TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: 8049b713-67b3-4d58-a499-d1c5e598e6ef
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, asks a question of former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, center, President Barack Obama's choice for defense secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the ranking member of the committee, listens at left. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Why Senator John McCain is ready to vote 'no' on a fellow Republican Vietnam vet

BY Dave Ross  on February 1, 2013 @ 6:02 am (Updated: 8:18 am - 2/1/13 )

On Thursday, Senator John McCain lit into Senator Chuck Hagel, the President's pick to be secretary of defense - because of what Hagel said about Iraq in 2007.

"Were you correct or incorrect when you said, 'the surge would be the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam.' Were you correct or incorrect?" asked McCain.

Hagel is saying he wasn't even talking about the troop surge. OK let's go back to 2007. Sen. Hagel is addressing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: Said Hagel in 2007, "This speech, given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder since Vietnam."

So he was referred to a speech President George W. Bush had made the previous night, when he announced the troop surge.

In that 2007 speech, President Bush said, "So I've committed 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq."

But President Bush also implied the war could expand beyond Iraq. "This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. We'll interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria and we will seek and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq."

Which to Hagel, apparently sounded too much like 1970 - when Richard Nixon bombed Cambodia, expanding the Vietnam War - the war in which Hagel was wounded twice - and during which McCain was a POW.

And we still can't agree on its lessons.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (28)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Refreshing questioning.
    February 1, 2013 5:39 am
    It's about time when these hacks refuse to answer questions, the questioner (John McCain, in this case) does NOT simply let it drop. So, if Hagel hems and haws and sidesteps (is that SOP for the Obama administration? - so you don't accidentally get off the talking points and think, for a change?), perhaps he is NOT qualified to be Sec. of Defense.

    Of course, McCain has a personal interest in the Iraq surge, in that HE was the one who pushed and pushed it until Bush finally said OK (and later took credit when it worked).

    But if Hagel could not give a straight answer to history, what happens as events infold in the present day? ... Is equivocation part of the Obama plan to be 'more flexible' in his second term?

    But, BTW, Dave. There are a lot more reasons for others to oppose Hagel. And slips of the tongue usually show true feelings that should not be excused with a simple 'I'm sorry'.

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  • cdbtx wrote...
    You're wrong Dave
    February 1, 2013 5:39 am
    It's funny how you're mind allows you to read your own reality into stories.

    When Bush gave his speech and talked about Syria and Iran he was specific about the borders - which the surge addressed and was very successful (Go back and read the news of how we focused on the routes into Iraq from Syria and Iran". It had nothing to do with invading Iran or Syria... "YOU CREATED THAT".

    Let's go back to Vietnam - a war run by politicians not by the military - which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans.... Bush did not allow the Politicians - such as Obama to dictate military policy in Iraq...

    Lest you forget the 1.7 Million people that were massacred after the US pulled out, lest you forget the shameful, dishonesty testimony of John Kerry before the Senate, lest you forget John Kerry's clandestine meeting in Paris - which by law was treason and lest you forgot which John Kerry relative got the "EXCLUSIVE" trading rights in Vietname afterwards.

    Hagel - never answered the question - ahhhh.. another "Seasoned" politician.

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  • wsualumn wrote...
    Senator McCain
    February 1, 2013 5:44 am
    I have one question for you: Were you "out of your mind" when you picked Sarah Palin as your vice presidential running mate? Correct or incorrect? No explanations please. Correct or incorrect? Also, are just a "bitter old man" with an ax grind since you were soundly defeated by Obama in 2008? Correct or incorrect?
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Actually, WAZZU
    February 1, 2013 6:36 am
    I believe McCain DID admit to making a mistake on Palin. ... Doubt he'd have said 'out of my mind', but a mistake nine the less.

    Also, not many objections during Obama's past 4 years, but the Wizard of Oz is getting more blatant and disrespectful of both Congress & the American people these past few months. ... Witness Benghazi, for example. And now nominating a guy who apparently is not to be trusted by Israel ???????

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    BTW, wassu.......
    February 1, 2013 7:02 am
    that was TWO questions (or 3?)
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  • Forrest wrote...
    I used to respect McCain and supported him in his quest to be the republican nominee rather than Bush.
    February 1, 2013 5:49 am
    Now McCain has turned into a senile, political hack.
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  • ToldYa wrote...
    McCain
    February 1, 2013 8:10 am
    is no hero and is a despicable neocon stooge.
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  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Really Dave?
    February 1, 2013 5:49 am
    Let's see, one man, the son of an admiral, refused to leave his fellow prisoners behind. The other man somehow got three purple hearts without ever having to see a doctor, then went on to commit treason. Yes, Dave, I'm sure these two have always been real tight buddies.
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  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    The Obamanation of Desolation
    February 1, 2013 6:08 am
    the Twelvers endorses Hagel....F-16s for Muslim Brotherhood for use against the "descendants of apes and pigs".

    Let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains.

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  • mnpat wrote...
    "And we still can't agree on its lessons"
    February 1, 2013 6:54 am
    Mr. Ross, less you forget.......The outcome of these two incidents was the passage by Congress of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted President Lyndon B. Johnson the authority to assist any Southeast Asian country whose government was considered to be jeopardized by "communist aggression". The resolution served as Johnson's legal justification for deploying U.S. conventional forces and the commencement of open warfare against North Vietnam................You are so quick in condemming Nixon for expanding the war into Cambodia but don't say a word about Kennedy/Johnson/Mcnamara's little police action into Vietnam. Just isn't a liberal's way.
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  • Forrest wrote...
    How many of you right wing keyboard warriors
    February 1, 2013 7:08 am
    have actually been in a firefight like Chuck Hagel has?
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  • mnpat wrote...
    Forrest
    February 1, 2013 7:20 am
    I imagine many of us, Dave of course was taking time off from Cornell to protest.
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Forrest, no one (or at least not me) is doubting Chuck Hagel's service to his country.
    February 1, 2013 7:28 am
    But courage under fire does not automatically impart wisdom and judgement on all things. ....... And being wounded in a fire fight no more qualifies Mr. Hagel that lack of military experience disqualifies Mr. Obama from serving as CinC.
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  • William Armstrong wrote...
    If Obama had put up McCain
    February 1, 2013 7:53 am
    McCain would have fought the nomination. The problem with foot soldiers like provost is that they think that Obama can't ever and will never do anything right. That's simply impossible for anyone to do, and the people who compulsively try to make it so are a little 'off'.

    I remember the Seinfeld episode where Kramer finds the Merv Griffin set in the garbage. He brings the set home to his apartment and puts on a 'show' featuring his neighbors and friends. This is how I picture Ron. He wants to be Shawn Hannidy. But, of course, Ron never watches Fox News.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    wrong, Armstrong. I want Bill O'Reilly's job.
    February 1, 2013 8:20 am
    Sean is way to full of himself. ..... Actually, Obama does a lot of things right. He IS a skilled politician and has done wonders for the left. But he's been going out of his way lately to tweak the GOP - and anyone else who disagrees with him. And, perhaps, Hagel is just a stalking horse, as was Ms. Rice, for whoever Obama really wants in Defense.

    BTW, from your logic, why did McCain vote FOR John Karry for State? After all, McCain was just a foot soldier in the 80's, as was I.

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  • calapete wrote...
    there are valid reasons to vote no
    February 1, 2013 8:10 am
    Demanding vindication over the surge is not one of the. How bad do you need to be right McCain? wow.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Personally
    February 1, 2013 9:24 am

    I want a Secretary of State that is not beholden to a foreign power i.e.. Isreal, I am cool with being there allies or what not and they do give us good intel on what is happening in the middle east, but I want a Secretary of State who's primary focus is on what is best for the U.S.A.

    I tell my friend and allies all the time, I am not going to be the FRIEND you want me to be, I am going to be the FRIEND that you need me to be. Some times that is telling your ALLIES that your policies are kind of PHUCKED up and/or that we might not be able to send you as many BILLIONS OF DOLLARS as we use to.

    Just because you can't keep handing your friend money every year doesn't mean your not there friend, It's called fiscal responsibility.

    Will Isreal continue to be our ally if we quit sending billions of dollars to them, if so, they were never our ally, just our foreign welfare recipients.

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