podesta_email_00558.txt

podesta-emails 4,056 words email

P19 V11 P18 D3 P20

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- mQQBBGBjDtIBH6DJa80zDBgR+VqlYGaXu5bEJg9HEgAtJeCLuThdhXfl5Zs32RyB I1QjIlttvngepHQozmglBDmi2FZ4S+wWhZv10bZCoyXPIPwwq6TylwPv8+buxuff B6tYil3VAB9XKGPyPjKrlXn1fz76VMpuTOs7OGYR8xDidw9EHfBvmb+sQyrU1FOW aPHxba5lK6hAo/KYFpTnimsmsz0Cvo1sZAV/EFIkfagiGTL2J/NhINfGPScpj8LB bYelVN/NU4c6Ws1ivWbfcGvqU4lymoJgJo/l9HiV6X2bdVyuB24O3xeyhTnD7laf epykwxODVfAt4qLC3J478MSSmTXS8zMumaQMNR1tUUYtHCJC0xAKbsFukzbfoRDv m2zFCCVxeYHvByxstuzg0SurlPyuiFiy2cENek5+W8Sjt95nEiQ4suBldswpz1Kv n71t7vd7zst49xxExB+tD+vmY7GXIds43Rb05dqksQuo2yCeuCbY5RBiMHX3d4nU 041jHBsv5wY24j0N6bpAsm/s0T0Mt7IO6UaN33I712oPlclTweYTAesW3jDpeQ7A ioi0CMjWZnRpUxorcFmzL/Cc/fPqgAtnAL5GIUuEOqUf8AlKmzsKcnKZ7L2d8mxG QqN16nlAiUuUpchQNMr+tAa1L5S1uK/fu6thVlSSk7KMQyJfVpwLy6068a1WmNj4 yxo9HaSeQNXh3cui+61qb9wlrkwlaiouw9+bpCmR0V8+XpWma/D/TEz9tg5vkfNo eG4t+FUQ7QgrrvIkDNFcRyTUO9cJHB+kcp2NgCcpCwan3wnuzKka9AWFAitpoAwx L6BX0L8kg/LzRPhkQnMOrj/tuu9hZrui4woqURhWLiYi2aZe7WCkuoqR/qMGP6qP EQRcvndTWkQo6K9BdCH4ZjRqcGbY1wFt/qgAxhi+uSo2IWiM1fRI4eRCGifpBtYK Dw44W9uPAu4cgVnAUzESEeW0bft5XXxAqpvyMBIdv3YqfVfOElZdKbteEu4YuOao FLpbk4ajCxO4Fzc9AugJ8iQOAoaekJWA7TjWJ6CbJe8w3thpznP0w6jNG8ZleZ6a jHckyGlx5wzQTRLVT5+wK6edFlxKmSd93jkLWWCbrc0Dsa39OkSTDmZPoZgKGRhp Yc0C4jePYreTGI6p7/H3AFv84o0fjHt5fn4GpT1Xgfg+1X/wmIv7iNQtljCjAqhD 6XN+QiOAYAloAym8lOm9zOoCDv1TSDpmeyeP0rNV95OozsmFAUaKSUcUFBUfq9FL uyr+rJZQw2DPfq2wE75PtOyJiZH7zljCh12fp5yrNx6L7HSqwwuG7vGO4f0ltYOZ dPKzaEhCOO7o108RexdNABEBAAG0Rldpa2lMZWFrcyBFZGl0b3JpYWwgT2ZmaWNl IEhpZ2ggU2VjdXJpdHkgQ29tbXVuaWNhdGlvbiBLZXkgKDIwMjEtMjAyNCmJBDEE EwEKACcFAmBjDtICGwMFCQWjmoAFCwkIBwMFFQoJCAsFFgIDAQACHgECF4AACgkQ nG3NFyg+RUzRbh+eMSKgMYOdoz70u4RKTvev4KyqCAlwji+1RomnW7qsAK+l1s6b ugOhOs8zYv2ZSy6lv5JgWITRZogvB69JP94+Juphol6LIImC9X3P/bcBLw7VCdNA mP0XQ4OlleLZWXUEW9EqR4QyM0RkPMoxXObfRgtGHKIkjZYXyGhUOd7MxRM8DBzN yieFf3CjZNADQnNBk/ZWRdJrpq8J1W0dNKI7IUW2yCyfdgnPAkX/lyIqw4ht5UxF VGrva3PoepPir0TeKP3M0BMxpsxYSVOdwcsnkMzMlQ7TOJlsEdtKQwxjV6a1vH+t k4TpR4aG8fS7ZtGzxcxPylhndiiRVwdYitr5nKeBP69aWH9uLcpIzplXm4DcusUc Bo8KHz+qlIjs03k8hRfqYhUGB96nK6TJ0xS7tN83WUFQXk29fWkXjQSp1Z5dNCcT sWQBTxWxwYyEI8iGErH2xnok3HTyMItdCGEVBBhGOs1uCHX3W3yW2CooWLC/8Pia qgss3V7m4SHSfl4pDeZJcAPiH3Fm00wlGUslVSziatXW3499f2QdSyNDw6Qc+chK hUFflmAaavtpTqXPk+Lzvtw5SSW+iRGmEQICKzD2chpy05mW5v6QUy+G29nchGDD rrfpId2Gy1VoyBx8FAto4+6BOWVijrOj9Boz7098huotDQgNoEnidvVdsqP+P1RR QJekr97idAV28i7iEOLd99d6qI5xRqc3/QsV+y2ZnnyKB10uQNVPLgUkQljqN0wP XmdVer+0X+aeTHUd1d64fcc6M0cpYefNNRCsTsgbnWD+x0rjS9RMo+Uosy41+IxJ 6qIBhNrMK6fEmQoZG3qTRPYYrDoaJdDJERN2E5yLxP2SPI0rWNjMSoPEA/gk5L91 m6bToM/0VkEJNJkpxU5fq5834s3PleW39ZdpI0HpBDGeEypo/t9oGDY3Pd7JrMOF zOTohxTyu4w2Ql7jgs+7KbO9PH0Fx5dTDmDq66jKIkkC7DI0QtMQclnmWWtn14BS KTSZoZekWESVYhORwmPEf32EPiC9t8zDRglXzPGmJAPISSQz+Cc9o1ipoSIkoCCh 2MWoSbn3KFA53vgsYd0vS/+Nw5aUksSleorFns2yFgp/w5Ygv0D007k6u3DqyRLB W5y6tJLvbC1ME7jCBoLW6nFEVxgDo727pqOpMVjGGx5zcEokPIRDMkW/lXjw+fTy c6misESDCAWbgzniG/iyt77Kz711unpOhw5aemI9LpOq17AiIbjzSZYt6b1Aq7Wr aB+C1yws2ivIl9ZYK911A1m69yuUg0DPK+uyL7Z86XC7hI8B0IY1MM/MbmFiDo6H dkfwUckE74sxxeJrFZKkBbkEAQRgYw7SAR+gvktRnaUrj/84Pu0oYVe49nPEcy/7 5Fs6LvAwAj+JcAQPW3uy7D7fuGFEQguasfRrhWY5R87+g5ria6qQT2/Sf19Tpngs d0Dd9DJ1MMTaA1pc5F7PQgoOVKo68fDXfjr76n1NchfCzQbozS1HoM8ys3WnKAw+ Neae9oymp2t9FB3B+To4nsvsOM9KM06ZfBILO9NtzbWhzaAyWwSrMOFFJfpyxZAQ 8VbucNDHkPJjhxuafreC9q2f316RlwdS+XjDggRY6xD77fHtzYea04UWuZidc5zL VpsuZR1nObXOgE+4s8LU5p6fo7jL0CRxvfFnDhSQg2Z617flsdjYAJ2JR4apg3Es G46xWl8xf7t227/0nXaCIMJI7g09FeOOsfCmBaf/ebfiXXnQbK2zCbbDYXbrYgw6 ESkSTt940lHtynnVmQBvZqSXY93MeKjSaQk1VKyobngqaDAIIzHxNCR941McGD7F qHHM2YMTgi6XXaDThNC6u5msI1l/24PPvrxkJxjPSGsNlCbXL2wqaDgrP6LvCP9O uooR9dVRxaZXcKQjeVGxrcRtoTSSyZimfjEercwi9RKHt42O5akPsXaOzeVjmvD9 EB5jrKBe/aAOHgHJEIgJhUNARJ9+dXm7GofpvtN/5RE6qlx11QGvoENHIgawGjGX Jy5oyRBS+e+KHcgVqbmV9bvIXdwiC4BDGxkXtjc75hTaGhnDpu69+Cq016cfsh+0 XaRnHRdh0SZfcYdEqqjn9CTILfNuiEpZm6hYOlrfgYQe1I13rgrnSV+EfVCOLF4L P9ejcf3eCvNhIhEjsBNEUDOFAA6J5+YqZvFYtjk3efpM2jCg6XTLZWaI8kCuADMu yrQxGrM8yIGvBndrlmmljUqlc8/Nq9rcLVFDsVqb9wOZjrCIJ7GEUD6bRuolmRPE SLrpP5mDS+wetdhLn5ME1e9JeVkiSVSFIGsumZTNUaT0a90L4yNj5gBE40dvFplW 7TLeNE/ewDQk5LiIrfWuTUn3CqpjIOXxsZFLjieNgofX1nSeLjy3tnJwuTYQlVJO 3CbqH1k6cOIvE9XShnnuxmiSoav4uZIXnLZFQRT9v8UPIuedp7TO8Vjl0xRTajCL PdTk21e7fYriax62IssYcsbbo5G5auEdPO04H/+v/hxmRsGIr3XYvSi4ZWXKASxy a/jHFu9zEqmy0EBzFzpmSx+FrzpMKPkoU7RbxzMgZwIYEBk66Hh6gxllL0JmWjV0 iqmJMtOERE4NgYgumQT3dTxKuFtywmFxBTe80BhGlfUbjBtiSrULq59np4ztwlRT wDEAVDoZbN57aEXhQ8jjF2RlHtqGXhFMrg9fALHaRQARAQABiQQZBBgBCgAPBQJg Yw7SAhsMBQkFo5qAAAoJEJxtzRcoPkVMdigfoK4oBYoxVoWUBCUekCg/alVGyEHa ekvFmd3LYSKX/WklAY7cAgL/1UlLIFXbq9jpGXJUmLZBkzXkOylF9FIXNNTFAmBM 3TRjfPv91D8EhrHJW0SlECN+riBLtfIQV9Y1BUlQthxFPtB1G1fGrv4XR9Y4TsRj VSo78cNMQY6/89Kc00ip7tdLeFUHtKcJs+5EfDQgagf8pSfF/TWnYZOMN2mAPRRf fh3SkFXeuM7PU/X0B6FJNXefGJbmfJBOXFbaSRnkacTOE9caftRKN1LHBAr8/RPk pc9p6y9RBc/+6rLuLRZpn2W3m3kwzb4scDtHHFXXQBNC1ytrqdwxU7kcaJEPOFfC XIdKfXw9AQll620qPFmVIPH5qfoZzjk4iTH06Yiq7PI4OgDis6bZKHKyyzFisOkh DXiTuuDnzgcu0U4gzL+bkxJ2QRdiyZdKJJMswbm5JDpX6PLsrzPmN314lKIHQx3t NNXkbfHL/PxuoUtWLKg7/I3PNnOgNnDqCgqpHJuhU1AZeIkvewHsYu+urT67tnpJ AK1Z4CgRxpgbYA4YEV1rWVAPHX1u1okcg85rc5FHK8zh46zQY1wzUTWubAcxqp9K 1IqjXDDkMgIX2Z2fOA1plJSwugUCbFjn4sbT0t0YuiEFMPMB42ZCjcCyA1yysfAd DYAmSer1bq47tyTFQwP+2ZnvW/9p3yJ4oYWzwMzadR3T0K4sgXRC2Us9nPL9k2K5 TRwZ07wE2CyMpUv+hZ4ja13A/1ynJZDZGKys+pmBNrO6abxTGohM8LIWjS+YBPIq trxh8jxzgLazKvMGmaA6KaOGwS8vhfPfxZsu2TJaRPrZMa/HpZ2aEHwxXRy4nm9G Kx1eFNJO6Ues5T7KlRtl8gflI5wZCCD/4T5rto3SfG0s0jr3iAVb3NCn9Q73kiph PSwHuRxcm+hWNszjJg3/W+Fr8fdXAh5i0JzMNscuFAQNHgfhLigenq+BpCnZzXya 01kqX24AdoSIbH++vvgE0Bjj6mzuRrH5VJ1Qg9nQ+yMjBWZADljtp3CARUbNkiIg tUJ8IJHCGVwXZBqY4qeJc3h/RiwWM2UIFfBZ+E06QPznmVLSkwvvop3zkr4eYNez cIKUju8vRdW6sxaaxC/GECDlP0Wo6lH0uChpE3NJ1daoXIeymajmYxNt+drz7+pd jMqjDtNA2rgUrjptUgJK8ZLdOQ4WCrPY5pP9ZXAO7+mK7S3u9CTywSJmQpypd8hv 8Bu8jKZdoxOJXxj8CphK951eNOLYxTOxBUNB8J2lgKbmLIyPvBvbS1l1lCM5oHlw WXGlp70pspj3kaX4mOiFaWMKHhOLb+er8yh8jspM184= =5a6T -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Iraq Campaign 2008 www.americansunitedforchange.org <http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeremy Funk, 202.470.5878 DATE: August 19th, 2008 The Elephant Still Very Much in the Room One Month Ago Today, Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki Endorsed Obama Timetable for U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq...and Put John McCain in a Tough Spot When asked in and interview with SPIEGEL when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded "as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned." He then continued: "US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes." [SPIEGEL, 7/19/08 <http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,566841,00.html> ] One Month Later and Sen. John McCain Remains in Total State-of-Denial <http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/mccain_on_malik is_endorsement.php> of the Iraqi Government's Wishes and At Total Odds With His 2004 Statement That "I think it's obvious that we would have to leave" <http://www.democracyarsenal.org/2008/07/in-2004-mccain.html> if a Sovereign Iraqi Government Asked Us To John McCain Stands Alone The Iraqi Government Wants U.S. Out of Iraq... Iraqi Prime Minister Endorsed Obama Timetable for Withdrawal from Iraq. According to FOXNews.com, "Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told a German magazine that he supports Barack Obama's plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office. The apparent endorsement of a cornerstone of Obama's foreign policy drew swift praise from the Obama campaign..."U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes," al-Maliki told the magazine Der Spiegel. He said he wants U.S. troops to leave "as soon as possible." [FoxNews.com, 7/19/08 <http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/19/maliki-i-support-obamas-withdra wal-timetable/> ] Iraq's National security Adviser: No Deal with U.S. Unless it Sets Specific Dates for Withdrawal. According to the Associated Press, Iraq's national security adviser said [on July 8, 2008] his country will not accept any deal with the United States unless the agreement sets specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces..."Our stance in the negotiations underway with the American side will be strong," [Mouwaffak al-]Rubaie said. "We will not accept any memorandum of understanding that doesn't have specific dates to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq." [Associated Press, 7/8/08 <http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/08/mideast/09iraq.php> ] Iraqi parliament opposes security agreement without timetable for withdrawal. According to Politico, "Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) released a letter <http://www.politico.com/static/PPM43_080604_iraqparliamentltr6408.html> [on June 4th, 2008] from 31 Iraqi legislators asserting that the proposed agreement is opposed by a majority of the parliament if it does not include a specific timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. military troops." [Politico, 6/4/2008 <http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0608/Iraqi_parliament_opposes_se curity_agreement_without_timetable_for_withdrawal_.html> ] The American People STILL Want Troops Home From Iraq... 62 Percent of Americans Favor Timetable for Withdrawal from Iraq. According to CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll conducted July 27-29, 2008, 62 percent of respondents replied "Set a Timetable" to the question: "Which comes closer to your view about U.S. troops in Iraq? The U.S. should set a timetable for withdrawal by announcing that it will remove all of its troops from Iraq by a certain date. The U.S. should keep troops in Iraq as long as necessary without setting any timetable for withdrawal." [PollingReport.com, Accessed 8/19/08 <http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm> ] Most of America's Top-Foreign Policy Experts Want U.S. Troops Out of Iraq and the Eye on the Ball in Afghanistan Where it Belongs... According to a new report from the Center for American Progress, "almost 70 percent [of America's top foreign policy experts] recommend that the majority of U.S. forces be withdrawn from and redeployed to Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf in the next 18 months. ['The Terrorism Index,' AmericanProgress.org, 8/18/08 <http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/08/terrorism_index.html> ] The Troops Themselves Are Rejecting McCain's Endless War Policy... Troops Deployed Abroad Give 6:1 to Obama Over McCain. According to an analysis of campaign contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Democrat Barack Obama <http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cid=N00009638&cycle=2008> has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain <http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cid=N00006424&cycle=2008> , and the fiercely anti-war Ron Paul <http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?cid=N00005906&cycle=2008> , though he suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination months ago, has received more than four times McCain's haul. [OpenSecrets.org, 8/14/08 <http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/08/troops-deployed-abroad-give-61. html> ] Even Bush Agrees to "time horizon" in Iraq... President Bush Agrees to "time horizon" in Iraq. According to the Washingon Post, " President Bush and Iraq's prime minister have agreed to set a "time horizon" for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq as part of a long-term security accord they are trying to negotiate by the end of the month, White House officials said yesterday." [ Washington Post, 7/19/08 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR20080 71801308.html> ] But, John McCain Knows Better Than Us... His Better Judgment Tells Him to Spend $12 Billion a Month Keeping U.S. Troops in the Crosshairs of Iraqi Civil Conflicts for '100 Years' <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFknKVjuyNk> or More... FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Aug 18 18 Aug 2008 20:16:43 GMT Source: Reuters: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ANW828684.htm Aug 18 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 2015 GMT on Monday. * denotes new or updated items * RAMADI - A suicide car bomber killed five policemen and wounded seven in an attack on a police checkpoint in Ramadi, capital of Iraq's western Anbar province, police said. * BAGHDAD - Two journalists for the Afaq satelite television channel and their driver were wounded by a grenade thrown at their car in Baghdad's central Allawi district on Sunday, the Iraq Media Safety Group said in a statement. NEAR ABUL KHASIB - Gunmen killed two people working for Iraq's electoral commission and wounded another person in a drive-by shooting near the town of Abul Khasib, some 460 km (285 miles) southeast of Baghdad, police said. BAGHDAD - Three police officers and a civilian were wounded in roadside bomb that exploded in the Karrada district of central Baghdad, police said. BAGHDAD - Iraqi forces killed three militants and arrested 33 others during last the 24 hours in different areas in Iraq, Defence Ministry said in a statement. MOSUL - A roadside bomb wounded three prison guards in eastern Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb wounded five people, including three policemen, when it exploded in the Mansour district of western Baghdad, police said. BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb wounded nine people, including three policemen, when it exploded near a U.S. military patrol in the Yarmouk district of western Baghdad, police said. BAGHDAD - Gunmen killed a Shi'ite cleric and wounded his wife when they opened fire on the couple's car in Zaafaraniya district of southeastern Baghdad, police said. BAGHDAD - U.S. forces detained 11 militants on Sunday and Monday during operations targeting al Qaeda in central and northern Iraq, the U.S. military said. MOSUL - Gunmen killed a religious leader on Sunday outside a mosque in central Mosul, police said. This is The Same Judgment That Led John McCain to... Declare in 2002 that Hussein Continued To Acquire, Amass And Improve On His Arsenal of Weapons of Mass Destruction. During a floor debate on the floor of the senate, McCain said, "Saddam Hussein continues to acquire, amass, and improve on his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. He continues to attempt to acquire a nuclear weapon. These are all well-known facts. So if you believe that Saddam Hussein....is not going to abandon his request for his weapons, then the longer we wait, the more dangerous he becomes." [Asheville Citizen-Times, 10/13/02; emphasis added] Declare that "The Iraqi People Will Greet Us As Liberators." While appearing on NBC's The Today Show, McCain said, "But I believe, Katie, that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators. I believe that they will have an opportunity over time, and it will be difficult, to realize the same hopes and dreams and aspirations that every person in the world has and deserves the opportunity to live in a free and open society." [NBC, "The Today Show," 3/20/03] Declare that The War In Iraq Would Be "One of The Best Things That's Happened To America." While appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, McCain said, "We're going to be all right. We're going to prevail and we will win and it'll be one of the best things that's happened to America and the world in a long time 'cause it'll reverberate throughout the Middle East." [NBC, "Meet the Press," 3/30/03] Predict That "There's Not A History Of Clashes That Are Violent Between Suunis And Shiahs, So I Think They Can Probably Get Along." While appearing on Hardball, McCain said, "There's not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along." [MSNBC, "Hardball," 4/23/03] Predict that the Iraqi Oil Reserves Would Cover The Cost of War. During an interview with National Journal, McCain said, "Everybody now is talking of post-Saddam Hussein Iraq. I look on it with optimism and hope. As far as the cost is concerned, Iraqis have vast oil reserves and they, I'm sure, would shoulder the cost of the transition." However, according to the New York Times, "Soaring oil prices will leave the Iraqi government with a cumulative budget surplus of as much as $79 billion by year's end, according to an American federal oversight agency. But Iraq <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritorie s/iraq/index.html?inline=nyt-geo> has spent only a minute fraction of that on reconstruction costs, which are now largely borne by the United States. [National Journal, 2/15/03; New York Times, 8/5/08 <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/world/middleeast/06surplus.html?8br> ] Erroneously and Repeatedly State That Al Qaeda Was Being Trained By Iran. While speaking in Jordan, McCain said it was, "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." According to the HuffingtonPost, McCain made the same erroneous statement three times in two days. [Washington Post, 3/18/08 <http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/18/a_mccain_gaffe_in_j ordan_1.html> ; Huffington Post, 3/19/08 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/mccain-repeats-iranal-qa_n_923 49.html> ] This is the Same Judgment That Tells John McCain... ...To Keep Short Changing So Many Priorities Here at Home Like Veterans <http://www.mccainsource.com/homefront?id=0008> and Children's <http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/27/mccain-children/> Healthcare -- to Keep Making Us Less Safe By Stretching Out Military to the Breaking Point in Iraq While Keeping the Eye Off the Ball in Afghanistan Why? Because John McCain Just Knows Better. Say, Senator '"[T]hat's not too important" <http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/11/mccain-iraq-important/> when U.S. troops come home' McCain - Where Do You See the Goal Post in Iraq This Week? Where's the Goal Post in Iraq This Week, Sen. McCain? Early 2003: The End is "Very Much in Sight." McCain Predicted a "Brief, Successful War In Iraq." While speaking on the floor of the senate on the day before U.S. military action commenced in Iraq, McCain said, "The costs of these enterprises are not known with any degree of certainty at this time. Nor are the costs we will incur after what I believe, what I fervently, hope, will be a brief, successful war in Iraq, as we seek to establish the foundations for a peaceful, stable and democratizing Iraq." He added, "I believe the war in Iraq can be concluded successfully in a relatively brief time." [McCain Senate Press Release, 3/18/03] McCain Believed The War In Iraq Would Be Relatively Short. While appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," McCain said, "I believe that this conflict is still going to be relatively short. I believe we've achieved significant goals and successes." [NBC, "Meet the Press," 3/30/03] In 2003 McCain Said The End Was "Very Much In Sight." Senator McCain was asked "At what point will America be able to say the war was won?" McCain said there were oil fields to secure and "die-hards" to take care of but "it's clear that the end is very much in sight, and today I think Americans should be very proud of their leadership, their technology...There are still some foreigners, Syrians and others hanging around. But it won't be long. It will be a fairly short period of time, but this happens in wars. I'm confident that once they are confident the area is no longer a threat to the Marines and to or army troops that they'll start imposing discipline. In the meantime, we'll have a short period of chaos." [ABC, Good Morning America, 4/9/03, emphasis added] In April 2003, McCain Said He Was "Sure" The End Of Conflict In Iraq Was Near. While appearing on "Lou Dobbs Moneyline," Dobbs asked McCain, "Is it your judgment that we are near the end of this conflict?" To which McCain replied, "Oh, I'm sure that's true." [CNN, "Lou Dobbs Moneyline," 4/10/03] October 2003: Five Years? McCain Predicted The War Would Take "Four Or Five Years." During an appearance on ABC's Nightline, Ted Koppel asked McCain how much more money the war would cost. He said, "Estimates I hear as much as 50 to $55 billion more." When asked, "Over a course of how many years?" McCain answered, "Four or five years." [ABC, "Nightline," 10/1/03] November 2003: A Few Months? McCain Said "We Would Probably Know Within The Next Few Months" If America Won Or Lost In Iraq. During an appearance on MSNBC's "Buchanan & Press," McCain was asked what "victory" in Iraq was. McCain said, "I think the next three to six months are very critical in this whole scenario because the Iraqi people don't want to go back to Saddam Hussein. They're not crazy. But many of them in the Sunni Triangle are losing any confidence that the United States can bring them what their ambitions are all about for themselves and their families. So I think we're in a very critical time. And we would probably know within the next few months." [MSNBC, "Buchanan & Press," 11/6/03] 2004: Five Years? McCain Said "Listen, My Friend, We're Going To Have To Be There For Five or Six Years." During a February 2004 appearance on MSNBC's "Hardball," McCain discussed the war in Iraq and said, "Listen, my friend, we're going to be there for five or six years. A little straight talk. We're going. We're going to have to be there for quite a while." [MSNBC, "Hardball," 2/25/04] Early-2005: One Year? McCain: "I Would Think That It's Going To Be Another Year To A Year And A Half." During an appearance on CBS's "The Early Show," McCain was asked "What is a realistic timetable" regarding the war in Iraq? McCain said, "If I had to guess, I would think that it's going to be at least another year to a year and a half, but, hopefully before then we could have our troops out of a lot of the areas where they're vulnerable to casualties." [CBS, "The Early Show," 2/3/05] Mid-2005: A Couple of More Years? McCain: "I Think Part Of That Is It's Going To Be, At Least, A Couple More Years." While appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," McCain said, "I don't think Americans believe that we should cut and run out of Iraq by any stretch of the imagination. But I think they also would like to be told, in reality, what's going on and, by the way, I think part of that is it's going to be, at least, a couple more years." [NBC, "Meet the Press," 6/19/05] McCain: "I Think We Should Tell People It's Not Going To Be A Short-I'd Rather Say Two Or Three Years." While appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," McCain said, "And, again, I think we should tell people it's not going to be a short--I'd rather say two or three years, and be surprised a year from now, than say, 'Everything's fine,' and then be disappointed a year or two from now." [NBC, "Meet the Press," 6/19/05] McCain: I Think It's Very Possible "Within The Next Year or Two." While appearing on "Meet the Press," McCain said, "I think it's going to be long and hard and tough." Tim Russert asked, "Years?" McCain responded by saying, "Well, when I say years, I think that it's very possible within the next year or two that you could see this transition taking place, but the American troops being a supplement rather than being replaced by, in other words, most of the effort being carried on over time by the Iraqis, but it's going to be tough. " [NBC, "Meet the Press," 12/4/05] 2006: Months? McCain: "We're Either Going To Lose This Thing or Win this Thing Within the Next Several Months." While appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," McCain said, "If you talk to most military experts, we're in a critical and crucial time. We're either going to lose this thing or win this thing within the next several months." [NBC, "Meet the Press," 11/12/06] Early 2007: Ten Years? McCain Said Americans Could Be Persuaded To Support The War For 5 to 10 Years. According to the Houston Chronicle, while at the opening of the Center for the Intrepid, "McCain said it was important for America to 'accomplish the mission' in Iraq, but said he didn't know how long that would take. He said Americans could be persuaded to support the conflict another five to 10 years 'if we can show progress.'" [Houston Chronicle, 1/30/07] Mid 2007: "I Don't Have A Date" McCain Said "I Don't Have A Date" When Asked About The End of The War. While discussing the war in Iraq on NBC's "Meet the Press," McCain said, "If it is only in a role that is of support and American casualties are minimal, then I think it's probably worth the investment. If the level of casualties stays where it is, and we do not have success, then we know that that will be a condition that we cannot stand before." Tim Russert then asked, "By when?" to which McCain replied, "I don't have a date, I think that the important thing is whether we assess as we move along." [NBC, "Meet the Press," 5/13/07; emphasis added] Early 2008: Months? McCain Said Winning The War "Is Going To Take Months." During an interview with the editorial board of the Detroit News, McCain was asked, "Can we win this war? And how long will it take?" McCain responded, "It is going to take months. Al-Qaida is on the run, but it is not defeated. [The Iraqi military] can be effective with our support. I know how frustrated all of us are with the lack of effectiveness of the Iraqi government. ... Whoever invented this form of government ought to be taken out and shot. There has been some progress..." [Detroit News, 1/3/08] Early 2008: A Hundred Years? McCain Said US Could Stay In Iraq for "Maybe A Hundred Years" and He Was "Fine" With It. In January 2008, McCain said the U.S. military could stay in Iraq for "a hundred years" and that "would be fine with me." At a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, a questioner said, "President Bush is talking about our staying in Iraq for 50 year," at which point McCain interrupted and said, "Make it a hundred. We've been in South Korea, we've been in Japan for 60 years, we've been in South Korea for 50 years or so. That'd be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured, or harmed, or wounded, or killed. That's fine with me, I hope it would be fine with you." [Town Hall Meeting in Concord, NH, 1/3/08 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LEFrZCNqss> ; emphasis added] McCain: "I Don't Think Americans Are Concerned If We're There For 100 Years Or 1,000 Years Or 10,000 Years." In an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation," host Bob Schieffer asked McCain about staying in Iraq for 100 year. McCain responded, "We've got to get Americans off the front line, have the Iraqis as part of the strategy, take over more and more of the responsibilities. And then I don't think Americans are concerned if we're there for 100 years or 1,000 years or 10,000 years. What they care about is a sacrifice of our most precious treasure, and that's American blood. So what I'm saying is look, if Americans are there in a support role, but they're not taking casualties, that's fine. We're in Kuwait now. As you well recall, we had a war, we stayed in Kuwait. We didn't stay in Saudi Arabia. So it's going to be up to the relationship between the Iraqi government and the United States of America." [CBS, "Face the Nation," 1/06/08; emphasis added] McCain: "It Doesn't Matter...We Could Be There For A Hundred Years, For All I Know." During an interview with the editorial board of the Detroit News, McCain was asked, "When should the United States leave Iraq?" McCain responded, "It doesn't matter. We're still in Kuwait since the first Gulf War. If we can continue to show this progress, we could be there for 100 years, for all I know, as long as Americans are not dying. It's not a matter of American presence; it's a matter of success so we can beat back this adversary. If we'd done what they wanted us to do six months ago, al-Qaida would now be trumpeting to the world that it defeated the United States of America." [Detroit News, 1/3/08,emphasis added] McCain: "We're Going To Be In This Struggle For The Rest of The Century." While speaking at a town hall meeting in Sun City Center, Florida, McCain said, "I'd like to look you in the eye and tell you there's not gonna be any more wars. I'd like to look you in the eyes and tell you that this terrible evil called radical Islamic extremism is defeated. I can't do that. I've got to tell you that we're gonna be in this struggle for the rest of this century because it's a transcendent evil." [Town Hall Meeting; Sun City Center, FL 01/26/08; emphasis added] McCain: "We Are In A Greater Struggle That Is Going To Be With Us For The Rest of This Century." While giving a speech in Nashua, New Hampshire, We are in two wars. We are in a greater struggle that is going to be with us for the rest of this century... He added, "These young people that are in this crowd, my friends, I'm going to be asking you to serve. I'm gonna be asking you to step forward and serve this nation in difficult times." [Speech in Nashua, New Hampshire, 1/7/08; emphasis added] Mid 2008: "Not too important" when troops come home - No, wait, make it "2013" On NBC's "Today Show," John McCain said bringing American troops home was "not too important." In an interview on NBC's Today Show, host Matt Lauer asked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) about his support for the war in Iraq. Noting that violence has decreased in Iraq, Lauer asked if McCain has a better "estimate" of when he would withdraw troops from the country. McCain responded: "No, but that's not too important. What's important is the casualties in Iraq. Americans are in South Korea. Americans are in Japan. American troops are in Germany. That's all fine. [NBC's Today Show, 6/11/08] McCain: Iraq War will be won by 2013: "By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq war has been won." [McCain Remarks, 5/15/08 <http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/e8114732-e294-4a0d-b0 b6-e5fa16857f61.htm> ] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Jeremy J. Funk Communications Director, Americans United for Change Office: 202.470.5878 Mobile: 605.366.3654 [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> www.americansunitedforchange.org ---------------------------------------------------------------- Jeremy J. Funk Communications Director, Americans United for Change Office: 202.470.5878 Mobile: 605.366.3654 [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> www.americansunitedforchange.org --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the "big campaign" group. To post to this group, send to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] E-mail [email protected] with questions or concerns This is a list of individuals. It is not affiliated with any group or organization. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---