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McCain Strolls Through Baghdad, Accompanied By 100, 3 Blackhawks, and More

thinkprogress.org — Sen. John McCain strolled briefly through an open-air market in Baghdad today in an effort to prove that Americans are “not getting the full picture” of what’s going on in Iraq. McCain recently claimed that there “are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods, today.”

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  • thewump, on 10/12/2007, -11/+179He then went home and added a blog entry to his myspace page titled: "OMFG - I went 2 Iraq today and totally OWNED it - LOL"
    • quomen, on 10/12/2007, -15/+76I really liked McCain way back..
      Now he's gonna be the Kerry of the 2008 elections.
      (flip flop)..the dems are going to slaughter him for that.
    • kylesellers, on 10/12/2007, -50/+8Was this before or after he was heckled by a CNN "reporter"?
    • TexMurphy, on 10/12/2007, -9/+183Thank god none off our soldiers died making Sen. McCains Political point. What a idiot...
    • greatblackowl, on 10/12/2007, -6/+74@quomen

      He went from being a genuine maverick free-thinking politician to one of the political puppets ruled by peer pressure to support Bush and by the masses of sheep voters that make up the republican "base" (i.e. people who will just push the "republican" button on their voting machines and then go home).
    • signal15, on 10/12/2007, -6/+64If this guy gets elected, we'll just be continuing along our path of idiocy. Our government is a dangerous joke. We need a DRASTIC change. Whether it's Obama or someone else, I don't know. But damn, we really need to change things dramatically.

    • MrFlesh, on 10/12/2007, -9/+56I would never vote republican in a million years but when I first heard mccain was running I was like "Finally someone from the right who isn't an a) stark raving lunatic tough guy b) christian fundamentalist who wants everyone to quit school to read the bible............I figured sense would return to the politcal arguments and we could once againt start moving into the future...............then he started his campaign of "I'm Bush the sequel."
    • Cam_86, on 10/12/2007, -3/+20I don't even understand the thought process behind McCain anymore. I mean you don't even need to look at the polls to see bush's policy's are NOT supported by the majority of republicans(let alone all Americans) so why is he acting like a bush supporter. Sure it'll win him some points in the more hard lined states during the primaries, but that'll only pay off in the long term, if the more moderate free thinking republicans DON'T know about these flat out moronic statements.... And making them in front of all the major news channels is getting the message out the those places just as fast as it is to Kansas and Alabama.
    • dmjarrington, on 10/12/2007, -34/+23What a dumbass. What an elitist braggart prick. It must be nice being able to gallivant all over the world using our tax dollars to participate in show-off partisan hackery. Had his escorts not been there, he would have been hanging from a street lamp by nightfall... And just as well... He doesn't do any good atop the ground. He ought to be under it inspiring the cabbages.

      John McCain is a big fat dickhead. Ditch this loser.


      Ron Paul 2008
      http://www.ronpaul2008.com
    • pagit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+71If I had 100 troops and 3 blackhawk and 2 Apache gunships flying overhead covering my flack jacketed butt in my hood -

      I'd feel safe too
    • bmartin, on 10/12/2007, -14/+10@dmjarrington: You lost me at Ron Paul.
    • streak, on 10/12/2007, -1/+41Thank you, John, for giving us a clear picture of just how bad it still is in Iraq.
    • eonblue, on 10/12/2007, -33/+6I hate grammar nazi'ing but if youre going to call somone an idiot please use proper grammer.
      "What a idiot"
      should be
      What an idiot.

      Anyway McCain is a partisan hack only interested in getting elected, lets stop giving him press.
    • glitch47, on 10/12/2007, -8/+25
      @Eonblue

      "Grammer" is spelled "grammar".

    • shenzi, on 10/12/2007, -11/+18@eonblue -- I love correcting nazis like you. In addition to what glitch47 pointed out:
      1) nazi'ing >> nazi-ing
      2) youre >> you're
      3) ... if ... call someone an idiot, THEN please ...
      4) ...partisan hack WHO IS only interested...
      5) lets >> let's

      Ok, you can go to recess now.
    • Hayaemsay, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9Walking freely in his bulletproof vest.
    • bsmeteronhigh, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5I think the interesting thing about all of this is that politicians still believe they can hope to control media and reporting of events. Just imagine, a few short years ago, this sort of event would have made the 6 p.m. news network broadcast and most of the nation would have said, "Hmmmm, Iraq must be going great." However, the Internet seems to have an ability to reveal the truth in sometimes the most unflattering of lights. Needless to say, our leaders will either realize this and the ridiculously staged photo op will become a thing of the past, or they will attempt to control the Internet and speech. It will be interesting to which happens.
    • rodgerdodger5, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I would like to know if they stopped at Taco Bell and had a Bean Burrito or perhaps a Gordita.
    • sibbano, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4I think what McCain wanted to say is that is is SAFER now from insurgents (which does not imply safe)

      however he forgot to mention also that iraqis are (wether we like it or not) especially afraid of our troops "friendly fire" which increase with the number of trigger happy troops the pentagon has to recruit in this unpopular war. Having a criminal record does not matter anymore...
    • nickdngr, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10@sibanno

      this is like my biggest pet-peeve ever: how many iraqis have you talked to that have told you their extremely afraid of friendly fire? what are your sources for said information? unless you've actually been to iraq and have talked to iraqis about the subject, do not try to express what they are saying. my credentials for this comment are that i'm there and i talk with them daily. but, i do agree, it's safe to walk anywhere with 100 armed soldiers, 3 blackhawks...2 turtledoves and a partridge in a pear tree.
    • silverchrysalis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1thewump@: i wish i could give that comment two diggs!
    • bentman78, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3@greatblackowl
      You act like Democrats don't do this as well. I know plenty of people on the left who would never vote for a "fascist" Republican. Get off your high horse.
    • audiowizard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5lol what a f***ing fraud.
    • OneZeroZeroOne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Wow. He just turned himself into Bush the 3rd. Completely living in his own fantasy world of lies and technicalities. Clinton got flamed for his retarded "that depends on what your definition of 'is' is" *****. This just takes the cake, though. I GUESS you could call that "walking freely," John!

      Was this his idea of an April Fools joke, or what?
    • willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"You act like Democrats don't do this as well. I know plenty of people on the left who would never vote for a "fascist" Republican."
      Like fascist Democrats?
      Its funny how the Democrats are quickly turning fascist as well. Every dem's "national health care" plan is actually a subsidy to the richest industry in this country, the insurance industry.
      How is the GOP giving taxpayer money any different than the Democrats giving taxpayer money to the insurance companies?

      Lets face it, these guys are the same. They keep everybody duped by arguing over minor differences.
    • stepnw1f, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@ kylesellers,

      That "heckilng" was debunked..... nice try.

      Go ahead and see for yourselves:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSGc5Vkh_1g

      All the right wing has is pure propaganda. made up *****. Pathetic....
    • greatblackowl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@bentman

      You're right, but the point I tried to make was that John McCain, whom I completely respected several years ago, has ceased to have any of the free-acting-and-thinking characteristics that made him valuable as a politician. He caved in to the base.
  • JCSaint, on 10/12/2007, -12/+100What a dick. Why not stroll through one of those Baghdad neighborhoods where you don't need protection just like you said?
    • balerhgae, on 10/12/2007, -7/+41Man, tell me about it.
      Seriously, McCain spouts double-talk you don't normally hear until after the first 100 days. I hope people aren't stupid enough to elect him...
    • SlvrEagle23, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26[3 Years Later...]

      balerhgae: *****! They were!
    • Schratboy, on 10/12/2007, -14/+7Some people have an excretory duct that vents directly into their cranial cavity, thus rendering them a ***** head. Congratulations!
    • MrFlesh, on 10/12/2007, -3/+35Yes Mcaine is double plus ungood
    • EnderTheThird, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@schratboy:

      The technical term is coprocephalic. Go ahead, Google it. Oh nevermind, I'll go ahead and save you the trouble:

      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      coprocephalic

      having human excrement in the cranium, *****

      "Is it a Triassic human fetus or coprolite?"

      "Given who 'found' it, don't you mean coprocephalic?"
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Source: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=coprocephalic
    • orbit1979, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7"I hope people aren't stupid enough to elect him..."

      Be afraid, be very afraid...
    • digirat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I still don't understand how he's walking "freely" if he has "MORE THAN 100 troops, 2 blackhawk helicopters, and 2 apache gunships overhead" to protect him
  • ZWash300, on 10/12/2007, -14/+133Yeah, you can really just take a stroll through Baghdad...

    ...with 100 troops, 3 Blackhawks, and a bulletproof vest.

    Sounds like a really safe place to me. What a ***** joke these Republicans are that are trying to spin the war as positive. I can't believe they still have a following.
    • hdtvdust, on 10/12/2007, -99/+8AS big a joke as your life has turned out to be? Hillary wouldn't walk ANYWHERE without protection. You would have to be stupid to walk in ANY hostile foreign country without it. No matter how safe it would be to a normal Iraqi, if word got out that McCain was there without protection, he would be a huge target.

      Thinkprogress tries again to be relevent, and once again fails. Just like you have at everything you have ever done in life. And just like your mom and dad did at their abortion attempt.
    • Phyltre, on 10/12/2007, -11/+27I totally agree that what the Republicans are saying about the war is just political crap, and we were totally mislead on it. However, realize that the Democrats are exploiting the war as well for their own ends. One of the pitfalls of a two-party system--the other side is always the enemy.
    • d00ley, on 10/12/2007, -4/+57"AS big a joke as your life has turned out to be?"
      "Just like you have at everything you have ever done in life."
      "And just like your mom and dad did at their abortion attempt."

      Classic. Are any of you right-wing loyalists capable of intellectual discourse... or thought, for that matter? Do you not understand how stupid you guys sound when you use these 2nd grader tactics?
    • superal1394, on 10/12/2007, -3/+35don't forget the two Apache gunships
    • Fumz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27hdtvdust,

      I am not sure why you brought up Hillary, she was not stupid enough to make the statements John did. What are you not getting about that?
    • NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24hdtvdust = blocked.
    • opiniastrous, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4Regardless of whether or not the area was safe or not for a normal person to walk down, the man is an American senator inside a country classed as a war zone by the US Govt. Furthermore, not only is it the military's way to ensure that VIPs are protected to its utmost ability (even to the extent of being over-protective), the man also happens to be a high-value target on two legs. In fact, the congressional delegation he went with happens to be a high-value target on six legs. Why is anyone surprised that security was beefed up? The average Iraqi could probably walk down that street safely, but regardless of where in Iraq an American congressional delegation is, insurgents are probably going to take a crack at it (especially if no-one makes an effort at security at all).

      Frankly, I really don't think this proves the point thinkprogress is trying to make it prove...
    • tcquad, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12"Sounds like a really safe place to me. "
      -zwash300

      They mentioned in the piece that 1800 Iraqis were killed last month by insurgents. That would be about 60 *per day*.

      To put that in perspective, California, which is slightly smaller but with a larger population, had 2500 murders in the entire year of 2005. That's 7 per day.
    • opiniastrous, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Updating my last: You know, I also couldn't find any other media source report the level of security mentioned here. All other sources only mention 'a contingent of armed troops' and 'armoured vehicles' (which may as well be Humvees the way the media generally reports this sort of stuff). Anyone found anything a little more concrete?
    • Comatose51, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@opiniastrous: Do you think he travels like that in the US? Or Germany? Fine, so Iraq is classed as a war zone so he has to travel like that. Then why did he claim that it was so safe that he can go strolling through the streets? The reality of the situation didn't match what he claimed. Thankfully our people over there knew better and protected him from his own stupidity.
    • spookyttws, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4Yes it's a lame political move, but...

      Dude, he's a prisoner of war from Vietnam. If I was him, I wouldn't walk down Happy Street, McCandyland without protection.
    • DiggaNiggaz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2There is no difference between "Republican" and "Democrat." Until America snaps out of this delusion, things will continue to get worse. On the other hand, there's a huge difference between a "Democracy" and a "Constitutionally Protected Republic with Democratically Elected Officials."

      McCain is merely another Socialist Bureaucrat, just like all the others. Down with Fascism! Up with the Republic!
    • friedman420, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2only 3 blackhawk helicopters???
      i guess its only slightly less dangerous than Newark
  • Verchiel77, on 10/12/2007, -4/+50Watching Sen. Pander Bear stumble through pathetic photo ops like this, you *have* to hope he gets the GOP nomination.

    The commercials will just write themselves.
  • inbred, on 10/12/2007, -44/+7I hear Frank Miller's working on a new movie called "The 100"

    "Soldiers...tonight we dine...with the Lord!"
  • thelastdyingday, on 10/12/2007, -7/+71our tax dollars hard at work...
    • Salgat, on 10/12/2007, -5/+78All this does is make me more ***** that McCain is wasting all those damn resources to prove a point that contradicts itself. The fuel alone from the copters could probably put me through college.
    • Jonnio, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0Not that I agree with McCain going over there, but Clinton has been parading all over the world since he got out of office giving speeches etc... to earn over $40 million a year. That is costing you a fortune in tax dollars for his security forces to go on these tours too.
    • Jonnio, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Thanks for the intelligent response. I was merely pointing out that we spend a FORTUNE on security for public officials and that if this is a horrible waste of tax dollars than so is all the money we are spending to make sure Clinton has his cash cow. (and no I don't think it would be right to not protect our former presidents)
  • gonegoogling, on 10/12/2007, -7/+18http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/John_McCain_gets_owned_by_Wolf_Blitzer_and_others
  • ignorance0, on 10/12/2007, -3/+57McCain is looking more and more like Bush.

    It began with pampering to the religious right (Falwell and company) and now he's ignoring the facts on the ground.

    McCain, you're doing a heckava job!
    • PATSCRU, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19totally, a few years ago, i really respected mccain for being one of the few republicans who was willing to break ranks with the party and their constituents to support what he believes in....however, in the past few months, i've seen him waddle to the far right with his tail between his legs....another one bites the dust.
    • adrenaline33, on 10/12/2007, -10/+9Well I hate to throw this one out there 'cuz I'm not rooting for it or anything, but I would be willing to bet that despite everything that has happened, a Republican will win in '08
    • orbit1979, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"It began with pampering to the religious right (Falwell and company) and now he's ignoring the facts on the ground."

      Well, he is a republican ya know....
  • mikesty, on 10/12/2007, -7/+56100 troops, 3 blackhawks, a vest.... and...

    300 SPARTAN WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • inurb, on 10/12/2007, -33/+7wow he's got balls.
    • igeoffi, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5to prove that Baghdad is safe by strolling through Baghdad, accompanied By 100, 3 Blackhawks, and more?

      /sarcasm
    • Gerolsteiner, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Actually, I do believe the original post conveyed sarcasm quite blatantly, and I can't understand how everyone missed it. I guess senses of humour are uncompatible with comments not ending with a /sarcasm sign.
    • bmartin, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3I know what you mean, it's as though nobody can interpret emotions from text without some sort of obvious clue. [/sarcasm]
  • Kahnza, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Of course you can walk around Baghdad when you have an escort like that. Mccain is such a tard. I find it funny that hes blindly supporting the war just like Bush.
    • tungliang, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1That's barely enough protection for walking around some streets in the US. So give him some credit.
  • kavery, on 10/12/2007, -12/+4No way this son of a ***** is making my list of top eight friends.

    *****, now I just admited that I have a Myspace profile.

    You see what you've done, McCain? *****...
    • Schratboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Dude, you're grown up too accustomed to vulgarity making me suspect that you weren't weaned properly. GAFL.
  • Limezor, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0It's called irony.
  • xiliquiern, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5I think it says something for the man. His previous statement was not received well, and people told him how out of touch he was. So he went there and experienced. He took protection in order to be safe, and recognized that. He has recanted his previous statement and noted that the situation, while improved, is not as he made it out to be and that Iraq still has a ways to go. He realized he was wrong, faced the bullets, and isn't trying to cover his ass by qualifying his previous statements. He was still wrong to speak about without the knowledge in the first place, but at least he's publicly corrected himself now.
  • attgig, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3You can't take that report and say he's a double talking bastid. if anything did happen to him, do you realize how deep ***** the military would be in to allow a presidential nominee to get killed or even wounded? military probably just went overboard so that they wouldn't look bad if anything bad did happen.
  • fatfinger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Truthiness
  • thecooleric, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1What a trooper.
  • orian76, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I remember the old John McCain (Mr Straight talk) but something happened and he changed in to one of the republicans that received a pink slip last election. I guess it's better that we got to see who he really is before anyone considered voting for him.
    A white man in a business suit walking down the streets of Iraq is not = to McCain with Kevlar and 100 troops and five helicopters walking down the streets of Iraq.
    John McCain needs to shut the F%&$ up, most of the American people are not as stupid as he seems to believe.
  • NiGHTSChao, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Response: Wow, what a pussy
  • Mardala, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11This is worse than the fake downtown Baghdad picture on Kaloogian's web site. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Kaloogian_Iraq_Website.jpg

    If any US city had 100-500 violent deaths, 9-12 car bombs going off in 1 day, it would be a disaster. Why then are people like McCain painting a rosey picture of this?

    • joe122370, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1see Detroit or the District of Columbia, or East St. Louis, or East LA
    • Mardala, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Have you ever been to any of those areas you mention? I've spent some time in East LA. Didn't hear any snipers or car bombs.

      Detroit, though ...
  • Dewhead, on 10/12/2007, -18/+5Gosh, you all sound like you want things to go badly with the surge and that you want Iraq and democracy to fail. Please tell me that I am wrong. Please tell me that although you have different political viewpoints, you still want the Iraqis to have a chance at building a democratic society and that you want our soldiers efforts not to have been in vain. Please tell me that you are not so filled with hatred towards Bush that you can't see the larger picture here.

    I am sure I will be dugg down just for asking, but it was worth a shot.

    • MrFlesh, on 10/12/2007, -2/+17We don't need to want Iraq to be a failure...........it already is.......it has been for a loooooooooooong time. Iraq war being a failure is only news to the right.
    • Comatose51, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3No, what annoys us is this: The Baker report, commissioned by our government, recommended both a military AND a diplomatic approach that involves Syria and Iran. Bush followed one part and ignore the latter, even though the report said that one cannot work without the other. He's did it when the war started and he's doing now even when everyone know it's a mess over there and he lied. Without the diplomatic and political approach, this won't work and the only thing surging troops will do is put more of our troops in danger.

      Please for our country's sake, read the damn Iraq Study Group report: www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/iraq_study_group_report.pdf
      before forming your opinion on this. It irks me to no end to see Americans not read this and the 9/11 Commission Report but keeps running their mouth about the issues. Any jackass can wave the flag, how about try participating in our great democracy?
    • KMartSheriff, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Iraq? A failure? Dude that whole ***** area is a failure.

      It's been nothing but religious wars for thousands of years. Is it good? No of course not. But good luck fixing it.
  • Fhionnlaoch, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Someone needs to give him a swift kick in the balls.
  • SmokeyBong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I like how they finish the segment by saying "oh also 6 U.S. troops were killed over the weekend" must be real peaceful over in Iraq.
    /sarcasm
  • brodie7838, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I am soo booking a vacation now!
  • kavaliro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6100 soldiers and two blackhawks, and he still looked like he was ready to crap himself.
    And it sounds like it was right outside the green zone, as in, push really hard and clear out this market so Senator McCain can save a little face, would ya soldiers? Oh, come on, you only have to hold it for a day.
    Oh yeah, I'm convinced...
    Except that the returning soldiers (and their missing limbs) tell a different story than the one McTurnCoat is selling^H^H^Htelling.
  • vhold, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Ok, yes it's lame to say that areas are safe while being escorted by 100 troops, but you do realize that Sen. John McCain would be a really high profile target, so it is infact much less safe for him to be there then say.. any of us..

    Not trying to justify the war, him, etc, or whatever, but to act as if he is some major pussy is equally lame.
    • SmokeyBong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yes, white people are a high profile target in Iraq. And if he really wanted to stand behind what he said he would of walked into that market alone, and not with 100+ troops holding his hand.
    • vhold, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Huh? I'm sorry that's extremely lame.

      There are 100 U.S. Senators. There are around 300,000,000 people in the United States.

      Is it difficult to understand that a U.S. senator is a very high profile target and that it is much more dangerous for him to be there then any one of us? You could get hit by a bus tomorrow and virtually nobody would know or care. If a U.S. Senator so much as sprains his ankle it will likely get on national news. If he were to be killed in a foreign land the news would encircle the earth many times over.
    • zoobie555, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2He's not a pussy, he's an asshole for wasting taxpayer money for his campaign photo ops, needlessly putting his and soldier's lives at risk, and insulting our intelligence in the process.
    • HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Okay, vhold. I see your point.

      It's time for you to take the walk then.

      You're not an important figure, surely it is safe for you to walk down the street with no protection in Baghdad outside the green zone.

      Are you ready to back up your claims?
    • vhold, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I never said it was safe for me, I'm just saying it's -much- less safe for him. My only beef was with all the people calling him a pussy as if that were a meaningful argument against what he was doing. zoobie555's argument that it's a craptastic photo op is a lot more on the money.
  • browwiw, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12"War is wretched beyond description, and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality." - Senator John McCain

    Well, at least we can say he has first hand knowledge on what a fool and a fraud are.
  • savesadottk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7anyone know the actual cost of 100 troops and the 5 helicoptors and non-mentioned contractor security that was involved in this propaganda commercial? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$????
  • Daolohua, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Its nice of him to go over there and prove himself wrong. Saves time.

    Where's the John McCain of yesteryear!?! I miss him so!
  • jimbo92107, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10The hundred soldiers? Hey, playahz gotta have their posse, homie!

    The flack jacket? Hey, this is just a barbecue bib, man...you know, the new Kevlar one. It's cool!

    The Apache helicopters overhead? Hey, they was just in the neighborhood, doods.

    I'm just havin' me a casual stroll in this nice little market. See? Couldn't be safer, the surge is working!

    Cameras off? Good, let's get the ***** outta here!
  • ReinMasamuri, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3Well, he IS right.
    Some cities in the US have a higher mortality rate than Iraq :P
  • craka, on 10/12/2007, -13/+3You Libs are funny, McCain was great when he was acting like a lib, but now that he is trying stop the US from losing a war he is a dick. He was a Vietnam war hero, and his son is there now it seems like that alone would make him worthy of some respect. But then again what do Libs respect?
    • nastronomical, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2Exactly...what else do you expect from Libs?
  • Sil369, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Maybe it was all an April Fools joke - he actually got killed on their streets and was replaced by one of his clones.
    • ReinMasamuri, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2I always thought that Kennedy had been cloned one too many times :P
  • DiggingDeep, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3The Democrats should send Howard Dean to show the Republicans what's up. Dean's scream > military entourage.

    BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARG!
  • tektalk, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1props to him for tryin to prove his point. :p
  • Juroujin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Well, he does have balls to go through Baghdad... with an elite entourage
  • RapidFireGT, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Wow. Our soldiers could be out patrolling, gathering info on local insurgents, etc., but no, they have to follow a VIP around and make sure he is safe during his visit to Iraq.

    I read in a letter sent back to US from Iraq by a US soldier (I think the letter was posted here on digg) and in that letter he wrote that one of the worst annoyances was when a US celebrity of VIP came to visit Iraq, and the troops would have to give them a tour through a safe neighborhood.
  • colincattral, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2If any other presidential hopeful took the same tour through Baghdad, they would be given the same level of protection as Sen. McCain because they would be considered a high priority target for enemy combatants. One should not be so quick to discredit his tour of the city; if the coalition forces had failed to create some level of security, the 3 Black-hawks, 2 Apaches, and 100 soldiers would not have provided much protection against IED's, suicide bombers, and insurgents armed with machine guns and rpgs.
    • Salgat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4The point is, although he attempted to prove his original statement, he failed miserably because he contradicted his original statement. What he should have done in the first place is admitted he was wrong and not waste military resources.
    • kurttrail, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I guess you didn't get the memo. The talking point is the surge is working, and so there are neighborhoods outside the Green Zone in Baghdad that you can walk down and not have to worry about "IED's, suicide bombers, and insurgents armed with machine guns and rpgs."

      McCain is a total sell-out. Just another *****.
    • colincattral, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3It would be naive to think that anyone campaigning for president would walk down any street without some level of protection. Do you honestly believe that he would walk around any American city without body guards, and in the event he won the primaries, without the secret service providing security. Even if he wanted to tour Baghdad without the support of the United States Army, his advisers, and the federal government would not allow it. I understand that many people have a problem with what is arguably an unjustified war. In the comment sections of every article that relates to the War in Iraq, and even in some articles that are completely unrelated to the conflict, diggers vent their grievances about the current administration, and the war itself. However, what diggers fail to acknowledge is that if the coalition forces leave Iraq without stabilizing it first, the United States and Britain, will be no better than the Belgians in Rwanda. The sectarian violence has the possibility of expanding into a full-fledged civil war (the Shia's supported by Iran, and the Sunni's supported by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, etc.), which in turn could lead to genocide. While most diggers will be voting democrat in the upcoming presidential elections, and applaud their exit strategy, they should consider that as the only remaining hegemon in the world, the United States must act like the British Imperialists, and exit cleanly in order to avoid continued blood on its hands.

      I realize I will likely be dugg down for my opinion, however, as democrats continue to call the conflict a failure, compare it to Vietnam, and place blame solely on the government, American citizens should realize that they are as responsible for success or failure as the government. When there is little support from a large percentage of the population it makes it impossible for the government to use its resources effectively. If the government was allowed to use everything it had at its disposal, stability would be achieved faster, the war would be over sooner, and the risk to those in combat would be greatly reduced.

      While I myself am a Canadian citizen, and initially supported the war under what I would later find out were false pretenses (much like the rest of the world), I am also a realist. Leaving without achieving stability in Iraq would lead to bigger problems in Iraq, and the region as whole. With a large Shia population in Iraq, and growing Iranian influence, Iran is positioning itself to become the hegemon of the middle east. If Democrats believe that civil war, genocide, and a more powerful Iran are acceptable options, fine, but when thousands of people are killed as a result of inaction they will only have themselves to blame.
    • zoobie555, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1We shouldn't be giving any senators armed entourages into war zones at the cost of millions of dollars and risking soldiers lives. It's an election publicity stunt. He is mildly braver than Hillary, big deal, their both in the same boat as far as I'm concerned. After the stunts they've pulled at our expense, both of them can burn in hell for all I care.
    • joe122370, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2you mean like Pelosi's trip to Syria this week? How come the media isn't reporting about all the security sent for her? oh yeah, that's right , I forgot about the BIAS
  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1He should have climbed in a tank and driven through some neighborhoods. "Yep, it's safe as Detroit around here!" Maybe they would let him wear a helmet, too.
  • guimonkey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Jon Stewart just had another pitch lobbed to him.
  • RatTrap, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Waste of time money and resources.
  • jellygraph, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Is McCain trying to win the douche bag of the year award?
  • D34DC311, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8what are you all talking about. I go shopping accompanied by 100 soldiers, 3 black hawks and 2 Apache gunships. Nothing new.
  • danconia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I think our $2 trillion+ could have been spent on something a little more useful. McCain just might be kissing his presidential potential goodbye with these shenanigans. IT'S OKAY TO ADMIT YOUR WRONG MCCAIN, IN FACT PEOPLE WILL LIKE YOU MORE WHEN YOU AREN'T IN DENIAL. McCain already got called out for claiming the generals stroll in the humvees that are unarmored. Riiiiight, so if the generals aren't using the armored vehicles then who the hell is? What a dunce.

    Ron Paul '08
  • pairanoyd, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6What a ***** tool.
    McCain is a coward and a traitor. He betrayed his country during the Viet Nam war. Look it up.
    And now he's a tool for a certain group. His handlers are ALWAYS standing behind him, grinning, during any photo ops. (except this recent one.) Charles Schumer, Diane Fienstien (sp?), Joe Lieberman, etc... You get the picture.
    Google "McCain's handlers"..

    John McCain is a tool, traitor, coward, turncoat and meatpuppet sack of *****.
    Go ahead. Bury the truth, just like your head in the sand.


    • nestafett, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Ok, i dont like Mccain either but if your going to make a stement like that ("he betrayed his country during the vietnam war") BACK IT UP, dont just put look it, cause i have and i found nothing to suggest that.
      If your going to make outlandish claims with no backing then you lose all credibility to people like me who are interested in facts.
      your claims are no different to me then the claims of a Iraq-Al Quida connection. neither have any proof.
    • pairanoyd, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1@ nestafett

      McCrud was a POW, shot down and captured.
      The enemy tortured him. To end his torture he became a tool for the enemy, he denounced the US, the president, the war, etc..
      He made anti-US propaganda films for the enemy.

      Again, I tell you, look it up. McCrud is a piece of *****. Do your homework. Don't take ***** for face value. Don't believe everything you see on the idiot box. Seek the truth.

    • nestafett, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1
      Again, I tell you, look it up. McCrud is a piece of *****. Do your homework. Don't take ***** for face value. Don't believe everything you see on the idiot box. Seek the truth.

      Well, I did look it up and found no info at all, please, I'm honestly asking you for a link to something about what your talking about, I did do my homework and found your theory false (actually I found nothing on your theory at all) so if you want to make an assertion like that please tell me where you found your information.
      I don't "take ***** for face value" or believe everything I see on the idiot box, thats why I'm a Marxist. I'm seeking the truth, you made an argument and all I'm asking you to do is back it up, that shouldn't be so hard to do if it's the truth.
      If I were to just believe you I would be doing exactly what you say not to do.
      When Bush said we should go to Iraq because they have WMD's would you have accepted his proof as "look it up" or "do your homework"?
      no, of course not, because when someone makes an outlandish assertion the burden of proof is them to back it up with facts.
    • GoWander, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Yep, McCain did make a propaganda for the Viet Cong after being tortured, but it was unusable by the Viet Cong. When they tried to have him do it again, he refused. Because of that refusal he was tortured even more to the point that his right arm is pratically unusable. Yep sounds really cowardly to me. Oh, and he was given the oportunity to be released early from the Viet Cong and refused that too.
    • nestafett, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Please someone tell me where to find this, Im going to school to teach U.S. history and I'm very interested in things like this, and I could not find this info anywhere.
      please.
      (and p.s. I hope your being sarcastic with the cowardly remark, cause even though I dont like the guy I wouldn't exactly label him that)
    • nestafett, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0.....And apearantly others want to know also =)
  • Daole, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2Just to pose an argument: He is a presidential candidate and republican US senator walking around in a war zone. I'd really like to see a picture of his 100-person entourage and see how many of them were actually on patrols, or just happened to be in the area. The article says ~3 miles outside the green zone, which I would assume is heavily policed to protect that very zone, and for some reason, I don't believe any commanding officer in that region would be willing to have the blame for the death of a senator placed on his head. So before you call him a hypocrite, look at all the variables in play, and spread some of that criticism around the table.
    • nestafett, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I dont think he's a hypocrite, it does make sense that he would need all those guards.
      but I do think he is just plain wrong, the neighborhoods are not safe for a civilian to walk around in and him not admitting (or not seeing) that is the bigger problem. If this is a man that wants to be president he either
      a. Lied. Knew it was not safe yet told us it is
      or b. Thinks it is safe, which shows he's out of touch with the reality of down there
      either way its not someone I would support
  • mjl5629, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2He went 3 minutes outside of the Green Zone! That's barely putting your foot outside the wire!
  • pairanoyd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Someone show PROOF that he was outside of the green zone.
    PROVE IT.. I say he was deep in the middle of the green zone and this was propaganda trickery.

    • nestafett, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1ummm, video? journalist? civilians?
      what exactly you lookin for?
      the only way to be 100% sure of anything is to be there yourself,
      but even then the only thing you could really prove is your own existance, and you can only prove that to yourself
      =)
  • ptsd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3100 Soldiers, 3 Blackhawks, 2 Apache Gunships....exactly how much did McCains little 'stroll' cost American tax payers? id like to know...
  • raid517, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4McCain confuses the hell out of me. Sometimes he talks like a rampant stooge of the far left. Then he talks like a hard line neocon stormtrooper... I think really he is just playing politics and saying whatever it is he thinks people want to hear.
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