McCain Still Hasn't Heard The News About Czechoslovakia

McCain think his biggest asset is national security and international affairs, but if he's so good, how come he doesn't know recent geopolitical history. This may be breaking news to Johnny boy, but Czechoslovakia split into two countries as a result of the Velvet Revolution, formally announcing the separate Czech and Slovakia in April of 1990. Now I know this was only 18 years ago, but come on Senator, time to get these simple facts straight.

From ThinkProgress:

During a press availability today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that he’s been concerned by “a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several day,” including “reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia.” But, as TPM’s Greg Sargent points out, Czechoslovakia hasn’t existed in 15 years. This isn’t the first time McCain has made this mistake. At a debate in Oct. 2007, McCain said that America needs to “have a missile defense system in place in Czechoslovakia and Poland.”

So this isn't even the first time he's gotten it wrong. McCain has been corrected repeatedly on his geography and yet he still doesn't get it. Is he a slow learner? Not even listening when people talk to him about things he doesn't know? If he can't even consume little tidbits of geographical information (it is important to know where people are and where they come from) then how does anyone expect him to use reason and rationalization as a President dealing with world crises?

Afghanistan, Syria, Whats The Difference?

I am always amazed at those polls that come out showing a majority of Americans cannot identify country X on a map. I understand that most people do not know exactly where Turkmenistan or Cameroon but important nations that are in the news everyday shouldn't be hard to locate. Is it the fault of the schools, parents that aren't map savvy or perhaps its the media?

From Bob Harris:

... in Syria.

Afghanistan would be three countries to the east, about where the right column is on this page probably is for you. Just past Iraq and Iran.

I guess there's a point where U.S. foreign policy is a near-total failure in so many countries, aggravating extremism in the name of fighting it, that even the media starts to lose track.

This is probably some graphics person's error. But it certainly doesn't make Anderson or the network look all that great -- especially when they're repeating the segment with neither a correction nor disclaimer.

Of course this has to be a minor infraction of the graphics department. I would assume that the CNN staff that deal with international news know a thing or two about geography. Yet this goof seems to mirror the national level of ignorance about places outside the United States or even one's hometown. It is great to see so many people that are against the war in Iraq now, but it would be nice if they knew where it was.