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Monday, May 26, 2008
McCain Defends Iraq War, Discusses Veterans' Package
By Sue Major Holmes
Associated Press
John McCain — who occasionally reminded a Memorial Day ceremony packed with veterans and active military that he wants to be commander in chief — said today at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial that if the United States doesn't stay in Iraq, it will face widespread threats in the future.
The Arizona senator and presumptive GOP presidential nominee acknowledged that the U.S has made mistakes in Iraq. But he said the current policy is working, and that both the Iraqi government and military are taking more responsibility.
"The American people are sick and tired of the war in Iraq. I understand that,'' McCain said in a 20-minute speech at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, backed by an immense American flag at half staff and white stones that recognize New Mexico veterans. "I too have been made heartsick by the many mistakes made by civilian and military commanders and the terrible, terrible price we paid for it.
"But we cannot react to those mistakes by embracing a course of action that will be an even greater mistake, a mistake of colossal, historical proportions which will — I am sure of this — seriously endanger the security of the country I have served all of my adult life.''
He argued that the battle plan is succeeding, and said that without more time, "the consequences will threaten us for years and I am certain would eventually throw us into a wider and more difficult war that would impose even greater sacrifices on us.''
"As long as there is a reasonable prospect of succeeding in this war, then we must not choose to lose it,'' he said.
McCain, a prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years in the Vietnam War, told about a 1,000 people gathered for the annual Memorial Day ceremonies that he hates war.
"It might not be the worst thing to befall human beings, but it is wretched beyond all description. When nations seek to resolve their differences by forces of arms, a million tragedies ensue. The lives of the nation's finest patriots are sacrificed. innocent people suffer and die. ... Only a fool or fraud sentimentalizes the merciless reality of war.''
He urged everyone — whatever they think about why America went to war in Iraq — to honor its veterans.
"They now deserve the distinction of the best Americans. We owe them a debt we can never fully repay,'' he said.
McCain wasn't the only presidential candidate visiting the battleground state. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama scheduled a meeting with veterans in the southern part of the state.
The last two presidential elections in New Mexico have been decided by narrow margins — for Democrat Al Gore in 2000 and for Republican President Bush in 2004.
Albuquerque's Memorial Day remembrance in an open air amphitheater included the laying of four wreaths, speeches by the three Republican members of the state's congressional delegation, bagpipers, patriotic songs by the New Mexico Territorial Brass Band in old-time uniforms, a parade of flags of all 50 states, recognition of veterans and a presentation of memorial bricks, plaques and quilts to the families of servicemen who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
McCain shook hands with those family members and quietly talked with them for a few minutes after his speech before leaving the ceremony early.
In his talk, McCain also defended a veterans' educational aid package he favored against a more generous proposal offered by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia. Although the Democratic-controlled Senate approved Webb's bill, which would substantially increase educational benefits for service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, McCain said he opposed it because it would grant the same educational benefit regardless of how many times a veteran had enlisted.
McCain feared that would depress re-enlistments and cut into the ranks of noncommissioned officers, whom he described as the backbone of the military. He said the bill he favored would have offered benefits on a sliding scale based on length of service.
A handful of protesters held up signs against the Iraq war at the entrance to the veterans' park. One sign said the Bush administration had lied about Iraq and was now lying about Iran; another urged people to "Support Our Veterans. Not the War.''
When one veteran in the audience complained to another about the demonstration, the second veteran responded: "We fought for their right to stand out there. That's what makes this country so great.''
Copyright ©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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