McCain's Pushback On Timing Flub: The Surge Began Before The Surge
Okay, this afternoon John McCain pushed back on criticism of his Anbar-surge timeline flub by arguing, in effect, that the overall strategy change that made the Anbar Awakening possible began before the actual surge in troops:
The Arizona senator has told reporters during a stop at a super market in Bethlehem, Pa., that what the Bush administration calls "the surge" was actually "made up of a number of components." McCain says some components of the surge began before Bush ordered more U.S. troops into Iraq.McCain says U.S. Col. Sean MacFarland started carrying out elements of a new counterinsurgency strategy as early as December 2006.
Hmmm. McCain is crediting the success of the surge to strategic components that didn't involve the actual increase in troops? Sounds a bit like he's undermining the troops, doesn't it?
Seriously, what McCain actually said is that one of the key figures in the Awakening "was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening."
But MacFarland himself, who is cited by McCain above, first started describing the stirring of the awakening in September 2006, months before the surge strategy was announced in January.
Maybe McCain is arguing that we can use the "surge" label on any aspect of the war we want? The surge: It can be whatever you want it to be...
Comments (99)
I'm beginning to wonder if, in addition to not being able to go online by himself, whether McCain has a firm understanding of the calendar.
Even if the Surge began in December, the whole Anbar awakening that he talked about STILL BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER, SO WTF WITH THIS DECEMBER CRAP?
Sorry for the shouting.
McCain just does that to me.
A noun, a verb, and THE SURGE.
July 23, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
A noun, a verb, and THE SURGE.
Hah! Great line. That's what Biden and others should start saying now about McCain's goofy Surge timeline (ooh, is it OK to use that word?). The McCain campaign is getting goofier and goofier by the day. Just when you think it can't, it does.
July 23, 2008 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The surge: It can be whatever you want it to be...
Greg:
It's one of the best lines ever, make sure to copyright or something. May be you'll get a call or two from the world of ad making.
LOL!!!
B.E.A.UTIFUL.
July 23, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breaking news on Huffington Post by Sam Stein....The major Sunni sheik who John McCain said was protected by the surge and subsequently helped lead the Anbar Awakening, was actually assassinated by an al-Qaeda led group in midst of the surge.
On Tuesday evening, McCain falsely claimed that the downturn in violence in Iraq's Anbar province was a result of the surge, when in fact the surge began months afterward. Moreover, he said, if it weren't for the work of U.S. forces, the major Sunni figure leading that awakening wouldn't have had the protection he needed.
"Colonel MacFarland was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks," said the Senator. "Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening."
The Arizona Republican's campaign went further the next day, claiming that the major figures that turned around Anbar province would have been killed had the surge policy not been in place. "If Barack Obama had had his way, the Sheiks who started the Awakening would have been murdered at the hands of al Qaeda," said spokesman Tucker Bounds.
Sadly, that murder took place even with the surge underway. In September 2007, Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, the sheik widely credited with persuading Sunni leaders to turn against al Qaeda in Iraq, died in a bomb attack in Anbar. His work, prior to then, was held as a major effort in transforming the province from one of Iraq's deadliest areas into one of its safest.
July 23, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please, please-
Surge horizon.
Two totally different things.
July 23, 2008 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
May the Surge be with you.
July 23, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just because the surge had not begun yet doesn't mean that it hadn't already started working. Surges have mystical powers that only super hero presidents and former POWs can remotely fathom.
July 23, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
When Obama returns to the US, his first stop should be the Post Office
Mail this one in
July 23, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man, no wonder he canceled that press availability. He really screwed himself on this one.
He can thank his lucky stars that Obama is traveling and can't attack him, because he's been giving him a lot of softballs over the plate.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
July 23, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, mccain looks pretty fucked on this one.
If he hadn't sounded so damn sure of himself it might not be so bad.
July 23, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The WO!rld TO!ur was just the First Pitch.
McSame's going to be a basket case by the second inning
Obviously lacks Hillary's testicular fortitude
July 23, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is no indication that they'll stop digging themselves into that hole anytime soon.
July 23, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well he is kind of between a rock and a hard place. McCain's position is very un-Surgelike.
All he has is the Surge. If he diminishes it's importance in any way he diminishes his own importance. He can't really admit that he has no idea what he is talking about, this is after all the one thing he was supposed to be an expert on.
so what does he do? For now he sticks to his guns and hopes it blows over like every other McCain flub.
July 23, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why would Obama need to attack? McCain is doing a fine job of that all by himself.
It's like they are preparing for a duel and McCain can't even get his pants on.
July 23, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear that the Berlin Wall was brought down by The Surge as well.
July 23, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
That super-weapon that was used to win WWII with Japan? The atomic bomb was just a cover story, it was really The Surge™.
July 23, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing Chuck Norris is afraid of is secretly The Surge. Although he can still kick its butt. ^_~
July 23, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FUCKING DEBATES!
(sorry)
July 23, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
All you lib moonbats just don't get it!! The Surge is everything, it isn't just an extra 30K troops, it is the stuff that holds the multiverse together!
I used Surge to cure my STD.
Tiger Woods rubs some Surge on his 9 iron before every tournament.
Remember when Moses parted the Red Sea? How did he do it? You guessed it, he used the Surge.
July 23, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds familiar...
July 23, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, you know Yoda is McCains grandson, right?
July 23, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Betcha that would send shivers up Chris Matthews's leg!
July 23, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you know how Matthews got his show? The surge... he gave it oral sex.
July 23, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
First he complains that Obama gets too much press.
Then he doesn't want to meet with the press.
I know the dude lives in a mansion, but how much do you wanna bet he has one of those string borders around the lawn? What a confused old coot!
July 23, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know the McCain's must be penny pinchers; Cindy McCain is worth over 100 million dollars and would rather steal her drugs from a charity than buy them.
July 23, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
GTFOOH, where did you get your logo? I love it!
July 23, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I propose a new moniker for old wrinkly mcbandaid head: McSurge.
I have spoken
July 23, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't be soooo hard on McGrumpy . . . Truth is paying off thugs as insurance against bad stuff happening is a standard issue Republican tactic and . . .
Confusing cash flying out of American wallets and kids being sent to die for Operation Iraqi Liberation is an understandable misstake.
Anyway, the McCain campaign says that the story is really about the media's love affair with Obamam so We the People can just go back to sleep for eight years and ignore all this noise.
July 23, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
zing!
July 23, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
With all this "surge" talk, I bet McCain is angling to get a Viagra contract after his losing presidential bid, just like Bob Dole.
July 23, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Surge removed a painful corn from my big toe, and it also killed all the dandelions on my lawn.
Thank you Jesus for the surge miracle.
July 23, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Berlin Wall....... is that the Berlin in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin? The three Berlins that McSurge will be visiting tomorrow.
July 23, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're just trying to make it so that if you do a news search on presidential candidate in Berlin, you'll be three times as likely to get McCain. My god, they've figured out The Google!
July 23, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's gonna be sooo bummed when he can't find the Wall at any of 'em!
July 23, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am sure that you can pick up that used Pink Floyd CD in any of those towns record shops.
July 24, 2008 5:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain isn't fit to be president.
July 23, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait I'm confused.
If the part of the surge that reduced the Sunni violence did not actually involve increasing the American troop strength, then doesn't that mean that we did not have to increase the American troop strength?
Sounds to me like McCain is proving Barrack's point.
July 23, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here, rub a little Surge on your forehead and it will all make sense.
July 23, 2008 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
the increase in US forces was to protect US forces, not Iraqis. US casualties are down, but not Iraqi. The real difference though wasn't the increase in troops, since it really wasn't an increase in any real sens. All that happened was that some troops stayed late(so they were dog tired) and some came early(so the lacked training and rest). What did change was the amount of bombing missions. Bombing missions increase five fold last year. So, they changed tactics as well. Before, if they saw or heard gunfire they sent out a patrol to check it out. The patrol would then run past a booby trap(because that's what an IED is) and get killed. Bad deal. Now, when they spot something they dial in the coordinates and call in an airstrike a la Cln. Killgore.
It's great that US troop deaths are down. But it seems beyond senseless if the whole point of the mission is to not get killed. Wouldn't it be easy to not get killed in an Army base stateside? They need to get the fuck out.
McCain sucks.
worst.candidate.ever.
July 23, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
The more i listen to McCain the less brilliant he looks. I don't think McCain pay attention to details. His argument doesn't make any sense to me.
I'd be scare to death if this guy is elected President of United States.
July 23, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ken, you r on the point, he is repeating exactly what BO is saying--
btw, I had some surge last night!!
July 23, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain has dementia.
End of story.
July 23, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are correct, it is probably because of extended proximity to too much Surge. That and extreme old age.
July 23, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Surge? You're soaking in it . . .
July 23, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish I had some extra Surge, I just got attacked by a bear and if I had some Surge I'd be able to reattach my severed arm.
July 23, 2008 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the good news: McCain's trying to lose this thing.
July 23, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the funniest thread ever. I can use some of the surge, would like to fix a few things in my own life. Surge works, I heard.
Any surge givers?
Surge me my friends, SURGE ME.
SURGE- apply directly to your TV sets
SURGE- apply directly to your TV sets
SURGE- apply directly to your TV sets
SURGE- apply directly to your TV sets
Surge apply for your mental recession.
July 23, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to Huffpo the Sheik that John McCain was referencing when he said the surge troops protection allowed for the Anbar Awakening was actually assassinated in 2007 by Al Qaeda operatives.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/23/anbar-shiek-cited-by-mcca_n_114581.html
July 23, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ya know when the SURGE would've worked the best?
How about at the onset of the war. Ya know when McCain was saying we could get the job done with a small number of troops with minimal losses and minimal cost.
Yep, just over 3 years two late. You were all over that, one Mickey D (the "D" is for dementia).
July 23, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
two = too. so stupid I had to correct it.
July 23, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. The man is getting a pass on all the comments he made early on how this would be a cakewalk. Jed's latest video is 9 minutes of exactly that. Good stuff.
July 23, 2008 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gramps is confused again. Someone give him his medicine and his hot toddy and send him off to beddy-bye.
July 23, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
..."was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening."
Actually, the sheik being referrenced, Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, wasn't protected by the Surge and was assassinated by al Qaida during the Surge in Dec. 07.
July 23, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You beat me to it Jonze!
July 23, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess Al Qaeda was using a surge suppressor at the time.
July 23, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't get this Ace Mccain obsession with surrender.
Didn't he surrender to the NVA? And look what happened; not only did he get a medal for being an ace for the Vietnamese (5 American planes) he now is running for President of the USA.
Sheesh... surrender and torure surely can't be all that bad, can it John?
And by the way have Fartanhour (your surrogate) change her name.
July 23, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait, wait, yes I feel it now. ahh. It's yes...that's it...I'm surging!
July 23, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
It sounds like the surge is really working for you.
July 23, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Surge cured McCain's combover.
July 23, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breaking News!!! McSame's Veep Choice Revealed!!!
Sez here that Bob Novak hit a pedestrian this morning while driving his black Corvette in downtown DC. Novak was given a traffic ticket. No word as yet about a presidential Medal of Freedom for the victim.
It's not as compelling as shooting your friend in the face, but it is definitely the stuff Republican Veeps are made of. No wonder it was Novak that had the advance word!
July 23, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
This kinda gives new meaning to Republican hit-and-run tactics:
Bono chased down Novak and pulled his bike in front of Novak's Vette:
Well, it is kinda hard to see a 66-year-old ped splayed across your windshield when you've got your head up your ass.
July 23, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Novak is some piece of work. I remember during the NH primary in '04, he got a little testy and hauled off on a guy standing between him and the CNN bus.
July 23, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn! Beat me to it, I was just looking for a similar picture to use for my avatar. :)
July 23, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm gonna use one as my Facebook profile picture.
McCain and Obama can argue about this surge, but I know that back in 6th grade, THAT Surge worked like none other.
July 23, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really think that McCain's plan is to cause so much confusion amongst those who don't follow politics much. If they don't know what he stands for but know that Obama stands for "defeat", then who cares what McCain stands for? Who cares if you don't know what "victory" is in Iraq; you don't want to lose right? So vote for me!
This election is becoming almost comical.
July 23, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looking at John McCain riding on a golf cart with GHWBush, one has to admit he does look ex-presidential...
July 23, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looking at John McCain riding on a golf cart with GHWBush, one has to admit he does look ex-presidential...
July 23, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dammit. I have a great 'Surge' avatar, but MT won't upload it for me!
July 23, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's try this again...
July 23, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess someone should tell you - your avatar is visible.
July 23, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, after I posted the second time, I could see it in both places.
I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. Heh.
July 23, 2008 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mickey D...Mentia!
July 23, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm trying not to get too cocky about all this. I mean, does this stuff really have the long term damage I think it does? It's all very reminiscent of Rudy's campaign implosion. Of course, he had the option of dropping out. Please tell me that this stuff is making its way in to the consciousness of the average voter. There is just no way it's gonna stay this easy.
Can't wait to have my morning coffee tomorrow watching the speech in Berlin.
July 23, 2008 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with EastWest. I think McCain's trying to lose.
I think in his heart he'd rather sell Amway than this line of neocon b.s.
July 23, 2008 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Watching McWTF?!?, I am beginning to feel grattitude for W's handlers. I mean, at some point, early on (and probably at the Bohemian Grove in the late 1990s), somone said, "Ayuh, he's a an idiot, but a gullable one." His handlers have steered him through a minefield of possible gaffes. And likely kept his fingers far away from The Button.
Not so McAreYouKiddingMe?!?!. Unstable, this guy will not be handled. The mental farts are serious business. He will use this muddle to decide who to attack, and who to reward. Dementia unbridled will be far worse than anything W himself has done.
And so, while we waited until my grandmother drove the garage off the foundations to take away her license, we did take it away before she struck and killed someone.
Vote, well, anyone but McBUAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
July 23, 2008 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I searched through the 242 page Army Counterinsurgency Manual and the word "surge" is mentioned exactly once -- in Appendix C -- in a reference to maintaining additional CAT I [locals] linguists at HQ for "surge operations".
"Surge" is a military concept but refers to logistics, not counterinsurgency.
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-24fd.pdf
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=31686
July 23, 2008 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mayor McCheese understands what's really going on there. If it doesn't make sense to you, it's just coz yer not as experienced as he is.
July 23, 2008 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been silent on all this lately because quite frankly, I'm speechless...
July 23, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been silent on all this lately because quite frankly, I'm speechless...
July 23, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I also took my computer lessons from Cindy McCain
July 23, 2008 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is suffering from Giuliani disease.
There's only three things he mentions in a sentence; a noun, a verb, and the Surge.
July 23, 2008 8:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hah! That's a good one.
July 23, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
All snarkiness aside, McCain has an unhealthy obsession with war and being "Commander in Chief," much like Bush. I wish we didn't even mention "Commander in Chief" because it shows American obsession with war. The president is head of state and chief executive, but do you hear those descriptions as much? No, and they are far more important than chief war maker.
July 23, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds surgious.
July 23, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Surge: Apply directly to the forehead!
The Surge: Apply directly to the forehead!
The Surge: Apply directly to the forehead!
.....
July 23, 2008 9:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's more surreal?
McCain?
McCaign's campaign? (no man can screw himself this hard alone - this is a team effort...)
This freakin' country??? (McCain is only 6 points behind in the national polls...)
July 23, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Someone should tell McCain he's full of s**t. And if he doesn't like that language they should tell him he shouldn't have called his wife a c**t!
July 24, 2008 12:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Basically, it is a test of honesty. Either they are lying and they know they are lying or they are lying and do not know they are lying. Either way, they are lying.
We could see it coming from way out on the horizon. It was a "time horizon", if you will. The tale was told over and over and over and they believed it was ripe for the picking. Unfortunately, people remember.
July 24, 2008 1:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tattoo from fantasy island as portrayed by mclame: DE SURGE! DE SURGE!
July 24, 2008 2:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain and the Republican party focusing on the surge in Iraq is like strutting around in a hat that George W. Bush crapped in and boasting about about their success in reducing the stink.
July 24, 2008 5:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
McSurge has staked his whole campaign on -
1) SURGE
2) DRILLING SURGE
3) NEW SURGE IN IRAN
July 24, 2008 7:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is it just me, or is the observation becoming apparent that Sen. McCain is showing signs of senility? But no one in the media wants to talk about it out of respect! What is more important, ‘respect’ or telling the public the truth that they might be electing a mentally challenged President? Oh, we already did that ones, so why would it matter if we did it again, is that it?
July 24, 2008 8:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
This just in - the first major component of the surge was implemented in 1865, and led to Gen. Lee's surrender to Gen. Grant at Appomattox . . .
July 24, 2008 8:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like I'm late to the party, but all this talk of The Surge made me think of this clip from Beverly Hills Cop. Enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuiVUQ5lemM
July 24, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Robert Frost: Good fences make good neighbors.
McCain, in Berlin, NH: Robert Frost, tear down that wall!
July 24, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Robert Frost: Good fences make good neighbors.
McCain, in Berlin, NH: Robert Frost, tear down that wall!
July 24, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Surge would have saved us on Dec. 7, 1941.
July 24, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
“It depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘surge’ is.”
July 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope someone in the White House press corps asks Dana Perino "When did the surge start?"
July 24, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink