McCAIN Defends Osama Bin Laden-Questions Whether He Is "really the bad guy that'

[240 is Back]

That phrase "pre-9/11 mindset" gets thrown around a lot, in conservative neocon circles especially. Well, here's a clear view of John McCain's pre-9/11 mindset, from a 1998 Mother Jones interview:

You not only have had combat experience in Vietnam, but you were also a prisoner of war. When you look at terrorism right now, with people like Osama bin Laden, do you have any reservations about watching strikes like that?

MCCAIN:
You could say, Look, is this guy, Laden, really the bad guy that's depicted? Most of us have never heard of him before. And where there is a parallel with Vietnam is: What's plan B? What do we do next? We sent our troops into Vietnam to protect the bases. Lyndon Johnson said, Only to protect the bases. Next thing you know.... Well, we've declared to the terrorists that we're going to strike them wherever they live. That's fine. But what's next? That's where there might be some comparison.

[tonymctones]

That phrase "pre-9/11 mindset" gets thrown around a lot, in conservative neocon circles especially. Well, here's a clear view of John McCain's pre-9/11 mindset, from a 1998 Mother Jones interview:

You not only have had combat experience in Vietnam, but you were also a prisoner of war. When you look at terrorism right now, with people like Osama bin Laden, do you have any reservations about watching strikes like that?

MCCAIN:
You could say, Look, is this guy, Laden, really the bad guy that's depicted? Most of us have never heard of him before. And where there is a parallel with Vietnam is: What's plan B? What do we do next? We sent our troops into Vietnam to protect the bases. Lyndon Johnson said, Only to protect the bases. Next thing you know.... Well, we've declared to the terrorists that we're going to strike them wherever they live. That's fine. But what's next? That's where there might be some comparison.

ANOTHER NON STORY that was 10 fuking yrs ago situation was very different...240 KING ON NON STORIES

[240 is Back]

ANOTHER NON STORY that was 10 fuking yrs ago situation was very different...240 KING ON NON STORIES

Bin Laden was doing terrorist acts from 1992 on.
You'd think that Mccain - at the time a senator for over 20 years - would have been aware of this.

Sounds like he wasn't that aware of things going on in the world.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden

[egj13]

Most people in america would have answered that question the same way at that time.  I am sure Obama had a stance on the subject???  I mean just in interest of journalism and being able to compare the candidates.  If he didn't have a stance then this is a non story

[240 is Back]

Most people in america would have answered that question the same way at that time.  I am sure Obama had a stance on the subject???  I mean just in interest of journalism and being able to compare the candidates.  If he didn't have a stance then this is a non story

Most people in America weren't Senators who claimed to be experts in foreign policy and national security.

If you're admitting that McCain only started being aware of national security threats on Sept 11, 2001... it sure sounds like he hasn't been able to do anything other than respond to attacks, not stop them.

[tonymctones]

Most people in america would have answered that question the same way at that time.  I am sure Obama had a stance on the subject???  I mean just in interest of journalism and being able to compare the candidates.  If he didn't have a stance then this is a non story

Im sure he did but you wont find it, and i agree much like his opinion about the war having no bearing as he wasnt even a US senator at that time and nothing more than a state legislature. If he was he might have had a different opinion but we will never know...

Bin Laden was doing terrorist acts from 1992 on.
You'd think that Mccain - at the time a senator for over 20 years - would have been aware of this.

Sounds like he wasn't that aware of things going on in the world.

A more important person to get an opinion from that point in time might have been clinton...you jackass

[tonymctones]

Most people in America weren't Senators who claimed to be experts in foreign policy and national security.

If you're admitting that McCain only started being aware of national security threats on Sept 11, 2001... it sure sounds like he hasn't been able to do anything other than respond to attacks, not stop them.

LOL what has obama done to respond to terrorist attacks, what has biden, what has obama done as far a economic policy is concerned?

[egj13]

Most people in America weren't Senators who claimed to be experts in foreign policy and national security.

If you're admitting that McCain only started being aware of national security threats on Sept 11, 2001... it sure sounds like he hasn't been able to do anything other than respond to attacks, not stop them.

NO ONE in washington was aware of national security threats before 9/11 obviously.  We all as Americans were asleep pre 9/11.  This is like trying to say that 10 years from now when another attack occurs from out of no where that Obama and McCain should have snuffed it out.  Why are you such a left wing nut all of a sudden?

[240 is Back]

LOL what has obama done to respond to terrorist attacks, what has biden, what has obama done as far a economic policy is concerned?

I see.

You are shown that just 3 years before 911 - and 6 years after he had began sponsoring terrorism - mccain still had no clue the man was a threat.

You attack obama as a response.  I think we all know what youre saying.  Mccain dropped the ball, but Obama sucks.  Gotcha!

you jackass

Okay.

[240 is Back]

NO ONE in washington was aware of national security threats before 9/11 obviously.  We all as Americans were asleep pre 9/11.  This is like trying to say that 10 years from now when another attack occurs from out of no where that Obama and McCain should have snuffed it out.  Why are you such a left wing nut all of a sudden?

No one?

Oliver North famously told Congress (including Mccain) in 1987 about the terrible threat bin laden posed.  Mccain ignored it.

Five years later, Bin laden started blowing shit up.
Mccain ignored it.

Six years later, Bin laden was STILL blowing shit up (Cole ring a bell?) and Mccain actually denied OBL was a threat.

Three years later, Mccain realized he was a threat when everyone else did.

I'm just saying it kinda makes it hard for him to claim he can keep us safe, when he told interviewer that a guy blowing shit up around the world wasn't a big deal.

[egj13]

No one?

Oliver North famously told Congress (including Mccain) in 1987 about the terrible threat bin laden posed.  Mccain ignored it.

Five years later, Bin laden started blowing shit up.
Mccain ignored it.

Six years later, Bin laden was STILL blowing shit up (Cole ring a bell?) and Mccain actually denied OBL was a threat.

Three years later, Mccain realized he was a threat when everyone else did.

I'm just saying it kinda makes it hard for him to claim he can keep us safe, when he told interviewer that a guy blowing shit up around the world wasn't a big deal.

If McCain was the only one "ignoring" these things then fine....but need I remind you that at that time it was a democrat in power?  Good on North for warning back in 87...great for him.  But don't be a left wing nut singling out McCain when America as a whole is guilty.

[tonymctones]

I see.

You are shown that just 3 years before 911 - and 6 years after he had began sponsoring terrorism - mccain still had no clue the man was a threat.

You attack obama as a response.  I think we all know what youre saying.  Mccain dropped the ball, but Obama sucks.  Gotcha.

Apparently many didnt believe he was a threat, not just mccain...clinton didnt deem him much of a threat either.

Im not attacking obama as a response, like it was said earlier i would like to compare the two view points so please what was obamas view point?

[240 is Back]

If McCain was the only one "ignoring" these things then fine....but need I remind you that at that time it was a democrat in power?  Good on North for warning back in 87...great for him.  But don't be a left wing nut singling out McCain when America as a whole is guilty.

Okay.

So Mccain was just as terrible as Clinton was, at realizing the threat of Bin Laden.

Mccain, with his 20+ years in the Senate at that point, had about as much wisdom on foreign policy as a hick governor from Arkansas who couldn't keep his pants on.

Cool, thanks!

[tonymctones]

again i would like to compare the candidates opinion in 1998 about bin laden we have mccains can you please give us obamas?

[tonymctones]

obama is friends with ayers a known terrorist as well...

again please give obamas position on bin laden in 1998 or there about for comparison.

[240 is Back]

Apparently many didnt believe he was a threat, not just mccain...clinton didnt deem him much of a threat either.

I just wanted to know if McCain - despite being a self-proclaimed foreign policy and nat'l security expert - was just a clueless as the scumbag clinton.

You and egj admit he was.  That's cool.

[egj13]

Okay.

So Mccain was just as terrible as Clinton was, at realizing the threat of Bin Laden.

Mccain, with his 20+ years in the Senate at that point, had about as much wisdom on foreign policy as a hick governor from Arkansas who couldn't keep his pants on.

Cool, thanks!

hmmm, who is Obama's foreign experience expert to bloster his lack??? Could it be Biden?  What was his stance on Bin laden at the same time......

[tonymctones]

I just wanted to know if McCain - despite being a self-proclaimed foreign policy and nat'l security expert - was just a clueless as the scumbag clinton.

You and egj admit he was.  That's cool.

LOL what does obama being friends with ayers say about his national security experience?

[egj13]

I just wanted to know if McCain - despite being a self-proclaimed foreign policy and nat'l security expert - was just a clueless as the scumbag clinton.

You and egj admit he was.  That's cool.

Don't try and twist words....like before you continue to be a parrot of what others say in the media/on here.  You run from debates unless you can find something to cut and paste.

You don't have anything to show how the Dems did anything more than the repubs to combat osama.  America as a WHOLE was asleep.  Obama, biden, clinton, McCain, Bush, Palin included.   

[240 is Back]

America as a WHOLE was asleep.  Obama, biden, clinton, McCain, Bush, Palin included.  

You are correct.

This does, however, nullify any argument that Repubs are any better with protecting us than Dems.

Both sucked until 2001.  We've been attacked twice since Bush took over (911 and anthrax).

[tonymctones]

Don't try and twist words....like before you continue to be a parrot of what others say in the media/on here.  You run from debates unless you can find something to cut and paste.

You don't have anything to show how the Dems did anything more than the repubs to combat osama.  America as a WHOLE was asleep.  Obama, biden, clinton, McCain, Bush, Palin included.   

great post not to mention obama is friends with a known terrorist in ayers

[tonymctones]

You are correct.

This does, however, nullify any argument that Repubs are any better with protecting us than Dems.

Both sucked until 2001.  We've been attacked twice since Bush took over (911 and anthrax).

wow you are a fuking liberal nut job...clinton had the USS cole happen on his watch multiple embassy bombings...weve been attacked more times before bush got in office then after you numbnut bastard.

Again comment on the ayers relationship and what that means about obama and national security and foresight

[240 is Back]

clinton had the USS cole happen on his watch multiple embassy bombings

weve been attacked more time before bush got in office then after you numbnut bastard.

Oh, you're including overseas attacks?

In that case, let's count the 4200 dead Americans from thousands of terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, iraq, Bali, and every other place those dickjobs have set off bombs in the last 7 years.

weve been attacked more times before bush got in office then after you numbnut bastard.

Numbers disagree, my friend:

[egj13]

great post not to mention obama is friends with a known terrorist in ayers

I am a McCain supporter (because he is republican not because he is my favorite) but I am tired of this Ayers stuff.  I don't really care much what McCain/Obama were doing 20-30 years ago.  If I was cruccified for every bad relationship I had in the past.  I want recent experience, what they have done in the senate and other RELEVANT things debated.  Simply, Obama is just to liberal for me.  I would vote for the right Dem if they were more middle.  Anyway..tell me what they have done LATELY.  

[tonymctones]

I am a McCain supporter (because he is republican not because he is my favorite) but I am tired of this Ayers stuff.  I don't really care much what McCain/Obama were doing 20-30 years ago.  If I was cruccified for every bad relationship I had in the past.  I want recent experience, what they have done in the senate and other RELEVANT things debated.  Simply, Obama is just to liberal for me.  I would vote for the right Dem if they were more middle.  Anyway..tell me what they have done LATELY.  

i dont really care either just bringing that up as information b/c apparently 240 didnt know about that. I agree though i might have voted hillary if she had gotten the nod.