McCain Even Flip-Flops On His Criticism of Obama’s Iraq Policy

Coming a day after resorting to a “scurrilous statement” (per Joe Klein’s description) in attacking Obama which I discussed here, McCain is now flip-flopping on the substance of his attacks on Obama’s position on Iraq. Earlier today I heard a radio clip of McCain criticizing Obama’s plans, claiming Obama would ignore the advice of military commanders based upon the facts on the ground as he leaves Iraq. I don’t have a transcript of this available, but this attack is echoed in other news reports of attacks attributed to his campaign. For example, AFP reports:

Asked Tuesday if the McCain camp was embarrassed by the Bush administration’s evolving policy, the candidate’s foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann said “not at all.”

“Senator Obama decided some months ago, when he was running for the nomination, that 16 months was the time period that all troops should be withdrawn — not 12 months, not 14, not 18, but 16.

“It’s an artificial date, and it is completely ignorant of conditions on the ground and the effect that it would have both on our ability to withdraw, as well as the ability to have sustainable security in Iraq in the aftermath,” he said.

McCain “believes that it would be irresponsible to set an arbitrary and artificial date, and move towards withdrawal, and ignore the advice of military commanders and security conditions,” he said.

Of course this is not now, and never has been, Obama’s view. As Obama stated in his interview with Katie Couric:

I will always listen to the commanders on the ground. And I will make an assessment based on the facts at that time. As I’ve said before … I am not interested in a false choice between either perfect inflexibility in which the next 16 months or the next two years I ignore anything that’s happening in Iraq. Or, alternatively, that I just have an open-ended, indefinite occupation of Iraq in which we’re not putting any pressure on the Iraqis to stand up and … take this burden on. What I’m gonna do is to set a vision of where we need to go, a clear and specific timeframe within which we’re gonna pull our combat forces out.

Beyond being wrong, McCain and his surrogates are now flip-flopping once again with regards to their criticism of Obama. Just a few weeks ago McCain was falsely citing reports that Obama would consider such facts on the ground as opposed to sticking firmly to a 16 month plan as a flip-flop and attacked him for allegedly changing  his position on Iraq.

So which is it? Does McCain want to attack Obama when he does say he will listen to the commanders on the ground, or does he want to persist with making false claims that Obama will not consider such facts? The real problem is that of the two candidates running, Obama is the only one who has a coherent plan for dealing with Iraq, and McCain is still searching for a political means to respond to this fact on the ground during the political campaign.

6 Comments

  1. 1
    Bet Patterson says:

    Obama is in contradiction with Bible prophecy over Iraq and MCaine is not.  Our husbands in Iraq and our wounded vets need to hear about this new Bible discovery.
    Suppose it could be documented that this Bible
    prophecy was verified to have been fulfilled in our
    day predicting the war in Iraq? 
    Thousands of people are entering this web sight…
    http://www.eternaltruth.net 
    Critics have sought to rip this biblical discovery a
    part in order to disprove it.
    Such attempts continue to fail as ambitious Bible
    critics seek to expose it as another hoax.
    Critics eventually fade as the people who see
    value in this fulfilled prophecy are moved to
    inform others of this possible miracle arriving in
    our day!
     
    Could God have revealed an actual Bible prophecy
    supporting America going into Iraq?  Everyone is
    invited to prove or disprove this newly discovered
    prophecy.
    If you can demonstrate a way to disprove this claim
    you may become a guest on Glenn Becks show or
    Shaun Hannity.  If you can bring a case forward
    which supports this prophecy as being true you
    may also become a guest.
     
    This Bible discovery was mentioned on the Rush
    Limbaugh show as millions heard of this web sight.
    If you can find any evidence disputing this claim
    or any evidence confirming it true, please contact
    Shaun at…

    “Media track”  dogtrack88hotmail.com

    Or contact Glenn Beck and make your case 
     
    to him on line.  glennbeck.com  You may contact
     
    Rush Limbaugh if possible?
     
    For additional information
     
    concerning this matter contact
     
    Ed Cook at ecdistibutions or
    edmund@eternaltruth.net  or 208 251 3519
     
    You could receive national recognition for worthy evidence
    if your information is convincing.  Why?
    If no one can dispute this biblical claim this discovery 
    can be submitted in the media as an actual fulfillment of
    biblical prophecy.  If not, you may be the one exposing as
    a hoax.
    The new President of the united states may be determined
    by the condition of our economy and the war in Iraq.
    What could a Bible prophecy depicting America as
    the biblical eagle bringing freedom to Iraq have upon
    this presidential election?
    Could it perhaps reveal the presidential election from a new
    spiritual perspective?
    This biblical prophecy could unite our American resolve
    for supporting the Iraq war and help our troops.

    A subsidiary of Salem communications has already
    declared this work to be a monumental discovery of
    “biblical proportions” in their recent national press release.
    To confirm this national press release go to the Salem
    Xulon press release at- http://www.eternaltruth.net or enter
    their Salem web sight.
     
    There has been no theological criticism having any
    teeth which has demonstrated convincing red flags
    which cast doubt upon this claim. The Bible can be spun
    by people who often take things out of proper context.
    Today modern writers cleverly manufacture their own
    evidences from the Bible and years later we then discover
    such insights were false.
    This means that the specific criteria for documenting
    a fulfilled Bible prophecy is even more difficult to accomplish
    than many secular discoveries which also require high
    standards from sound research.
     
    We need a consensus from several credible Christians
    who can collaberate a consistency of legitamate insights
    which identify key prophetic types and shadows clearly
    identifying the cyclic nature of true prophecy within
    Bible history.
    Such an insight for understanding true Bible prophecy 
    should not require a degree in theology. We welcome
    either.

    We welcome the critics who aspire to prove this wrong.
    No credable evidence has been presented showing
    any confirmed manipulation of the biblical text nor its
    context.

    Watch the you tube video as it takes you through
    specific Bible scriptures which reveal the
    great modern eagle (America)l transforming Iraq
    into a free nation in the end times.. 

                                         Locate now.. 
                                        “Bible prophecies of 9-11 
                                        http://www.eternaltruth.net              
                           sincerely, 
                                        Bet Patterson
                                        ecdistribution
    .

  2. 2
    Brenda Paul says:

    I checked it out and the blogs about the Bible prophecy concerning Iraq and 9/11 being in the Bible are accurate and not a hoax!.
    How did they discover this in the Bible?  I have seen those passages several times in the Bible and skipped over them because they made no sense to me.  After watching the you tube video on line the lights have turned on brighter than the sun! This is truly a prophecy about Iraq and also 911.  Blogs actually under-state the power of
    this Bible discovery.
    Why has this not yet become national news? Is Satan trying to stop this? I almost chickened out from watching the you tube video after feeling a negative pressure telling me that this was a hoax and I should get out quick!
    That negative feeling turned out to be false, had I given in to that pressure and ran away then I would not have
     awakened to this marvelous news.
    My heavens, I am feeling chills down my back an hour after watching this. All you bloggers out there please do not take
    offense but everything you are discussing just got dwarfed by something far more enlightening than anything you can possibly imagine! It is like lightening has struck and the affected christians slept through it! What ever you do in this
    life you must see this entire you tube.         See…Bible prophecies of 9/11  http://www.eternaltruth.net
     

  3. 3
    Ron Chusid says:

    Brenda,

    “Why has this not yet become national news?”

    Because it is total nonsense and most people in the news media would recognize this. The bible is vague enough to allow people to imagine prophecies of contemporary events throughout history.

    The bible says nothing about specific situations such as the 9/11 attacks or the current Iraq war. It certainly cannot be used to make any decisions with regards to current foreign policy, or to compare McCain’s views to Obama’s.

  4. 4
    Ben Farland says:

    Ron, a wise man tests before he talks. I can tell that you have not taken the time to investigate what these folks are talking about.
    I have checked it out the blogs concerning the Bible prophecy concerning Iraq and 9/11 being in the Bible.
    These reports declaring this information are not just another hoax but are biblically accurate! Don’t take my word for it just check it out for yourself.

    King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon repented in chapter four and his roots were left in Iraq for a latter day blessing
    of freedom. This explains why America is succeeding in Iraq inspight of Satan imposing every ploy he could possibly muster to destroy our success there..
    Why is this never discussed by anyone else when it is plainly a huge part of Daniels prophecies? An entire
    chapter in the Bible is being ignored..

    How did this man discover this alone in the Bible and why is every one else ignoreing these prophecies?

    This is the first time anyone has ever explained Daniel chapter four to me in my whole life.  Why is this?
    I have likewise seen those passages several times in the Bible and skipped over them because they made no sense to me. 
    After watching the you tube video on line and following it with my Bible the lights have turned on brighter
    than the sun concerning Daniel chapter four!
    This is truly a prophecy about Iraq and also 911.
     
    Am I the only christian out there who ignores Daniel chapter four after being confused?  I have asked the smartest
    ministers I could find and even they are stumped by Daniel chapter four.   I especially liked the clip on
    the youtube about Russia representing the evil type for Babylon today. This video pre-dates the Russian
    invasion of Georga. The book reveals a warning about appeasement of dictators. Evil must be defeated and
    not ignored or appeased. This book explains how
    democrats who appease evil have made our nation
    vulnerable to Russia and Iran. Why? Because democrats
    refuse to drill for oil leaving us vulnerable
    to dangerous enemies causing them to take advantage
    of our weakness.  Democrats are blaming
    America and assisting our enemies to undermine
    our moral streanth in the world. It reminds me
    of a battered women syndrome where one willingly
    takes the abuse because they have been taught to
    believe that they are the worlds problem and
    therefore deserve the abuse.. This book teaches us from Bible prophecy that this deceptive pattern must stop
    before it is too late!
    Russia surely is the kingdom of the far north
    prepareing to attack Israel and Iran is with
    them.
     
    Blogs out there actually under-state the power of this Bible discovery as you will soon discover. Why has
    this not yet become national news?   Is Satan trying to stop this?
    All you bloggers out there please do not take offense but everything you now are discussing just
    became dwarfed by this prophetic news that far surpasses anything being talked about before..

    It is like lightening has struck and every affected christian slept through this! What ever you do in this life
    you must see this entire you tube.  Brenda Paul
    See…  
    Bible prophecies of 9/11 
    http://www.eternaltruth.net

  5. 5
    Ben Farland says:

    I like the way you wrote this national news question Brenda and it should be repeated again.
     
    Blogs out there actually under-state the power of this Bible discovery as you will soon discover. Why has
    this not yet become national news?   Is Satan trying to stop this?  I nearly chickened out from watching this
    video after negative feelings of pressure tried to discourage me from viewing the entire presentation.
    That negative feeling turned out to be false, had I given in to that pressure and ran away from this I
    would not have awakened to this marvelous news. My heavens, I am feeling chills down my back over an
    hour after watching this.
    All you bloggers out there please do not take offense but everything you now are discussing just
    became dwarfed by this prophetic news that far surpasses anything being talked about before..

    It is like lightening has struck and every affected christian slept through this! What ever you do in this life
    you must see this entire you tube.  Brenda Paul
    See…  
    Bible prophecies of 9/11 
    http://www.eternaltruth.net

  6. 6
    Ron Chusid says:

    Curious that all of you making this argument are coming from the same IP address.

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