McCain Flips on Afghanistan, Echoes Obama Position
Posted by Matt Ortega on July 15, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Campaigning in New Mexico this afternoon, John McCain flipped on increasing American forces in Afghanistan:
Part way into his speech today about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and national security, Republican presidential contender John McCain said this:"Our commanders on the ground in Afghanistan say that they need at least three additional brigades. Thanks to the success of the surge, these forces are becoming available, and our commanders in Afghanistan must get them."A week ago, McCain's advisers said he would rely mostly on additional NATO troops and on Pakistan's military, not more U.S. forces, to bring more pressure to bear on Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Senator Barack Obama, with the judgment to lead, beat John McCain to it by about 18 months. Speaking to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2006, Senator Obama outlined his views on Iraq, and recommended increasing American forces in Afghanistan.
"We cannot compromise on the safety of our troops, and we should be willing to adjust to realities on the ground," he said.He proposed redeploying troops to Northern Iraq and to other countries in the region. He recommended boosting troop strength in Afghanistan, "where our lack of focus and commitment of resources has led to an increasing deterioration of the security situation there."
"For only through this phase redeployment can we send a clear message to the Iraqi factions that the United States is not going to hold together this country indefinitely — that it will be up to them to form a viable government that can effectively run and secure Iraq," he said.
Update: Within a matter of minutes of his appearance in New Mexico, John McCain flipped on Afghanistan yet again.
In an interview with reporters aboard his campaign bus, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) modified his assertion today that the U.S. could send three additional brigades to Afghanistan by drawing on troops that were leaving Iraq.The presumptive GOP nominee, who made his initial remarks in a speech before an Albuquerque audience, told reporters just minutes after the event that he might call on NATO to supply part of the additional troops he hopes to send to the region.
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