Posted on 02/12/2007 1:42:46 PM PST by NormsRevenge
RICHMOND, Va. - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain (news, bio, voting record) said Monday he fears an offensive by Iraqi insurgents similar to the Tet offensive by the Viet Cong that sent U.S. casualties soaring in Vietnam nearly 40 years ago.
McCain, a Vietnam war veteran who spent 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war, said in an interview with The Associated Press that it's not the U.S. presence in Iraq that upsets voters but rather the number of casualties and the possibility those numbers could rise.
The U.S. death toll is more than 3,100 in the nearly four-year-old war.
In the GOP presidential field, McCain is one of the strongest proponents of President Bush's plan to increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq by some 21,500.
"By the way, a lot of us are also very concerned about the possibility of a, quote, 'Tet Offensive.' You know, some large-scale tact that could then switch American public opinion the way that the Tet Offensive did," the Arizona senator said.
McCain made his comment in explaining why he did not believe the Bush administration should set a date by which it should deem Bush's troop increase a success or a failure.
"I think that it should be publicly open-ended because I think that if you set a date, that there's every possibility that the insurgents would just lay back and wait until we leave," McCain said.
Tet, a massive invasion in 1968 of South Vietnam by Communist North Vietnamese, inflicted enormous losses on U.S. and South Vietnamese troops and is regarded as a point where public sentiment turned sharply against the war.
McCain was in Richmond to address about 40 Virginia Republicans who could potentially support his 2008 presidential bid.
McCain said that while U.S. intelligence in the Middle East is better than the flawed information available before the 2003 Iraq invasion, it's still lacking as Iran continues its efforts to process nuclear material.
He said he has no doubt Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
"It is in my opinion that it is not whether they are developing nuclear weapons but when, and there is where opinion varies. Some say as short a time as two years, others as many as 10," McCain said.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., gestures during an interview in Richmond, Va., Monday, Feb. 12, 2007. McCain, a possible Presidential canidate, said he fears an offensive by Iraqi insurgents similar to the Tet Offensive by the Viet Cong. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
We won that one any who.
What is he wishing for?
Did the Maverick Senator also point out that the Tet Offensive was actually a staggering military loss for the VC and NVA, and from which it took them years to recover? The only reason it appeared a defeat for us was our dear old MSM, the same culprits this time around!
If Iran continues to supply 'insurgents' with tank destroying weapons, with horrific pictures replayed a dozen times on CNN every night, then we're in trouble. We have to stop them.
Good grief McCain, step away from the cameras. We are stomping butt there, and besides, we will not let Walter Cronkite monopolize & spin the news anymore.
Militarily...yes.
Politically...no.
The insurgents and terrorists in Iraq remember this every time they plant on IED or shoot an American soldier.
It also pretty much ended the Viet Cong as a fighting force, and took out a part of the north's army.
It was a resounding victory for the US and the South Vietnamese, everywhere but in the media. They lied to us.
As an aside, McCain isn't looking too good these dyas - I mean, physically. I don't think he has the health required for the 365x7x24 marathon of a presidential run.
Looks like that tongue-lashing WaPo gave him got him back to bashing Bush.
"By the way, a lot of us are also very concerned about the possibility of a, quote, 'Tet Offensive.' You know, some large-scale tact that could then switch American public opinion the way that the Tet Offensive did," the Arizona senator said.
---
If you look at the work of the dems and their hand puppets,the MSM, we have been experiencing a 'Tet Offensive' since Florida in 2000 and under occupation since.
Geee, maybe he'll remember that WE WON THAT FIGHT.
The attacking North Vietnamese army and the VC were annihilated by the US and South Vietnamese forces! I really hate the media.
We should be mad at the murderers, and instead we let the left make us hate our own president and troops. Sad and morally depraved.
CRONKITE: "I'm was just doing my part to tear down America...."
This is exactly right. General Tom Kelley, a frequent briefer during the first Gulf War, has spoken about this over the years. He really didn't swallow any of the Viet Nam crap the slimy a-holes in the press try to spew.
Sounds like McCain hasn't read his Vietnam history book.
But, hey...none of the other Senators have either.
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.