McCain Can't Get His Facts Straight Over Iraq

You'd think that the man running for President and advocating for an unlimited amount of time for our soldiers to be killed in Iraq and trillions wasted on fighting it would at least know what was going on there. At least twice in as many days, he forgot which players were doing what. Now I'm not a international relations expert, but I think that it would be good to come to the table with as much information about the particular situation in order to execute good policy. Then again, maybe its just me.

From The Washington Post:

AMMAN, Jordan -- Sen. John McCain, traveling in the Middle East to promote his foreign policy expertise, misidentified in remarks Tuesday which broad category of Iraqi extremists are allegedly receiving support from Iran.

He said several times that Iran, a predominately Shiite country, was supplying the mostly Sunni militant group, al-Qaeda. In fact, officials have said they believe Iran is helping Shiite extremists in Iraq.

Speaking to reporters in Amman, the Jordanian capital, McCain said he and two Senate colleagues traveling with him continue to be concerned about Iranian operatives "taking al-Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back."

Pressed to elaborate, McCain said it was "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 Lieberman, standing just behind McCain, stepped forward and whispered in the presidential candidate's ear. McCain then said: "I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda."

Um, wow. Is he really that ignorant?

Ya betcha.

And on top of that ignorance, Joe Lieberman of all people had to inform McCain on the realities between Iraq and Iran. Perhaps he's listening to talk radio and Bush's delusional thinking more so than actual intelligence.

Oh and TP reports he said the same thing last night.