DianeD, Whitestone, NY   July 15th, 2008 1:27 pm ET

Be careful for what you pray/wish for....you just might get it!

Cheryl   July 15th, 2008 1:27 pm ET

It's simple. If you think the Republicans have done a wonderful job of this war, vote them in again. If you think they've screwed up royally, try someone new.

Bulldog   July 15th, 2008 1:27 pm ET

First McCain said Obama was irresponsible for saying he would attack Al Queida in Pakistan if their was solid intelligence. Since calling Obama 'irresponsilbe' our miliarty has attacked Al Queida 4 times in Pakistan.

McCain calls Obama naive and reckless for wanting to set a timetable to get out of Iraq. The sovereign Iraq government demands we set a timetable.

McCain calls Obama reckless and an appeaser for saying he will sit down with leaders of countries unfriendly to the U.S. 3 months later the U.S. successfully appeases and negoitiates with N. Korea ('axis of evil') and they begin to dismantle their nuclear plants.

Who has the judgement?

fella from Chicago   July 15th, 2008 1:26 pm ET

A dangerous distraction. Over 4,000 American lives have been lost in Iraq overthrowing a murderous dictator and attempting to establish a democracy in the Middle East. I think those who lost their lives would care to debate you Barack on giving their lives over a "distraction". But they won't have that chance, will they? I do think the cover of the New Yorker depicts your true sentiments Senator Obama.

Tara, Elmira NY   July 15th, 2008 1:24 pm ET

TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE SAYING BARACK TOOK THIS POLICY FROM CLINTON YOU ARE WRONG. Hillary rediculed Barack about this Afgan/Pakistan stategy. I remember her doing so in one of the earlier debates. She said he was being nieve and agreed with Bush that we could not strike in Pakistan b/c they were allies. Then low and behold a month later the Bush administration does exactly what Obama said and it was a success with no injuries to the weak Pakistan/American alliance.. Amazing!!!!

Steve IL   July 15th, 2008 1:24 pm ET

Judgement to Lead? To lead what? Maybe an old lady across the street or a dog on a trot around the park, but the greatest nation on earth? No way! Incidentally, he really looks like a sappy little pipsqueak when he stands behind podiums with those big beautiful flags behind him as he reads a speech from the teleprompter. (Reminds me of that old saying: "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.")

Pamela   July 15th, 2008 1:23 pm ET

Yes, let's quit being bodyguards for Hunt Oil, Haliburton, and Exxon staff and go back to finding Bin Laden!

John Kerry   July 15th, 2008 1:22 pm ET

Re-using the 2004 campaign slogans are we?

Lets say we are against Iraq and for Afghanistan just to be different than Bush.

Party before Country, The democrat campaign slogan.

Wisconsin   July 15th, 2008 1:21 pm ET

Obama wants to go after the actual terrorist.

McWar wants to keep a war with people who never attacked us.

Corrine   July 15th, 2008 1:20 pm ET

People, please do not let these gallup, newsweek and other polls sway you from voting for Barack Obama. The main stream news media is using this tactic to get McBush elected. Tell me, have you been approached to participate in any of these polls? I bet the answer is no. Ask yourself, who are these poll takers targeting.? Does these few who are contacted speak for the majority? They sure do not speak for me. I have yet to be contacted to participate in any kind of poll and I have been a voter for over 20 years.

Terri   July 15th, 2008 1:19 pm ET

Remember back when Barack said we should go into Paksitan to find Al_Queda how Hilary and McCain almost had a Foreign Policy heart attack? John McCain.....this is New World Politics and cannot be seen with an Old World Vision.....OBAMA ....08

Richard, FL   July 15th, 2008 1:19 pm ET

Asian4Hillary,

Please calm down. You have some serious anger issues.

Rather than explode over Obama, please tell us why you do not trust Hillary's judgement when she says she "hopes and prays" you will support Obama. Why should her true supporters believe she is so ignorant that she doesn't see Obama clearly like you do?

M.S. Indiana   July 15th, 2008 1:18 pm ET

Robert July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

I gag at the suggestion that Obama has the judgement to lead…he has lead NOTHING in his life, and his judgment is quite like his pall Jimmy Carter, the worst prez ever.

Maybe you should go and see a doctor.for you gag problem... then get mental help.. Obama have done an amazing job, he won over the Clintons, who had one of the best presidents in their camp.. He build up a campaign up from 0 to millions... And he have been right on with the Iraq war, even before McCain and Hillary voted for it in senate..

A shame you don't want a great leader.

Tara, Elmira NY   July 15th, 2008 1:17 pm ET

I don't understand. Why do all the 'Lies" put out about Obama stick and the horrible "Truths" about McCain blow over. Maybe people want to believe the lies because they can use them as an excuse not to vote for a Black man.

Foreign observer   July 15th, 2008 1:17 pm ET

US moving out of Irak will not create a vacuum. Irakis will be glad to see this. There are so many Arab countries to fill the vacuum.

DianeD, Whitestone, NY   July 15th, 2008 1:17 pm ET

I have always thought that Iraq was the wrong place to be and that we should have stuck with, and added more troops to, Afghanistan.

jean HUISSEIN (WHAT HAPPEN TO THE GREAT COUNTRY WE USED TO BE??? WHY AREN'T WE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD???)   July 15th, 2008 1:16 pm ET

ASIAN4HILARY,

JUST ADMIT THAT YOU HATE HIM BECAUSE HE IS AGAINST FREE TRADE. I'M WHITE AND I DISAGREE WITH YOUR STUPID THOUGHT THAT OBAMA HATE WHITE PEOPLE.
DO I HAVE TO REMIND YOU THAT HE WAS RAISED BY HIS GRANDMA WHO IS WHITE? MAY BE YOUR PROBLEM IS ELSEWHERE. I SEE

ProundToBeDemocrat   July 15th, 2008 1:16 pm ET

This is the leader Ameica needs right now, to clean up all the mess Bush and the republican party will leave for the next president, Mccain is not going clean the Mess he is part of the people who make the mess. Obama 08 Road to vitroy with Obama.

Olivia   July 15th, 2008 1:16 pm ET

PS...... now that Obama has suddenly become so big on Afghanistan.....we should remember that he was head of the committee that was to oversee the daily situation in that country, and he did not do this. I don't think he even held one meeting on the topic.

Hillary was on top of all this and even pointed out this neglect on Obama's part. Now he's acting as if he wasn't part of the problem.

time for change   July 15th, 2008 1:16 pm ET

Actions speak louder than words Mr Obama...As subcommittee chairman, Obama could have held hearings pertaining to the role of NATO in the war in Afghanistan, but he has not.

Corrine   July 15th, 2008 1:15 pm ET

This country better open its eyes. Afghanistan is the country to concentrate on. Iraq is a smoke screen. Of course, no one will listen to Barack. You'll be sorry if you don't.

Don't underestimate this man. Just because he's not old asd dirt, does not mean he doesn't know what he's talking about.

For those that have a color problem, just close your eyes and listen to what the man has to say. You'd be suprise, you just might learn something.

Military Man   July 15th, 2008 1:15 pm ET

Obama's stance has changed on most issues about a half-dozen times. You can't really blame the guy though, it's not like he can point to his track record and say "look at me ... look at who I am and what I've done." The DNC and the media shoved a half-baked naive candidate down our throats.

I didn't vote for Bush in 00. I didn't vote for Bush in 04. I will be voting for McCain in 08, not to punish the DNC, but because I honestly do not believe this junior senator is presidential material. Not only is he way off in left field (I'm pretty much smack dab in the middle of the road), he hasn't actually put his butt in any office long enough to get anything done. He's a career politician. He's a ladder climber. If there were a higher position than President, you could bet on the fact that he'd spend half of his first term as President campaigning for the next office up the ladder. He may be a very gifted speaker, but no thanks. I'm not naive enough to know when someone is talking out both sides of their mouths.

McCain is not perfect (nobody is), but I trust him. While he may be a little more conservative than myself, he has an established track record that I can relate to. It's a shame Hillary didn't get the chance that honestly belonged to her this year. If that had been the case, I might have actually had a decision to make. Right now, there's no contest.

McCain/whomever '08

Doris,Memphis,TN   July 15th, 2008 1:14 pm ET

Obama is too good for this racist country!
Raymond Duke needs mental help.

Josie Everett   July 15th, 2008 1:14 pm ET

To Independent in Iowa: Obama wrote about this issue years ago -before the campaign-READ The Audacity of Hope -he spoke about this then and he was correct, as he is now. Get over it. The race is between him and McKill "em

Foreign observer   July 15th, 2008 1:14 pm ET

Pakistan Obama early mentioned as being the key problem to solve. Supporting a General Musharaf who has no connection to his people was a strategic blunder similar to the Irak faillure.
McCain has no clue on that.

Fair and Balanced   July 15th, 2008 1:14 pm ET

I am for finishing our business in Afghanistan, but why go into Pakistan? Just not smart.

jean HUISSEIN (WHAT HAPPEN TO THE GREAT COUNTRY WE USED TO BE??? WHY AREN'T WE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD???)   July 15th, 2008 1:13 pm ET

EUROPEANS AND ASIANS ARE TAKING THE WORLD AWAY FROM US.

GO OBAMA

Jeff Long   July 15th, 2008 1:13 pm ET

WoW!! So your 16 month time table is not going to be used to bring troops home, but to strategically place troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Change we can believe in? I think not!! So this just tells me that we still will be paying for this expensive war and that Obama is not bring the troops home.

By the way people. Afghanistan does not have as much conflict as Iraq so there is no point in putting a large number of troops in Afghanistan!! Believe me, I've been there! Afghanistan is under far better control than Iraq! Understand me when I say this, "I did not say that Afghanistan is under control!!! It's under far better control than Iraq so don't get it twisted!!!". Iraq is not under control! They have over 30,000 troops in Afghanistan and less conflict. Iraq has over 140,000 troops and a lot of conflict. Plus, it really does not matter where they go because the war will just come to them and things will get worse in Iraq if it is not stable when they leave. Obama needs to not say anything about the conflict until he visits Iraq and Afghanistan because right now his argument holds no substance! He hasn't even attended a foreign relations committee hearing. End of story!

Esther   July 15th, 2008 1:13 pm ET

True wisdom and judgement is not about getting the briefings, facts or the fact-finding according to McSame, it is about what you do with the facts! It is about insight, predictions that come true and good judgement and solid strategy long before things start playing you out.

A commander-in-chief should be in control making plans and taking actions to achieve the intended outcomes not the other way around of the outcomes shaping the reactions like McSame obviously supports.

Obama's record shows a very strong wisdom and judgement as opposed to McSame's considering their predictions on Iraq years ago.

Susan   July 15th, 2008 1:11 pm ET

Funny how Sen. Obama is "stealing" this idea when he was promoting it while Sen. Clinton was voting FOR the invasion...

Justin, Ohio   July 15th, 2008 1:10 pm ET

Just incase you Obamabots have forgotten this, the Messiah did not bring anything new to the table on this issue. The war in Afghanistan has been ongoing and there has been troops redeployed from Iraq into Afghanistan already. Of course those listening to the Messiah would probably not know this. But you would know that recently 9 troops were killed after insurgents tried to overrun an outpost in Afghanistan. What you may not know is that the casualties on the insurgents side was ALOT more than 9, it was in the hundreds. Open your eyes.

aliou FLorida   July 15th, 2008 1:10 pm ET

Obama, I can't wait for you to be elected Mr. President. McBush is all about Boom Boom Boom

to ignorant folks   July 15th, 2008 1:10 pm ET

Elect McCain and take the country downward, suprise to see there're still a lot of ignorant folks, they still just don't get it, let's have four more years of McCain lesson, perhaps then folks would finally realize, when his administration will take the country to the point of no return, another blunder, then elect Chelsea Clinton and then bush the 3rd.

jason   July 15th, 2008 1:09 pm ET

Obama has been saying this for like 7 years now... how is this news?

50, white, female, voting for Obama in Missouri   July 15th, 2008 1:09 pm ET

He's right on this. How can anyone compare Obama's clear positions with McCain's changing message and not see that the better Commander-in-Chief is Obama?

I don't need a war-monger as President. We've had that for 8 years and look where we are now.

We all know what "facts" McCain finds "on the ground"... you know, like how safe it was to go out without protection in Iraq, but then... we find out that was a lie. Those kind of "facts" are the same we've gotten on just about everything for the past 8 yrs. No thank you. I'd rather have good judgment over false facts any day.

McCain is still fighting Vietnam, I think. His "no surrender" approach is like some deeply buried psychosis that he just can't get over. It's dangerous.

NickNas   July 15th, 2008 1:09 pm ET

AHHHHH You mean go get the guys who DID pull off 911 and not the OTHER guys so we can get their OIL????

What a CONCEPT!!!!

Amazing what happens when a man is more interested in US than HIMSELF and his BUDDIES

Hakim in Frisco Texas   July 15th, 2008 1:08 pm ET

This speech on Iraq and National Security was magnificent. If you hadn't seen and heard the whole speech I suggest you do so. For those who say he's an empty suit or has no details. He put together a clear and concise plan for our national security overall and how to get there as well as programs to further our national security. People can talk bad about him and this speech who haven't even heard it, however, this speech is right on the money. It's interesting how McCain on the same day decides to do a speech on Afghanistan, wow can we say copy cat and how he doesn't have his own agenda. Obama is extremely intelligent and I will take his judgement over McCain's 20 years of doing the same thing in the Senate any day. Look at it like this, Bush has 8 years of Presidential experience and I am sure no one wants his "experience" ever again. Obama is a thoughtful and concise in what he wants to do and it's great to have a President with a vision for this country he deeply loves.

Obama '08 and '12.

Phil in KC   July 15th, 2008 1:08 pm ET

He's absolutely right. Iraq was never the central front on terrorism. It was a smoke screen by Bush to take attention away from his failures in the war on terror and it was retribution for targeting his father.
Afghanistan is still an issue, after all these years. According to another story, there have been more service men and women killed in Afghanistan each month beginning in May. Pakistan is a haven too and the government there has not done enough – or let us do it for them.

Ann   July 15th, 2008 1:08 pm ET

NoObama

LYNNE KIEPER   July 15th, 2008 1:07 pm ET

Once again, Obama has come out late, reiterating positions expressed by Hillary Clinton many months ago, more evidence that he is slow to respond and his indecisiveness a possible symptom of inexperience and lack of preparation.

Now is the time to insure that Hillary's name is brought to the convention. It might be a serious mistake to continue the promotion of our presumptive nominee now that he's shown himself to be unreliable, a waffler, and someone whio has supported more of Bush's warrantless wiretaps. Hillary 08!

Tara, Elmira NY   July 15th, 2008 1:07 pm ET

What cracks me up is that every time Barack came out with a strategy re: Afganistan the Repubs called him nieve and Bush even scolded him for wanted to take the fight to Pakistan b/c they were allies. He said that if there were actionable inteligence along the Afgan/Pakinstani border, he would take action. And the administration rediculed him for that then turned around a month later and did exactly what Barack said to do and IT WORKED w/o any injuring to the very weak alliance with Pakistan.. all I have to say is

President OBAMA!!!!!

Sean McM   July 15th, 2008 1:07 pm ET

Obama says:
"As should have been apparent to President Bush and Sen. [John] McCain — the central front in the war on terror is not Iraq, and it never was," Obama said in what his campaign called a major policy address on Iraq, Afghanistan and national security."

What an irresponsible Senator....pointing at Bush whe HE HIMSELF NEVER conducted a meeting on the Committee (on Afghanistan) that he chairs? !!!!!!!!

OBAMA HAS NO CREDIBILITY...only excuses for himself and blame for everybody else!!

Elizabeth   July 15th, 2008 1:06 pm ET

Obama has been calling on the importance of shifting our military and diplomatic focus to Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2006. Suddenly now our top military personal and silly Bush realize the danger of ignoring Afghanistan. For a man who never served in the military or have much longevity in Washington, Obama seems to be on the right side of history and how to win the war on terror than those totting their so-called experience.

Olivia   July 15th, 2008 1:06 pm ET

" a war we have to win" he said in his speech. Aren't those McCain's words.....repeated many times.....in the campaign so far?

I have never seen anyone to equal Obama when it comes to using other peoples' ideas, suggestion, words, projections....many times word for word......all with an innocent open smile on his face.....as his own. He is also the best ever panderer I've heard.

Now he wants to go conquer Europe and the middle east, namely Iraq, which he thinks will be as easy as it was here.

Really, his claim to fame is being the best teleprompter reader i've ever seen.

Substance not Rhetoric   July 15th, 2008 1:06 pm ET

What we have to realize here that if you were not an initial supporter of Obama you really never listened to any of his policies. And it seems some of you will talk based solely off of what others tell you instead of researching for yourselves. But just to get you caught up.

Obama has always been a proponent of focusing more on afganistan and finding Bin Laden.

He didn't support the surge because why would you send more troops to fight a way we should not have been in anyway. If you believe we should then tell me if al queday was not in Iraq until we attacked why are we there?

There are 30,000 troops in afganistan and a 150,000 in iraq. Of course we are winning win Iraq but we are a getting whooped in afganistan. But because we are in a Iraq we cannot send just 2 additional brigades to help the soldiers over there.

As as for talking to General Petraeus where where you when he visited capitol hill and all the candidates questioned him.

Sue   July 15th, 2008 1:06 pm ET

Obama has no idea of what the government has faced these past several years; he took a stand that supported his negative position and is staying with it although world leaders who have been involved with this struggle all these years support our position in Iraq. Obama was wrong up front and he is still wrong, based on his idea that what happens in the Middle East is no concern of the US (what baloney!!).

Phil Newton Murphy, Oregon   July 15th, 2008 1:05 pm ET

Obama is right. He's been right on Iraq, right on al Qaeda, right on Afghanistan. Regarding an alleged "change" on his Iraq views, Obama is simply re-stating his long-held strategy for Iraq. It is a real-world position and he has never changed it.

NPA   July 15th, 2008 1:05 pm ET

The one truth I glean from the New Yorker is that it must have been published by diehard Hillary fans who are still angry that Obama won the primary and want to see McCain win the presidency. Didn't the New Yorker endorse Hillary and McCain?

Doug   July 15th, 2008 1:05 pm ET

I remember that Hillary was practically crucified for saying this same thing and now, here is Obama, recycling yet another of her ideas. Guess he thinks it's okay when HE makes the observation. Too bad Obama doesn't have the same depth of understanding as Hillary. From Obama: "Words matter." Since he's now "borrowing" so many of Hillary's "words" (and using them as his), I guess her words actually meant more than his. What the. . .? Does he think we don't remember who said what during the ugly primary?

Concerned Citizen   July 15th, 2008 1:04 pm ET

Angie,
The only person Barack Obama is interested in is himself. He has done nothing to help you and he never will. His only interest is his own political future, not the American people. It never has been and never will be. Please, continue to contribute to his campaign. I have absolutely no doubt that you will be disillusioned by him with your money up in smoke. Oh, well, keep thinking he is "different." I will not be hurt; you will.

karen-phoenix   July 15th, 2008 1:04 pm ET

Obama is brilliant!!! He is right on and knows what is best!!! Young, energetic, knowledgeable and educated in world affairs!!! I listened to his whole policy on the war. Why didn't someone think of this before?
Maybe oil?

Gary Chandler in Canada   July 15th, 2008 1:04 pm ET

Obama and McCain HAVE to 'debate' Russia and China! Does Obama agree with McCain's plan to boot Russia out of the G8, and bar China?
What do they think of yesterday's news that Russia will be patrolling Arctic waters for the first time since the Cold War? Is McCain right the American president should not attend the Olympics in China.
If one candidate has no opinions on Russia and China and the other one has crazy ideas, this should be VETTED!
Afghanistan and Iraq are SMALL, compared to how the Russians and Chinese are viewing American 'developments'.
If Obama has a "worldly" approach to these 2 Nations, we better hear about it before November.

R   July 15th, 2008 1:04 pm ET

Hillary has been stating this for a while, and she got backfired by all the Obama supporters. Let's see them praise him now for what she's been saying for a long time

carolflowery   July 15th, 2008 1:03 pm ET

worst speech i have yet to hear, and sooooooooooo predictable, he is losing his wind

JIMMY   July 15th, 2008 1:03 pm ET

ROB???
Educate your self on the Senators actual positions, man.
He is on the Senate Foriegn Relations Committee, plenty of briefings on both Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Barack has lead legislation for veterans, including sponsering the Webb bill.
if there is anyone who does not care about our overstretched military give a squat about the vets and bringing our troops home its the republicans and bushco. from a "crazy liberal"

jr   July 15th, 2008 1:03 pm ET

How dangerous of a distraction will Iraq become if it's neighbors are allowed to fill the vacuum created by an Obama bug out? That's a reality that no one seems to be giving any real consideration to including Obama.

Matt, Canoga Park   July 15th, 2008 1:02 pm ET

Hey Tjaye in LA if we attacked the people that attacked us we would be at war with Saudi Arabia. They were not Afgani's that attacked us but Saudi's illegally operating out of Afganistan.

It seems the best Obama can offer us is another lame slogan on his podium. Only he is missing the words "lack of" before this one.

Nova from NV   July 15th, 2008 1:02 pm ET

Obama is trying too hard to show that he is not naive on foreign policy. Too bad he cannot bring his foreign policy advisers to a debate to help him during a debate.

Dave   July 15th, 2008 1:01 pm ET

The comment disparity on the New Yorker cover and this are a pretty good indicator of the issues most Americans care about...

Iraq/Afghanistan – really important...but everyone's tired of war so no one cares

Cover playing off the incorrect stereotypes of Obama (from a liberal magazine that absolutely supports him) – important that it clears up misinformation...but has tons of comments because it's "offensive"...oh my politically correct world

Asian4Hillary   July 15th, 2008 1:01 pm ET

I HATE OBAMA!!!!!!!! The man is a LIAR, hates white people! He hasn't called a single meeting as subcommittee chairman of Foreign Relations, now he talks about it?

NOBAMA IS ALL TALK, FULL OF PLATITUDES!!

ONCE AN EMPTY SUIT, REMAIN AN EMPTY SUIT!!!!!

I HATE HIM!!!!!!!

Janet Jacme   July 15th, 2008 1:01 pm ET

A detailed and principled STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN for the country's foriegn policy.

We never get this type of thorough, credible plan from McCain or the other 98 senators.

5 Solid foundational points, historical relevance, rooted in the drivers of human nature ... BRILLIANT.

DflateMacsStr8TalkXpress: Econ MIA, AWOL on facts, POW from reality   July 15th, 2008 1:00 pm ET

Before all you nutjobs start in: Joe Biden is the actual chairman of the committee and has said repeatedly that at least Mr. Obama has been consulting on the issues in Afghanistan. Grampy McSame hasn't been back to cast a vote in the senate since he's been on the campaign trial but seems to find time to kick back on weekends at the ranch (Oh good, another cowboy who wants to kill them thar' varmit Injuns). And for all McSame's experience, he still doesn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia, the real threat of Al Qaeda and its widespread presence in other areas than Iraq, and finally that Czechoslovakia is no longer a country (and hasn't been for >15 years.)

Dave, Illinois   July 15th, 2008 1:00 pm ET

How many of you buy a car before you know the terms of the loan? Thats what Obama is doing by announcing his strategy before finding out what the conditions on the ground are. This man has no strategy except to win on election day.

Look at a map of the Middle East. Iraq is bordered on the west by Iraq and on the east by Afganistan. Remember how the policy of containment won the Cold War? As long as they are surrounded by American military power, the nuts in Iran are not likely to start WW3.

Insert idiotic remarks from Obamites here. 5,4,3,2,1....

people say No to McCain   July 15th, 2008 1:00 pm ET

Robert July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

I gag at the suggestion that Obama has the judgement to lead…he has lead NOTHING in his life, and his judgment is quite like his pall Jimmy Carter, the worst prez ever.
___________________________________________________
are you on drugs? you had to have voted for Bush...look what he has done for the country, i would rather have a Carter the a Bush any day. as far as judgment...graduating 894 out of 899, loosing 6 plains, USS Forrestal, Keating 5, the Gi Bill, flip flop on your own legislation, giving up military info, Phil Gramm, ENRON loophole, 95% voting with Bush, finding the loopholes in public finance system, Charlie Black (lobbyist), not knowing how to turn on a computer, Bomb, bomb bomb Iran, not knowing what he voted for regarding birth control/Viagra...and so so much more. the only things a McCain administration will bring are huge profits for big business, devastating economy, job loss, WAR, and great jokes from David Letterman...IF IT LOOKS LIKE A BUSH AND WALKS LIKE A BUSH AND SOUNDS LIKE A BUSH THEN CALL IT WHAT IT IS...MCCAIN!

Raymond Duke   July 15th, 2008 12:59 pm ET

I love all you liberals saying that now we could go after the real terriost. Of course seeing and hearing your leaders comments and reading your blogs don't you mean negiotate . Kind of reminds me when Jimmy Carter was president and asked his daughter who I think was 11 years old at the time , what should we do about nuclear weapons. Besides you Obama supporters wouldn't go to Afghanistan. The only ones that protect this country is them uneducated racist and regular americans of all races that are bitter, religious, gun toting nuts.

Lisa   July 15th, 2008 12:59 pm ET

I thought Obama was suppose to bring our troop home? I guess that was another lie just to get some votes.

Bayou Joe   July 15th, 2008 12:59 pm ET

Maybe if he held attended some meetings of his own Foreign Relations Committee he would have a clue as to what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those this man really believe that the War on
Islamic Radicals can be contained in one Country. Why don't we start here at home and remove their agents and supporters from this land of ours. In case some of you have forgotten, the 9/11 islamic Jihadists were already here on student Visas. None of them were
from Mexico or Latin America, They were from Islamic countries in the Middle East. Where the root of the problem continues. In Texas when we find one rattler we kill all of them, because if you let one live that is the one that is going to bite you and kill you.

christina   July 15th, 2008 12:58 pm ET

Any American with half of a brain would agree 100%!!! I can't even remember when or why our focus shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq. No more Bush wars!

OBAMA '08!!!

John Starnes Tampa Florida   July 15th, 2008 12:57 pm ET

It has been apparent all along to anyone who bothered to be informed that Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq for oil and his own petty personal agendas.....Bin Laden was allowed to escape Bora Bora scott free as the US wasted its efforts trying to make Iraq an oil rich colony and center for new bases. If Bush ACTUALLY cared about US security, he would have listened to his security advisors in the summer of 2001 that Al Qaeda was planning something BIG and likely WITHIN the U.S......instead, he took yet ANOTHER month long vacation at his "ranch" in Crawford..... 9-11 happened a month later. It saddens and angers me that it took five years for millions of my fellow citizens to wake up and "get it" that they'd been had by Bush's deceipt and fear-mongering. Impeach the traitor...then send him off to the Hague for war crimes trials.

Keen   July 15th, 2008 12:55 pm ET

wow, some of the Hillary supporters need to just calm down.

1) Obama has been saying this all along, this isn't something he's "stolen" from Hillary. Most Democrats are on the same page when it comes to this foreign policy proposal re: focusing on Afghanistan and withdrawing from Iraq.

2) Obama is the presumptive nominee. This doesn't mean that he will not be the Dem nominee. Please, for the sake of us all– try to move on. Hillary is great. But she lost.

Nina DePonca   July 15th, 2008 12:54 pm ET

Senator Obama once again was right on foriegn policy and McCain was wrong.

To trully defeat Al Quieda, we need to bring the full force of our military to bear on bin Landen and he has never been in Iraq.

The brazen attack on a US base in Afghanistan clearly indicates that his call for drawdown in Iraq to bolster our presence in Afghanistan is spot on.

He has been advocating increased presence there for several months. Be mindful that last month we lost troops at the rate of 500 per year.

Obama is strategic ... he sets the agenda

Bush and McCain are tactical ... they react to the terrorists setting the agenda. We've got trained generals for that.

Loretta from California   July 15th, 2008 12:54 pm ET

and all this time I thought George Bush was the worse President ever. Or is it that is ratings are the lowest of any other President? CNN, help me out on this one.

DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!!

Allan   July 15th, 2008 12:54 pm ET

Why some say about his good"Judgment". Show me one his judgment? come on people let's stop BS and talk- one??. None,none,none.

PU   July 15th, 2008 12:54 pm ET

Lisa, you've finally lost it. :)

FEDUP   July 15th, 2008 12:54 pm ET

It would have been nice if he had taken an interest and held a single meeting on this topic while chairing the committee on Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, for the past 18 months or so..

Jon, Pittsburgh, PA   July 15th, 2008 12:53 pm ET

Everybody knows this Mr. Obama – the fact that you keep repeating this charge means absolutely nothing. Quit criticizing an effort that you had nothing to do with. And, if you had been in the Senate to have voted – how would you have voted? Of course, today you'll say you would have been in the minority of Senators to vote against the resolution that gave Bush some real strength that he obviously misused.

I lose confidence in you every single day.

Brandon Hillary PUMA for Mc Cain-Pa   July 15th, 2008 12:53 pm ET

Hussein should know a thing or two about distractions-look how he used and continues to use the race card for sympathy. This guy is such a con.

Jeff-Dallas Texas: Obama wouldnt know straight talk if it was a zit on his nose

Obama-Junkie, IL   July 15th, 2008 12:53 pm ET

Obama and some other Democrats/Republicans have been saying this for the last 2 years.

A concept that is lost of Bush and McCain which is to go after the folks who perpetrated 9/11 and ensure Afghanistan is stable and safe state.

Rock on Obama!

Mai   July 15th, 2008 12:53 pm ET

Senator Obama is taking another Senator Clinton's proposal as his own. Guess that makes him THE BORROWER.

A NATION OF WHINERS   July 15th, 2008 12:52 pm ET

SENATOR OBAMA HAS BEEN CALLING, TILL BLUE IN

THE FACE, FOR A DIFFERENT POLICY IN AFGHANISTAN.

FOLKS WE HAVE TO ELECT SANE, WELL EDUCATED

AND ACCOMPLISHED PRESIDENTS, NOT SICK MORONS.

Hem   July 15th, 2008 12:52 pm ET

Terror

bob   July 15th, 2008 12:52 pm ET

Iraq a "Dangerous distraction?" It seems Obama's now abandoned opposition to the Iraq surge was intended to distract anti-war primary voters from supporting Hillary Clinton. Distraction indeed!

ANGIE   July 15th, 2008 12:51 pm ET

LISA
you really need to get over yourself WAKE UP NOT EVERYONE WANTED YOUR QUEEN HILLARY STOP LIVING IN YOUR FANASTY THE CHOICE IS BETWEEN OBAMA AND MCCAIN IF YOU WANT TO VOTE MCCAIN SO BE IT BUT ENOUGH WITH YOU FANASTIES

McCain08   July 15th, 2008 12:51 pm ET

Obama is just trying to sound relevant in the war on terror. He should realise that its not just America fighting in Afghanistan, we are there with a host of other countries, Britain of which is seeing the most fighting and loss of life amongst the forces. Nato has called for more troops on the ground anyway, so might not need the american forces he's promising.

He really mad a bad error by saying that the surge isnt working when everybody, including the troops on the ground, have seen a huge change in Iraq. Iraq had insurgents from other countries, not Iraqi's, attacking them, so if he thinks terrorists arent in that country, then he might find out he was wrong when he visits.

Enlightened Voter   July 15th, 2008 12:51 pm ET

Obama said this over a year ago. Watch how mccain who has been up until today saying for us to stay the course in Iraq, will do a flip flop and now he will preach about afghanastain. Obama's judgement beats mccains so called 'experience' anyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wisconsin   July 15th, 2008 12:49 pm ET

Obama

Taxes: Lowering them for 95% of America

Security:
In knowing that he will go after the real terrorist, unlike McWar he knows where they are.

Foreign relations:
Wants to talk with countries not sing about bombing them.

Economy: Ending Government payout to companies who ship their jobs out of America. Jobs for Americans.

Environment: Looking for real answers. Knows that Americas future is not in the hands of big oil and their record profits.

McWar: Tax breaks for the rich, War, and giving America's future to big oil.

Bush III or Change

War or Hope

Hope and Change Obama 08

Foreign observer   July 15th, 2008 12:49 pm ET

The worst president ever – Bush – failed in Afghanistan. Its time to end this Osama terror Afghanistan stuff !

PJH   July 15th, 2008 12:49 pm ET

So now Obama says more attention should be paid to Afghanistan. He had a chance to address the situation there if he hadn't been too lazy to hold a committee meeting. Oh that's right, he was too busy running for President. It's just more pandering.

people say No to McCain   July 15th, 2008 12:48 pm ET

"bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran-John McCain

ANGIE   July 15th, 2008 12:48 pm ET

finally after all these years someone with a brain and who actually has our intrest at heart obama is right he has been all along and you all say you want experiance well i rather have someone with the intellect as obamas and the common sense as obama than mccain and bush experiance any day you go obama make us proud we will welcome you to the white house!!!!!!!

Philly Kid   July 15th, 2008 12:47 pm ET

ROB
DO YOU LIVE IN A CAVE?
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

just wondering!

RED STATE   July 15th, 2008 12:47 pm ET

For all the IDIOTS who are so inclined to forget, Obama made this point back in 02', long before Hillary and McCain. He did so when it would have been a career ender. Instead, he did not buck under presure nor did he sell out like the rest of the politicians who find easier to follow then lead; like McCain.

LGriff   July 15th, 2008 12:47 pm ET

I guess a lot of you haven't been keeping up from day one. Sen Obama has been saying this from the beginning when he oppose the war in iraq. He has always said we should be in Afghanistan. It was Hillary and Mccain that agreed to the war in Iraq. Sounds like Mr Mccain is copying Mr Obama now..........

Obama 08/2012

Anonymous   July 15th, 2008 12:46 pm ET

Robert July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

I gag at the suggestion that Obama has the judgement to lead…he has lead NOTHING in his life, and his judgment is quite like his pall Jimmy Carter, the worst prez ever.
_______________

SICK TO YOUR STOMACH? WELL, GET USED TO IT BUDDY THERE IS MORE TO COME....LOL

Dr.Mimi De La Cruz   July 15th, 2008 12:45 pm ET

THE IRONY OF ALL IRONIES IS THAT OBAMA HAS BEEN

RIGHT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY ABOUT BOTH IRAQ &

AFGHANISTAN. HOW IS THAT FOR MILITARY EXPERTISE?

KJ   July 15th, 2008 12:45 pm ET

Obama looks small and meaningless in front of those oversized American flags. Obama is a fraud. The Obamarama has been a media driven illusion. The media will NOT decide this election, the people will! The Democrats can still nominate Hillary and they should at the end of August in Denver at the DNC convention. Wake up Dems!

Pam   July 15th, 2008 12:45 pm ET

You say HRC said this months ago, BHO said it years ago when he voted against the war in Iraq while Clinton and McCain signed off on it.
Come on now stop giving the credit to everyone else. You all say Senator Obama doesn't have the experience to lead, however he had better judgement and foresight that President Bush, McCain, and Clinton put together.

Marie/Michigan   July 15th, 2008 12:45 pm ET

He wants to cut and run from Iraq–why? so he can claim success in Afghanistan? If we can't finish the job in Iraq under him–how does he think we can win in Afghanistan? I have never heard such lop-sided logic.

kim hussein taylor portland, oregon   July 15th, 2008 12:44 pm ET

"the central front in the war on terror is not Iraq, and it never was"

wow, a politican with KNOWLEDGE and TRUTH-–what a glorious change that will be!!!

"Obama said part of his new strategy will be "taking the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

bush and mcshame are clowns, and we shouldhave been focusing on this area on september 12. bush BETRAYED us and our country with his lies, greed, stupididty, and arrogance after 9/11. when all the world was there for us, the neoclowns were jumping for joy at the prefect excuse they now had to justify their invasion of iraq! history will show how horrible a president bush has been, he is a disgrace to this country!!!

Not fooled by distractions   July 15th, 2008 12:44 pm ET

Finally – logic and reason on this so called "war on terror". What we've seen to this point is brainless bravado – and expect more of it if McCain is elected. Bush reacted exactly as Bin Laden had hoped – our economy is a shambles, just like he had wanted. Bush was the ultimate patsy – along with the republican party which apparently still believes that being a bully is the most effective means – they also foolishly believe that McCain is a national security "expert". That's a laugh – may be if it was still the 60's or early 70's, but McCains ship has sailed. This is a new world with new challenges and I just don't think McCain is up for the job.

You go Obama!! I prefer your intelligent reasoned approach.

DEMOCRAT   July 15th, 2008 12:44 pm ET

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT OBAMA IS A BETTER FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT, A BETTER LEADER THAN MCCAIN. WE NEED A DIPLOMAT NOT A WAR MONGER AND AS SOON AS WE GET OVER OUR FEAR OF HIS SKIN COLOR WE WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE. HE HAS HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE. AND ALL THE HATERS OUT THERE KNOW THAT WHAT I AM SAYING IS TRUE.

WATCH WHAT GOES ON EVERY TIME OBAMA COMES UP WITH A POLICY MCCAIN FOLLOWS SUITE WHY IS THAT HE TOO KNOWS THAT BARACK KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.

Tx Dem   July 15th, 2008 12:43 pm ET

Whether people agree with him or not, at least he's the only one that wants to fight the right people – and has been saying that for years.

That said, healthcare, economy, energy need to be addressed... not put on a shelf.

David, Silver Spring, MD   July 15th, 2008 12:43 pm ET

Wars are nasty, ugly, painful, and expensive. We can't just get into them lightly. We can't just spend hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars, not to mention thousands of lives, just because "the world" is "safer" with so-and-so out of the picture. We must have bigger goals than that. We have to be smarter than that.

Jeff, Dallas TX   July 15th, 2008 12:43 pm ET

Listen up McCain:

This is what REAL "Straight Talk" sounds like.

People make no sense   July 15th, 2008 12:43 pm ET

Independent in Iowa – no Hillary stole that from Obama who has been saying it since the war began.

Reading is good.

al   July 15th, 2008 12:42 pm ET

******************************************

WHY CAN'T THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION FIGURE THIS OUT.

NO OIL IN AFGHANISTAN?

Danielson   July 15th, 2008 12:41 pm ET

John McCain just gave a clever speech on how the Surge is a resounding success...

What he neglected to mention was how this war was an abject failure and a disaster of a policy decision that has needlessly cost us over 4000 American lives, 10 times as many American wounded and Iraqui dead, almost a trillion dollars in OUR money and a profound ignorance of where the terrorists really ARE...Afghanistan.

Bluntly put? In John McCain's hands, we would have made the EXACT same mistake. Don't you dare bring that up, however...because that flawed decision "doesn't matter now."

He claims he knows how to "win wars."

How 'bout knowing how to stay OUT of unnecessary ones, John?

He is as dangerous, or MORE dangerous, than GW Bush...and represents a party that has crippled this nation domestically and abroad.

If you vote for this robotic old retread of failed policy and promiese....you're not just flat out stupid: You are a traitor to this country.

Don   July 15th, 2008 12:41 pm ET

It should have been that way since 9/11, but does Afghanistan have oil?

Fed up with the lies   July 15th, 2008 12:41 pm ET

Great plan. I can't remember how many folks commented on why we were taking on Iraq before we finished Afghanistan.

Obama '08

Mike   July 15th, 2008 12:40 pm ET

So, McCain said Obama had no right to make observations without getting the facts on the ground. However, miraculously, he came up with a plan no different than McCain came up with hours after Obamas. I would say McCain has no business making plans about the economy until he reads a book, but I bet he has tons of plans. Is McCains plan to win seems to be to criticize Obama and then steal his ideas, or just come up with completely false information about Obama and then make an ad. Check your facts people, factcheck.org.

Sue   July 15th, 2008 12:39 pm ET

Independent in Iowa:

It is evident that you are still pining away for Hillary; however it would be useful if you stuck to the facts. Hillary did not point this out......It was Barack Obama back in November 2007.

Please do your research before you post your juvenile comments

Lisa   July 15th, 2008 12:38 pm ET

What's all the fuss about Obama is not even the nominee!!!!

Hillary 08!

really? come on   July 15th, 2008 12:37 pm ET

McCain, can you say "Vietnamization?" It was the policy in the Vietnam War to train Vietnamese to be able to find and defend for themselves, much like what you are touting for Iraq. While a worthy goal, please ask yourself how well it turned out then. I'm not saying it couldn't work this time around, but you know what they say about history...

Foreign observer   July 15th, 2008 12:37 pm ET

Just put yourself into the perspective of Osama bin Laden and there are plenty reasons to laugh about the failed US policy.
Moving on the same way there will be no success in Afghanistan nor in Irak.

Tonie   July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

Finally .Let the real war on terrorism begin.

Independent in Iowa   July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

Ummmm Obama, this is something Hillary pointed out months ago. Glad you finally got around to it.

Rob   July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

he never attended any briefings about Iraq or Afghanistan, how can it be that suddenly he is interested in that now. Ah, he wants your votes. In my opinion, he is just a crazy liberal, not caring about military people or concerns about conflicts....

Rob

Robert   July 15th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

I gag at the suggestion that Obama has the judgement to lead...he has lead NOTHING in his life, and his judgment is quite like his pall Jimmy Carter, the worst prez ever.

Gorbashov   July 15th, 2008 12:34 pm ET

Finally, someone gets it!

This unnecessary war of choice in Iraq will go down as one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in American history.

Thanks Dumbya, and McSame!

Obama/Nunn in 2008 and beyond!

Tjaye in LA   July 15th, 2008 12:34 pm ET

What a novel ideal; attack the people who actually attacked us.

Go figyah!

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