Cross-posting from Daily Kos
Courtesy of Marc Ambinder, here's the transcript of the comment that McCain made yesterday:
McCain In Amman, Jordan Today:
McCain: Well, it’s common knowledge and has been reported in the media that Al Qaeda is going back into Iran and is receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That’s well known and it’s unfortunate. So I believe that we are succeeding in Iraq - the situation has dramatically improved, but I also want to emphasize time and again Al Qaeda is on the run, but they are not defeated. We are seeing a major battle take place in Mosul as we speak. The southern part of Iraq has other difficulties as we well know. So I am pleased with the progress, we have a long way to go, and I am deeply concerned about Iranian influence, not only in Iraq, but on nuclear weapons; on sponsorship of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations, and if we leave Iraq it will enhance Iranian influence in the region to the detriment, I think, of every nation in the region.
[Lieberman whispers in McCain's ear]
McCain: I’m sorry; the Iranians are training the extremists, not Al Qaeda. Not Al Qaeda. I’m sorry.
First of all, it's telling that McCain has two categories for the bad guys in Iraq. There's "al-Qaeda," which is really al-Qaeda in Iraq/Mesopotamia, which has no logistical ties to the fellas in Afghanistan and the Northwest Frontier Provinces of Pakistan. Then, there are "extremists." And that's it. This taxonomy is acceptable if you're arguing politics after 5 beers or a joint. Not so much for talking to the media about your signature issue in a trip designed to emphasize your command over said issue.
Then, of course, there's the gaffe. AQI is simply not a Shia militia. Politics 101 gets you that far.
But surely we can dismiss this as innocent. The campaign is no doubt arduous, and it's easy to make such slip-ups.
What screws him here is the bolded statement: "We are seeing a major battle take place in Mosul as we speak."
Why's that? Well, Mosul is a predominantly Sunni area, with mostly Arabs and Kurds. Someone who's interested in basic Iraqi politics should know that the Shia militias - the Badr Brigade, the Mahdi Army, and Fadhila, don't have a serious presence in the city. In fact, recent news has indicated that AQI has moved further North after alienating local leaders in Anbar.
So I wonder, what happened in Mosul recently?
Google news tells me in an article dated 3/17/08:
Further north, coalition forces conducted three coordinated operations in Mosul targeting associates of al Qaeda operating in the area. The ground forces detained nine suspected terrorists on site, including three wanted individuals with suspected connections to an al Qaeda senior leader.
Two of the suspects are believed to be involved in an al Qaeda-affiliated insurgent group in the region and the facilitation of suicide vests. Another allegedly is involved with a foreign terrorist leader in the city.
So the quote simply doesn't make sense if you substitute the Mahdi Army for AQ. We were not fighting Sadr in Mosul.
The quote makes sense only if you substitute Muslims we don't like for AQ.
This betrays serious ignorance over Iraqi politics.
In an ideal world, this sort of thing hurts Presidential campaigns.
But we live a world dominated by Pumkinhead.
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