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.
More Dave Ross

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (28)


  • Add A Comment

  • WiIliam Lawn wrote...
    Hagel is a perfect choice for the Obama administration's Secretary of Defense
    February 1, 2013 9:55 am
    He is a complete and total anti Semite. He's not just anti Israel, he's anti jew. Fits in perfect with Obama's hatred for them. I guess it's no surprise that's why Obama will allow our fighter jets and tanks to be given freely to the Muslim brotherhood. In addition to billions in tax dollars now going to Egypt. But liberals give that a free pass, and gripe about foreign aid to Israel instead. Anti Semitism seems to be standard operating procedure for the Liberal Party now days. They are no more an occupying force on Palestine then United States is an occupying force on native American land. But I don't see any of you hypocrites renouncing your citizenship.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Well, I think that is a big Mission Accomplished
    February 1, 2013 12:51 pm
    Not only does AJ reliably answering to Flounder, but he sometimes logs in as me, calls himself Flounder and then answers himself. Saves me the effort.

    Now I have a RWNJ, paranoid psychotic using my handle to bash Hagel. Posting very Kersey like rants.

    Just too funny. Thanks for the laugh.

    Whoever the new William Lawn is.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    And BTW
    February 2, 2013 9:34 pm
    Welcome to the Lawn family.

    Growing and inclusive.

    Always.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    the surge worked...
    February 1, 2013 3:01 pm
    Maybe Nixon should've tried it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }