Seeing Progress in Iraq, McCain Hopes for Credit

[rodeodance]

Source: nytimes



November 10, 2007
Seeing Progress in Iraq, McCain Hopes for Credit
By MARC SANTORA


CONCORD, N.H., Nov. 9 — Now that President Bush’s decision early this year to send more troops to Iraq is showing signs of reducing the violence in Baghdad, Senator John McCain, who had long called for beefing up the American military presence there, is betting that the politics of the war are changing as well.

Mr. McCain, Republican of Arizona, is making his early advocacy of the troop increase and his push for a change in strategy a central theme of his presidential campaign. He is using it to distance himself from the Bush administration, whose handling of the war he regularly denounces, and from his Republican rivals, none of whom, he says, displayed the leadership, courage or knowledge necessary to win in Iraq.

“I was the only one, the only candidate for president of the United States on either side” who fought to change course by providing more troops, he told voters in Iowa this week.

“I did everything in my power to try and change that strategy,” he said, referring to the course originally set by President Bush. “I was severely criticized by other Republicans for being disloyal. I said we had to have the strategy we are using now.”

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Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/10/us/politics/10mccain.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

[TwilightGardener]

1. El Surge-o was a mistake, Johnny--we could be leaving now, instead

of being dug in even more. I wouldn't want to take credit for that.

[ohio2007]

2. Has Hillary chimed in on this topic?

With her vote record, don't be suprised if she starts to appease and cater to different and larger demographic.


Hey
she can't live on a steady diet of softball pitches ya know