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Once again, McCain confuses Sunnis with Shiites

#98QBKiller

By #98QBKiller
in The Tailgate

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#98QBKiller

#98QBKiller

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Once again, McCain confuses Sunnis with Shiites

John Byrne

Published: Tuesday April 8, 2008

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Once_again_McCain_confuses_Sunnis_with_0408.html

LA Times blogger: 'Maybe flash cards would help'

John McCain isn't quite sure of himself on Iraq.

Last month, the Arizona senator got a whisper in his ear from Sen. Joe Lieberman, after he said that Iran was providing aid to Al Qaeda in Iraq, a Sunni group. Iran, however, is actually a Shiite nation. On Fox News Sunday, McCain also got wrong the details of an Iraqi ceasefire.

"His friend, Joe Lieberman, who was also on the trip, had to famously whisper in his ear to correct him," the LA Times writes today. "This allowed McCain's two Democratic rivals for the presidency, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to criticize McCain for his mistake, which came in the area that's supposed to be in his wheelhouse: national security and foreign policy."

At today's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, McCain seems to have gotten it wrong again, when interviewing Iraq commander Gen. David Petraeus.

MCCAIN: "There are numerous threats to security in Iraq and the future of Iraq. Do you still view al-Qaeda in Iraq as a major threat?"

PETRAEUS: "It is a major threat. Though it is certainly as not as major a threat as it was say, 15 months ago."

MCCAIN: "Certainly not an obscure sect of the Shias overall?

PETRAEUS: "No, sir."

MCCAIN: "Or Sunnis or anybody else then?

Watch the video on The Huffington Post here.

"McCain may want to work on this obvious weakness in his Iraq fund of knowledge," the Times blog remarks. "Maybe flash cards would help."

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday Apr. 6, McCain repeated the false claim that Muqtada al-Sadr declared the ceasefire in Basra last week and said he thought the Iraqi army was performing well.

"It was al-Sadr that declared the ceasefire, not Maliki," said McCain. "With respect, I don’t think Sadr would have declared the ceasefire if he thought he was winning. Most times in history, military engagements, the winning side doesn’t declare the ceasefire. The second point is, overall, the Iraqi military performed pretty well. … The military is functioning very effectively."

As the blog, Think Progress notes, "it was members of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government who brokered the ceasefire, to which Sadr agreed. Experts agree that Sadr’s influence was strengthened — rather than diminished — by the Basra battle."

The Democratic National Committee quickly attacked McCain, noting several mishaps in a press release.

  • March 17, 2008: McCain said on the Hugh Hewitt radio show "As you know, there are al-Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they're moving back into Iraq." [New York Times, 3/19/08 -- "]Transcript.
  • March 18, 2008: In Jordan after a trip to Iraq, McCain said a press conference that " 'We continue to be concerned about Iranian [operatives] taking al-Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back,' he said in comments after meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday afternoon. Pressed to elaborate, McCain said it is 'common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran; that's well known. And it's unfortunate.' A few moments later, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), standing just behind McCain, stepped forward and whispered in his ear. McCain then said, 'I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda.'" [Washington Post, 3/19/08]
  • March 19, 2008: The next day however, in a press release on the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, McCain said "Al Qaeda and Shia extremists -- with support from external powers such as Iran -- are on the run but not defeated." [McCain Presidential Campaign Press Release via Targeted News Service, 3/19/08]
  • November 2007: McCain Said that Al Qaeda Is Getting "Supplies and Equipment" From Iran. "Al Qaeda is not defeated," McCain told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week. "They're on the run, but they are not defeated, and they continue to get supplies and equipment through Iran, and they continue to get suicide bombers through Syria." [ABC, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, 11/25/07]
  • April 8, 2008: McCain Referred To Al Qaeda As A "Sect Of Shi'ites" MCCAIN: Do you still view al Qaeda in Iraq as a major threat? PETRAEUS: It is still a major threat, though it is certainly not as major a threat as it was say 15 months ago. MCCAIN: Certainly not an obscure sect of the Shi'ites overall? [
    ]

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twa

twa

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He is clearly incompetent,as are the other two contenders....Bush needs to declare the upcoming election voided and continue his reign of terror for the good of the country. :silly:

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Burgold

Burgold

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He is clearly incompetent,as are the other two contenders....Bush needs to declare the upcoming election voided and continue his reign of terror for the good of the country. :silly:

Now that's just not funny :mad: (And he just might try to do it too. He scoffs at every other part of the Constitution)

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twa

twa

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Now that's just not funny :mad: (And he just might try to do it too. He scoffs at every other part of the Constitution)

Have you considered writing for the Times or Think Progress?...You seem qualified with BDS. :cool:

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Burgold

Burgold

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The Washington Times...? Me? Gee, I don't know.

I've actually never heard of Think Progress. I'm guessing that's a pretty loony left org though. My guess it's better than the Conservative Alternative... Action Retrenchment or the ever popular Reflex Stagnation.

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@DCGoldPants

@DCGoldPants

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Maybe a slip up like when Obama said he was going to call the President of Canada and hammer out a treaty.

Is that because of Age, stupidity or just a slip up?

But it is Obama, who can do no wrong, so there must BE a president of Canada.

Didn't realize Obama was making that mistake a few times, and painting himself as the expert in international affairs.

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Burgold

Burgold

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Not defending him, because I have my own issues with McCain, but how many people can tell me the difference between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church is?

Without using Google.

I actually don't think this (his screw-up) is a big deal. I think it's a little deal, but the recurring mental hiccup does matter. For him, as a potential President and an expert to guide us through the issues of Iraq and terror these are not factoids. He does need to know at minimum who the players are and what they are doing or not doing.

It's sort of like a someone wanting to be Pope not knowing the difference between a Cardinal and a Rabbi.

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Bang

Bang

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Not defending him, because I have my own issues with McCain, but how many people can tell me the difference between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church is?

Without using Google.

The Eastern Orthodox people wear fez hats every third Wednesday.

Oh no! McCain misspoke! He clearly must be an idiot.

~Bang

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rincewind

rincewind

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Not defending him, because I have my own issues with McCain, but how many people can tell me the difference between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church is?

Without using Google.

Schism ism.

Plus, it seems the issue is that he says he is an expert on the ME and then can't get this right. So your comparison only works if someone who claimed to be an expert on religion, say techboy, couldn't tell you the difference. I'm betting my rebate check techboy knows all about the schism.

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jpillian

jpillian

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Honestly, it does concern me -- and I'll probably end up voting for McCain in November.

The next President needs to have his/her stuff wired tight when it comes to the Middle East in general, and Iraq and particular. Knowing the difference between the Shia and Sunni sects in Islam; the fact that there are Sunni Kurds and Sunni Arabs in Iraq; the fact that the Shia in Iraq are Arabs and the Shia in Iran are Persian -- these are small differences to John and Jane Doe in America. But to the President of the United States, for whom the successful handling of Iraq will be a cornerstone of their success or failure -- this sort of stuff is inexcusable.

Obviously, his advisors, staff, and other bureaucrats are going to be the ones actually giving whoever the President is advice current and new policies. However, the President does need to be able to put all of this good advice together to form a coherent and compelling vision as to what the nation should do next. In Iraq, knowing the nature of the fault lines that are behind all of the fighting going on there is essential to developing an effective vision.

Bottomline: These misstatements may just be misstatements and that is forgivable. If however, they are indicative of a true lack of knowledge, it's pretty dang unforgivable. Either way, he needs to get his schtick together if he wants to be the next President.

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twa

twa

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Didn't realize Obama was making that mistake a few times, and painting himself as the expert in international affairs.

Thats fair enough,McCain should be less prone to errors.

Obama gets a pass on anything ,since he is not qualified? ;)

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#98QBKiller

#98QBKiller

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Not defending him, because I have my own issues with McCain, but how many people can tell me the difference between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church is?

Without using Google.

How many people here are running for President and are marketing themselves as the person best suited to lead us through the country and war where these two factions are going at it?

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SkinsHokieFan

SkinsHokieFan

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In other news: What is the difference between a Sunni and Shiite?

One sect correctly followed the wishes of the Prophet, the other threw a violent temper tantrum when they did not get their way, insulted the daughter of the Prophet and caused some major battles, and yet still in the end got their guy as Kaliph :)

The sect with the upperhand, and still the upperhand, should have taken care of the other sect at the very beginning

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Tulane Skins Fan

Tulane Skins Fan

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In other news: What is the difference between a Sunni and Shiite?

basically its two sects of Islam, and it was a split in the religion going back to who should assume the leadership role following muhammed. But, al qaeda is sunni, not shia. Basically, the more eastern you go, the more likely the muslims are to be sunni, and the more western, more likely to be shia. and northern is kurdish. (Hence the need for a three state government in Iraq, and Turkey can kiss our ass if they don't like it). Point is, SUPPOSEDLY anyway, we arent fighting shia. But, really at this point we are fighting anyone.

Honestly, I thought some of the other comments in the article were much more indicative of someone who didn't understand what was going on.

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Popeman38

Popeman38

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So McCain gets the Sunni and Shia confused. And?

Hillary can't figure out if she is under sniper fire. She swears she brokered the peace with the IRA. Chelsea was jogging around the WTC on 9/11. Claims she loves the military.

What is worse: someone who can't remember the differences b/w the Sunni and Shia or someone who can't tell the difference b/w the truth and a lie?

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