Re: Buckwheat Still Arguing With McCain Over Iraq...

On May 31, 6:33 am, Patriot Games <Patr...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/obama_mccain_iraq/2008/05/30/100381....

Obama, McCain in Fierce New Duel Over Iraq

Friday, May 30, 2008

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain fought a fierce
political duel over Iraq Friday, in the latest testy escalation of
their fast-evolving White House race.

As Obama edged closer to the Democratic nomination, each man
questioned the other's qualifications to serve as commander in chief,
sparring over the US troop surge escalation strategy, and future of
the war.

The Obama camp pounced on a comment by McCain that the US troop
garrison had already been pulled down to pre-surge levels, and
complained the Republican used a picture of war commander General
David Petraeus on a fundraising email.

McCain said in a Wisconsin town-hall meeting on Thursday that "we have
drawn down to pre-surge levels," then on Friday denied he had
misspoken.

"I know enough about the military and I know enough about history,
this is about judgment and leadership," he said, and hammered Obama
for failing to support the troop surge, launched in February last
year.

"I supported the surge ... I was correct in saying that we could still
win in Iraq and I'm proud of my record there.

"It's clear that Senator Obama had an entirely different viewpoint,
thought that we couldn't succeed, was convinced we would fail."

But Obama, in remarks given in Montana Friday, said McCain's comments
on troop levels were "not true."

"Anyone running for commander-in-chief should know better," Obama
said.

"As the saying goes, you're entitled to your own view, but not your
own facts.

"We've got around 150,000 troops in Iraq -- 20,000 more than we had
before the surge.

"We have plans to get down to around 140,000 later this summer --
that's still more troops than we had in Iraq before the surge."

"And today, Senator McCain refused to correct his mistake," he added.
"Just like (President) George Bush, when he was presented with the
truth, he just dug in and refused to admit his mistake."

The US military in Baghdad on Thursday announced the withdrawal of the
fourth brigade of "surge" troops. The fifth and final brigades in the
30,000 strong surge force is due to be out by July.

Senator Obama's team meanwhile accused McCain of using American troops
as a political prop, after he sent out a fundraising email featuring a
picture of him shaking hands with Petraeus.

"Sadly, it's straight out of the Bush playbook that John McCain would
propose a political joint photo-opportunity in Iraq, and then use it
as a prop to raise a few campaign dollars even as he misstates the
number of troops serving on the ground," Obama supporter Senator John
Kerry said.

The McCain email featured a scathing attack on Obama, who is within
sight of capturing the Democratic nomination, with the last primaries
looming in Puerto Rico, on Sunday, and Montana and South Dakota, on
Tuesday.

"Senator Obama speaks openly about his willingness to sit down with
our enemies and engage in open talks, but he hasn't gone to Iraq in
over two years to meet with our leaders and see that progress is being
made," it said.

McCain later admitted that his campaign had been wrong to use the
image: "It won't happen again," he said.

Obama meanwhile faced new controvesy over events at his Chicago
church, which previously battered his campaign over racially tinged
rhetoric by his former pastor Jeremiah Wright.

Videos of a guest preacher, targeting Obama's Democratic foe Hillary
Clinton on Sunday in blatantly racial terms, had her aides demanding
action.

Father Michael Pfleger mocked the former first lady for appearing to
cry days before the New Hampshire primary in January, saying she was
upset because "'there is a black man stealing my show.'"

"And then out of nowhere came him, Barack Obama. And she said: 'Damn,
where did you come from? I'm white, I'm entitled.'"

Obama, seeking to quell the controversy that could provide ammunition
to Republican critics, issued a statement on Thursday night saying he
was "deeply disappointed in Father Pfleger's divisive,
backward-looking rhetoric."

The Clinton and Obama camps meanwhile geared up for Saturday's faceoff
at the Democratic Party's rules and bylaws committee, to judge whether
delegates from Florida and Michigan should be reinstated after a
scheduling row.

While no outcome is likely to seriously dent Obama's delegate lead,
Clinton needs her victories in the two states to be counted to
buttress her case that she leads in the national popular vote after 51
valid contests.

Just because McCain's mouth is moving doesn't mean he has an argument.
He's a pitiful old liar.

RH
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