McCain Team Responds To Iran/Qaeda Error

Brain Rogers, a communications deputy over at the McCain HQ in Arlington, sends over a statement about his boss's momentary confusion in Amman, Jordan today:

“In a press conference today, John McCain misspoke and immediately corrected himself by stating that Iran is in fact supporting radical Islamic extremists in Iraq, not Al Qaeda -- as the transcript shows. Democrats have launched political attacks today because they know the American people have deep concerns about their candidates’ judgment and readiness to lead as commander in chief.”

Here's the transcript:

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.

McCain: I’m sorry; the Iranians are training the extremists, not Al Qaeda. Not Al Qaeda. I’m sorry.

Comments

So does this mean we'll only have to be in Iran for maybe 50 years?

Posted by TomT | March 18, 2008 3:40 PM

Boy, are you sure Penn or Wolfson didn't issue this? Sounds like the kind of swill they put out there to defend Hillary.

Plus, where is the mention that Leiberman corrected McCain.

Posted by john m | March 18, 2008 3:44 PM

No he meant we'll be in there for 75 years.

Posted by SonnyL. | March 18, 2008 3:45 PM

You may want to also include that McCain didn't realize he was wrong until Joe Lieberman told him.

Posted by Oreo | March 18, 2008 3:56 PM

Of course, he said it the day before on Hugh Hewitt's radio show, too, and didn't correct it there at all (no Joe Lieberman to bail him out).

Posted by Brian | March 18, 2008 3:57 PM

He just doesn't have a clear grasp. He's like a warmongering buffoon.

He's turned "straight talk" into an orwellian expression.

Posted by Bjorn | March 18, 2008 4:02 PM

That doesn't explain the exact same comments McCain made yesterday.

Posted by Colin Hicks | March 18, 2008 4:07 PM

That communications director's name can't possibly be "Brain." Not given that response to his boss's senior moment.

Posted by Obama '08 | March 18, 2008 4:20 PM

The Communications Director is McCain's "Brain".

Posted by Fred Zimmerman | March 18, 2008 4:26 PM

The transcript is missing an important fact, as I understand the story (no video yet): Lieberman had to tell McCain that he was wrong.

Posted by Jerome | March 18, 2008 4:40 PM

Give McCain a break. He's really old. Memory must be going.

Posted by Fireclown | March 18, 2008 5:02 PM

No, Mr. Rogers, McCain didn't correct himself. Joe Lieberman corrected him. McCain either doesn't know the difference between the Shia and the Sunni, or he doesn't care. Our Republican leaders handed Iraq to Iran and McCain still doesn't appreciate what happened.

Posted by Brian Resman | March 18, 2008 5:06 PM

Brian Rogers is lying if it was really Lieberman who corrected him, as the earlier account suggests.

Brian Rogers is definitely lying when says "immediately" Mr. McCain corrected himself. Minutes passed, as the video linked earlier shows.

In addition, Mr. McCain is repeating a tall tale when he discusses the two women who were initially described by DoD as mentally handicapped. The DoD, which Mr. McCain is seeking to lead, now admits it has no evidence to back that up.

So, all in all, a poor performance. How do they expect to beat the Dems with this kind of shoddy workmanship? He mispoke, everyone does that. He meant to say one type of terrorist, he said another.

Posted by Joshua Narins | March 18, 2008 5:14 PM

but John McCain did not make a slight error by misspeaking in his argument. the entire premise of his argument (conflating al qaeda with iran) was based on that error. Sen Obama needs to jump on this. key to success in november hinges on disspelling the mcain myth

Posted by jimmy's brother | March 18, 2008 5:35 PM

If this guy McCain or McDonalds or whatever his name is actually represents the USA then the world is in a BIG trouble (I do not mean just a Big-Mac Trouble!). Aren’t there any intelligent people in the USA for the people to choose as president? McDonalds after Bush? Come on!

Posted by Kiumars | March 18, 2008 5:51 PM

Actually, Iran training Al Qaeda HAS been widely reported in the news. He meant to say extremists, but his original statement was accurate too. Look at the 9-11 Commission Report, page 61 or The New York Sun 11/14/06, or USA Today 4/11/07, The Guardian 5/22/07, and on and on. Sheesh! Could someone please at least PRETEND they aren't just looking for any little thing to crucify McCain over?

Posted by Jared | March 18, 2008 7:09 PM

He's as bad as Bush. Anyone who votes for McCain is voting in another four years of Bush.

Posted by SMN | March 18, 2008 10:40 PM

Yes, Lieberman corrected him...here's the proof

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4THiNvVX4

Poor McCain...he sure is losing it from old age

Poor Americans if he gets elected.

Posted by Edward | March 19, 2008 3:06 AM

Jared: You argue that McCain's original statement was correct. So why does McCain reverse himself when Lieberman whispers in his ear? Because McCain repeats the last thing he was told? Your argument leaves you, and McCain, twisting in the wind.

Posted by Leaning Obama | March 19, 2008 8:15 AM

Ummmm so ... wait .... "Iran is in fact supporting radical Islamic extremists in Iraq, not Al Qaeda"

So Al Qaeda operatives aren't radical Islamic extremists?

Is this like the Whisky>

Posted by Jeremy C. | March 19, 2008 9:41 AM

Whoops, used the wrong symbol and it changed my witty comment to blank HTML

Ummmm so ... wait .... "Iran is in fact supporting radical Islamic extremists in Iraq, not Al Qaeda"

So Al Qaeda operatives aren't radical Islamic extremists?

Is this like the Whisky/Bourbon debate? All Al Qaeda are radical Islamic extremists, but not all radical Islamic extremists are Al Qaeda?

These crazy brown people, that want to kill us because of our Freedom, sure are hard to keep straight.

I need a shot of Bourbon ... wait ... I mean Whiskey.

Posted by Jeremy C. | March 19, 2008 10:17 AM

Not to mention, Iran supports the same factions in Iraq we do- the Shia dominated government/ Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution!

well, except that we decided to arm both sides and are now arming the sunni insurgents too (the concerned citizen's brigades).

McCain doesn't care about any of this, he just cares about "kicking ass".

Ventura/Paul '08!!!

Posted by Bjorn | March 19, 2008 11:18 AM

McCain was lying when he made the "mistake" and he was lying when he "corrected" himself.

He's already helping beat the neo-con and jewish war drums by spreading lies about Iran -- and he hasn't even been elected yet.

Posted by zhav | March 19, 2008 11:52 AM

The press keeps giving clueless McGaff a pass.
Eight years of Bush has given them lowered expectations.
McCain will rapidly deflate on stage against Obama.

Picture young Ali fighting grandma. TKO!
The real problem is we have to watch it. Oof!

Posted by Chris | March 19, 2008 3:32 PM

I'm sure our troops from Bush's war will be home long before our troops in the Balkens from the Clinton's war.

Posted by bobdog | March 24, 2008 10:45 PM

i guess neither mccain nor obama read the 9-11 commission report which indicated iran in fact has been aiding al-qaeda since the 1990's...considering on of the key writers of the report...for which the commission was named is endorsing obama today...he may want to revisit the report and revise his statements... iran is clearly helping al qaeda in iraq...hence the iranian RPGs that hit the green zone...iranian weapons dont come from africa do they?

Posted by mike | April 2, 2008 10:44 AM