McCain: Send 20K more troops to Iraq

[Mr. Authority]

McCain: Send 20,000 more troops to Iraq
BEVERLEY WANG
Associated Press

LANCASTER, N.H. - Republican Sen. John McCain, a possible 2008 presidential candidate, said Friday the United States should send another 20,000 troops to Iraq.

A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain said increasing U.S. forces would require expanding the standing Army and Marine Corps - a step the Bush administration has resisted. He also reiterated his opposition to a hasty U.S. withdrawal.

"If we leave ... the fighting will evolve into chaos there," McCain told reporters after speaking at an event for local Republican candidates.

Reporters asked him to elaborate on his statement last week in Iowa that more combat troops are needed in Iraq to quell a "classic insurgency."

"Another 20,000 troops in Iraq, but that means expanding the Army and the Marine Corps," he said.

"It's not just a set number."

A former Navy pilot who was held prisoner in Vietnam, the Arizona senator argued that he has been saying for three years that more U.S. troops were needed in Iraq.

McCain's itinerary has included Iowa and New Hampshire, two early voting states in the presidential primary process.

McCain's call for more troops in Iraq drew a mixed response from about 70 people - many veterans - who gathered at the VFW hall.

"We don't help people, we're getting killed," said World War II veteran Jean Belanger, 85. "If you want to occupy Iraq then go at it - but if you don't, get out of there."

Rodney Legendre, 59, a Navy veteran, agreed with McCain's stay-the-course message.

"It has to be done," he said. "As much as we hate to put troops in harm's way, we have to do it."

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...s/15866440.htm

Win what? there's nothing left in the war to win!

And notice how McCain did'nt mention how to send 20,000 troops. I smell a draft coming.

[Grimmlok]

just in time for the repukes to lose the house and/or senate

then they'll blame the dems

[ourmaninBusan]

I'm too tired to argue, so I'll let mini-Ann Coulter do it for me. Ann?

[celeb_2006]

uh oh, here comes the draft (good thing I'm too old for it!!!)

[LynnieD]

And if this guy runs for President---he has a seriously good shot of getting the Repub nomination, if not the whole shabaam. NOT GOOD.

[Grimmlok]

He's a fascist who likes to pretend he's a moderate. He was tortured and broken in Hanoi, and his sense of right and wrong left there.

[LynnieD]

^He has a LOT of people fooled too w/the 'moderate' act. A LOT. Even moderate/middle of the road Democrats are big fans of his. Which is why I am saying that he could possibly take the Presidency, if he runs and the Dems put up a loser. It could happen easily....

[Grimmlok]

He's pretty feckin old tho isnt he?

[ediebrooks]

Is he fuckin' nuts? Enough innocent lives have been lost in Iraq already. I thought he was a moderate. He's crazy! And I had thought I might bite the bullet and vote for him if Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee. Now it looks like it's Hillary all the way for me.

[JamieElizabeth]

He is 70; I looked it up

[Laurent]

How easy it is to so casually commit 20,000 of someone else's children, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters.

Lunacy.

[JamieElizabeth]

^yea, I know... and that's 20,000 troops. Wonder how many people make a troop?

This isn't such a good time in history, especially when family values seem to have go down the drain.

[LynnieD]

He's 70??? He's got no business then running for President like he's threatening. Though, how old was Reagan when he first ran?? Oh lord...

[ediebrooks]

He was like a month shy of his 70th birthday, I believe.