McCain: President Will Make the Right Decision
EmailSenator John McCain told me this morning that he spoke with the President yesterday on Afghanistan and said he’s “confident the president will make the right decision.”
Here’s the exchange:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Have you spoken directly to the president about your concerns?
MCCAIN: Yesterday.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And what did — what did you say to him?
MCCAIN: We had a good conversation, as we always do. And I pointed out what — the point you made earlier, that, in Iraq, the Maliki government was certainly failing. And this — this election in Afghanistan, it was corrupt. There is corruption from the — the cop on the beat to — to the — to the president's brother, Karzai's brother, and that issue has to be addressed if we're going to succeed. But we're not going to have a chance to succeed if we withdraw. And by the way, we've really got the status quo, which Admiral Mullen and General McChrystal say is not succeeding, or we can implement this new strategy, which is really an old strategy called counterinsurgency, or we'd better get out.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You and the president…
MCCAIN: A half-measure — a half-measure does not do justice. And time is important, because there's 68,000 Americans already there. And casualties will go up.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you concerned that the president is going to choose a half-measure? Or do you see the possibility for a meeting of the minds between you and the president on this?
MCCAIN: I'm very hopeful that the president will make the right decision, which is to — to commit the necessary troops. And, again, as much as I respect Secretary Gates, I'm not sure how you make an informed decision if you don't take into consideration the resources that are necessary to exercise one of those options. And, by the way, I think it's the worst — one of the many worst-kept secrets in Washington. It's 30,000 to 40,000 troops.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And — and he says that decision will come in a few weeks. So what's your betting on what the president's going to do?
MCCAIN: I — I can't bet, but I know what the president said during the campaign about the war in Afghanistan, that we couldn't muddle through. I know the president, as short a time ago as March, said we could not allow the Taliban to achieve — allow Al Qaida back again in Afghanistan to serve as a base for attacks on the United States and our allies. And — and, by the way, the Taliban are not — are not popular with the people of Afghanistan. They don't want to go back to that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So one final question. Does the president get your argument?
MCCAIN: I think the president — as I said, I think he has a very difficult decision. The base of his party, Americans are weary. Understandably they're weary. And it's a very difficult decision for him. But I — I believe he'll make the right decision.
- George Stephanopoulos
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
My son is serving in Afghanistan and the whole theory that we take the fight to the Talliban and Al Queda there that it will keep therorist from our home land was just disproved this last week. That excuse is no more! Our soldiers are there giving their lives every day they have a boot out of their trucks to step on an IED for what? Here we have had the largest threat since 9-11 and so how is this working?
Can you address this?
Posted by: Sandy in Kansas | September 27, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
The government is so corrupt and we can’t support that so there need to be new elections but if Karzi doesn’t agree it’s his country and legally he is elected Pres so that is that. I think we need to get out. It is so dangerous that the Taliban is blowing up the Strykers and then overrunning the soldiers and killing them. It’s to dangerous to go to the combat outposts that we have spent millions building and now the troops have to stay in biger units at the FOBS. The troops don’t get news—my son didn’t even know who won the election. They are killing about 2 US soldiers per day and out of the 5th Brigade 2 differnet battalions they have lost approx 30 men. I pray every day for my son and all those fighting and that our country supports them with good sense and good judgement from the leaders. I praise the President for standing up to the military because more troops on the ground mean many more causalities. When you can’t step out of your truck in your own camp site without stepping on an IED and blowing up——–we don’t need more troops to be in that situation,
Posted by: Sandy in Kansas | September 27, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am
This is not about the President, but “ALL” the people who supported and rally to elect President Obama, needs to get back on the bandwagon. Any President is only as good as the people who elect them. John McCain is now starting some to return to that bandwagon in support of the President. The rest needs to follow his lead. This is about our country the USA. Not trying to conspire on how to bring down a President in power.
Posted by: Pedro Dixon | September 27, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am
Hey Sandy,
My son is in the Styker Brigade. Instead of being at the FOB he is at a smaller combat outpost. His Battalion just lost 3 men killed, 3 wounded a few days ago. My son himself was wounded Aug 29th while on foot patrol when a suicide bomber detonated himself from 15 ft away. My was back on patrol 9 days later. From what he says they are not welcome by the Afghans and if they don’t throw food to the Afghan kids the Afghan kids pelt them with rocks. Either we need to fight down and dirty to win…or we need to get the hell out.
Remember these soldiers in your thoughts and prayers…
Families and friends of 4-23 Infantry,
The Department of Defense (DoD) has published the press release for the x3 KIA soldiers from 24 September 2009:
“ The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Sept. 24 in Omar Zai, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the B Company, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.
Killed were:
Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds, 23, of Columbus, Ohio;
Sgt. Edward B. Smith, 30, of Homestead, Fla.; and
Spc. Joseph V. White, 21, of Bellevue, Wash.”
Please remeber to keep the families and friends of these thre fine soldiers in your thoughs and prayers.
Posted by: Steven | September 27, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
Stop spending our taxpayer money or lack thereof on nation building.
Posted by: Huh | September 27, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Sandy in Kansas, Bless your heart. Our son just returned safely, and I will keep your son in my nightly meditations that he will return safely as well.
Posted by: Tupelo | September 27, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
McCain, during his campaign, also said that Obama is a good man. Liar.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | September 27, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Afghanistan, and western Pakistan aka Waziristan, is where our troops should have been to begin with. NATO nations know they need it shut down also — found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
Posted by: Reg373 | September 27, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Steven, thanks for the post
Sgt. T Reynolds, Sgt.E Smith, and Spc J White RIP. Prayers and concern to their families.
Tupelo, glad your son is home safe and thanks for the prayers for mine.
After the terrorist incident here at home this last week I just had to address that issue that we are keeping them over there by being in Afghanistan. They are already here is quite evident and we just all need to be vigilant at home and be good soldiers to defend our country. I’m only a mom but I understand that. We need the National Guard at home to do that
Posted by: Sandy | September 27, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
Let me get this straight. We have occupation of foreign lands, explosive international debt to where we are selling off our ports (such as the Presidio in SF to China) open borders in Canada AND Mexico, our “National Guard” and military serving as the police force in 130 countries and over 700 bases overseas… like in Germany and Japan… and THIS is seen as keeping US safe? Um, if we keep this up there will be no money for healthcare, policing the streets, education or anything BUT service on our national debt. Watch David Walker talk about our deficts BEFORE the war, and tell me how Obama’s spending spree will do anything to curb our “Weimar Republic” style inflation that is already underway. BOTH these morons support the status quo, (Ahem “Bailouts for Billionaires on the back of the Taxpayers! Government officals who DON’T pay their TAXES!!!) and tell me America can you survive more of the SAME! (More debt, more unemployment, the end of social security and retirement, and failing schools, not to mention unresponsive politicians!!!)
Posted by: jafo | September 27, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
i hear secy gates mention BHO will need several more weeks to evalute what to do in afghanistan, hows that for a president making snap decisions!our troops are dying with each passing day and he dont give a flip. we arent niave, we KNOW he is delaying any afganistan decision so as to not interfere with his healthcare reform, DUH! u remember that rite? the refomr NOBODY wants. wheres the birth certificate barry?
Posted by: realman1963 | September 27, 2009, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
Well at least he isn’t just automatically doing whatever the generals tell him like G Bush did
Posted by: Sandy | September 27, 2009, 5:56 pm 5:56 pm
If Bush hadn’t taken the pressure off Afghanistan, where it belonged, to try to out-macho his dad, we might have taken care of business years ago. Daddy Bush was too smart to go into Iran, because he clearly saw there was no sane exit strategy. So, W. got thousands killed and dumped the whole stinking mess into the laps of the next administration. Swell.
Posted by: Cassandra | September 27, 2009, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
Obama cannot back down from what was his campaign agenda.He said the ball was in Afghanistan. He has no choice but to follow the recomendations from the cmdrs in the field. I know he wants the money for his healthcare plan but he can’t turn away from this. Leaving the afghans will only make things worse.
Posted by: Not a sheep | September 28, 2009, 6:05 am 6:05 am
Catch the “60 Minutes” program of last night that followed around and interviewed Gen. McChrystal. He’s implementing a plan that puts protection of Afghani civilians first priority, for without that, civilian casualties just give rise to more angry insurgents. This guy is bent on whipping everyone in to shape, overcoming the crushing slowness of Pentagon reactions, etc. He seems strong, direct…and decent. But what the heck to do about everyday corruption so rampant there? Where is the force that is righteous enough, and fearless enough, to tackle and punish the guilty parties?
Posted by: CJWright | September 28, 2009, 8:38 am 8:38 am
That’s a vote of one…
Posted by: James L. | September 28, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am
Firstoff our President is addressing this for your son. If we do not have a stragedy 50 thousand troops will not matter. It needs to be determined what is it we want to achieve. With this latest election, no one is sure who won or who will be in power and we need to know that the ones who are in charge will be at our backs should we bring in more soldiers. They need to be friendly to us and our agenda and not just take our money. In Iraq, the people were tired of the ones in charge and wanted the U.S. there. Now, we don’t know what these people want and it won’t hurt to wait a week or two. President Clinton, Mc Cain and Gates all agree it is best to see who is in power and can we work with them. If not, we will pull out and that is the answer. Maybe people don’t want to hear this but why should we endanger more troops if the country is not behind us. We can keep our country safe with other methods, if necessary.
Posted by: talmag | September 28, 2009, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
This is why McCain lost. He’s an old Washington DC idiot. It’s ironic, the CONSERVATIVES wanted change. That’s why McCain lost.
And now you media buffoons have elevated his daughter to some elite republican status.
I swear you do this to punish the conservative movement….
Posted by: brad | September 28, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
John McCain has shown class and courage throughout this past year, showing respectful disagreement when appropriate and agreement where there is some. He is a consummate statesman, giving the president the respect he deserves. And in the process, Sn. McCain has gained my respect even though I did not vote for him. How utterly unlike him his Republican bretheren are! Because of the outrageous and hate-filled lies that permeate the airwaves, their credibility is shot. They have polarized our society into an ugly and mean place with a “us or them” mentality, and if you are not “us” we can attack you and lie all we want. The funny thing is, these people hold up their Christianity and morals like a shield. Hipocrisy at its finest…
Posted by: DaveM | September 29, 2009, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
talmag: thank you for your comments and to all of you who have been so supportive I wasn’t feeling well, and missed the show this Sunday so will try and check out online what I missed. Did the question I proposed get addressed? My origingal question of how us fighting the terrorist there is keeping them from terrorist plots here didn’t work because of a week ago when the biggest terrorist plot was squelched showed the cells are already here? The reason given for us being there no longer exists is what I’m wanting them to address. I am very glad that they are really thinking this over. All the causalities that are happening are due to the fact it is near winter there and the Taliban will retreat to the mountains so they are doing all the damage they can right now. The two cops that were overrun show how aggressive they (Taliban) have become but the investigation this week into the incident in 2006 where the outpost was overrun and so many soldiers killed is before the legislature this week under investigation for being mismanaged by chain of command. We just never heard of that happening because entire focus on Iraq. More to think about. I like what the man in charge in Iraq Gen. Odienro said about how to handle the situation and read an article that the other Generals agreed with him. Reroute troops and supplies going to Iraq to Afghanistan and then send out some troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. I hope someone tells them there is a huge difference in the type of fighting going on. My son sleeps during the day and is patroling the roads in his Stryker every night to keep the roads safe as possible from the Taliban planting IED’s. Out of the 24 Strykers (trucks) sent with the 1-17 they have 1/3 still in operation. Someone look up the cost of a STRYKER and how much money has gone down the drain from that. We are well over the 30 kia for 3 Battalions from the 5/2 SBCT there from Ft.Lewis. My son is with the 5/2 Please keep all our troops in your prayers.
Posted by: Sandy | October 5, 2009, 6:59 am 6:59 am