Posted on 03/18/2008 1:54:27 PM PDT by calcowgirl
JERUSALEM — Senator John McCain’s trip overseas was supposed to highlight his foreign policy acumen, and his supporters hoped that it would showcase him as a statesman, allowing him to meet with world leaders as the Democrats squabble.
But all did not go according to plan on Tuesday in Amman, Jordan, when Mr. McCain, fresh from a visit to Iraq, misidentified some of the key players in the Iraq war.
Mr. McCain said several times during his visit to Jordan – during a news conference and a radio interview — that he was concerned that Iran was training Al Qaeda in Iraq. The United States believes that Iran, a Shiite country, has been training and financing Shiite extremists in Iraq, but not Al Qaeda, which is a Sunni insurgent group.
“We continue to be concerned about Iranian taking al Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back,’’ Mr. McCain said at the news conference. Asked about that statement, Mr. McCain said: “Well, it’s common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That’s well known. And it’s unfortunate.”
It was not until he got a whispered correction from Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, who was traveling with Mr. McCain on the trip, which is a Congressional delegation, that Mr. McCain corrected himself.
“I’m sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not Al Qaeda,” he said
...Mr. McCain made similar comments about Iran training Al Qaeda on Monday in an interview with the Hugh Hewitt Show, a radio program he called into from Amman. “As you know, there are al Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they’re moving back into Iraq,’’ he said, ...
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Oh, well that's it then. I guess we'll all have to vote for the man with the racist preacher.
A distinction without a difference.
It’s really sad when people here on free republic try to use the NY Times to smear McCain. The 9-11 Commission and US Intelligence per KR Timmerman have established links between Iran and Al Qaeda. Also, Iran is behind the Mahdi Army and hezbollah.
Let’s establish something. McCain, while not the best friend of conservatives, may misspeak from time to time.
One thing he will not do is surrender to the terrorists, something a President Hussein or Hitlery will RUSH to do.
BFD
Rebuttal from McCain camp:
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/mccain_team_responds_to_iranqa.php
Brain Rogers, a communications deputy over at the McCain HQ in Arlington, sends over a statement about his boss’s momentary confusion in Amman, Jordan today:
“In a press conference today, John McCain misspoke and immediately corrected himself by stating that Iran is in fact supporting radical Islamic extremists in Iraq, not Al Qaeda — as the transcript shows. Democrats have launched political attacks today because they know the American people have deep concerns about their candidates’ judgment and readiness to lead as commander in chief.”
LOL. good one.
OK People if anyone here who can tell me the difference between “Extremists” and “Al Qaida”, I would nominate you for Al-Gor-I-Am-Smarter-Than-You-Award!!!!
Throughout the period from now until the election, none of the MSM will miss a single opportunity to bash the Republican candidate. If McCain so much as ties his shoes wrong, he’ll be called on it - while the Democrats will get a free pass on just about everything.
And, wasn't Bin Laden's son thought to hiding in Iran?
Is that a typo Mr. Cooper? Oh well I guess things didn't go as planned. I'll have to go and read something else.
It’s kinda simple, really. Al Qaeda is made up of extremists but not all extremists are part of Al Qaeda.
It would be encouraging to believe that the presidential candidates know which enemy we are fighting.
Mr. = McCain
Senator = Obama/Clinton
We’ll ain’t that special. Stripped by the NYT.
Senator John McCain’s trip overseas was supposed to ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.