DNC Calls on McCain to Apologize to Troops
March 5, 2007
The Democratic National Committee called on John McCain to apologize to American troops and their families who've served in Iraq for telling David Letterman on the Late Show last night that "American lives" are being "wasted" there. [CBS Late Show, 2/28/07]
McCain's sudden shift of rhetoric no doubt reflects his drop in support among moderates and Independents as a result of his staunch support of the war. As the Washington Post pointed out today, McCain now trails in the Republican presidential primary 44 percent to 21 percent, a further slide from the 34 percent to 27 percent disadvantage he held a month ago. [Washington Post, 3/1/2007]
McCain's attempt to have it both ways, however, is hindered by the fact that just last November he asserted that it would be "immoral" to have troops dying in Iraq "for a failed policy." If he now says that troops' lives are being "wasted," then in addition to insulting our brave troops and their families who are making the ultimate sacrifice, it further undermines his questionable effort to help the Bush Administration send over 20,000 more American troops into the Iraqi civil war. [CBS Late Show, 2/28/07; ABC News, 11/19/06]
"Senator McCain should apologize immediately for his comments," said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. "McCain should also explain this poll-driven change in his tune. How is it that John McCain now believes American lives are being 'wasted,' yet he so stubbornly supports the President's plan to escalate the war in Iraq and put more American lives in harm's way? Clearly in looking at his sinking poll numbers, he really will do or say just about anything to win."
McCain Now Says Troops Lives Have Been "Wasted". On the Late Show with David Letterman John McCain said, "American[s] are very frustrated and they have every right to be. We wasted a lot of our most precious treasure, which is American lives over there." [CBS Late Show, 2/28/07]
But McCain Said It Was "Immoral" To Keep Troops In Iraq "Fighting and Dying for a Failed Policy." When asked, "by your own standards, isn't it currently immoral to keep marines and soldiers, other service people in Iraq," McCain agreed saying there weren't enough troops currently to win. McCain said, "Yes, it is, and we've got to ask some questions, one, are we winning and I think the answer is no...Do we have enough troops to do all that? No, we do not." McCain went on to say of our fighting force in Iraq, "they're fighting and dying for a failed policy." [ABC News, 11/19/06]
And Even Called a Short Surge the "Worst Of All Worlds." Speaking before the American Enterprise Institute, John McCain emphasized the importance of a sustained troop increase in Iraq, as opposed to a short term surge in forces. McCain noted that "there are two keys" to a troops surge, saying, "to be a value the surge must be substantial and it must be sustained." McCain called for a "large number of troops," calling for an additional 3-5 brigades in Baghdad and one brigade in Anbar province as the "minimum" necessary. McCain added that the increase in troops can only be reduced with mission completion, not a timetable, criticizing a short surge, saying, "the presence of additional brigades should be tied to completion of their mission rather than to some arbitrary deadline. The worst of all worlds would be a small, short surge of U.S. Forces." McCain believes a sustained force increase is necessary to reach an end in Iraq, noting that "by controlling the violence be we can pave the way for a political settlement." [McCain, AEI Speech, 1/5/07]
